How to Clean and Sanitize Toys

The nursery has many little hands and mouths touching blocks and toy cars and snuggling up to stuffed animals. It is important to ensure that the toys children play with remain clean and safe. Nursery leaders can take turns sanitizing the toys that need to be cleaned each week. The youth and older Primary children could do periodic sanitizing for all the toys. Additionally, always check for toys that are broken; have small loose pieces; or have rough edges. Throw away any toys that are unsafe.

The following guidelines come from a variety of government and childcare agencies. I have included the directions and amounts that are consistently given and come from reliable sources.

Instructions:

• Wash and dry stuffed or plush animals in your washing machine and dryer. Use hot water and bleach, if possible. Make sure you check the toys for any parts, such as plastic eyes, that may have come loose in the washing or drying cycle. (This should be done each week with the toys are used by the children).
• Plastic toys should be cleaned at least monthly (or weekly if the children put them in their mouths). The following are three methods for sanitizing plastic toys:
1. Dishwasher: Place toys in a dishwasher and run a sanitizing cycle. (This is easiest method for toys that need weekly attention).
2. 
   
   Bleach:
   
   • Place the toys in a large tub or sink filled with warm, soapy water. Scrub the toys well, making sure to get in between any crevices where germs can hide. You may want to use a toothbrush for hard-to-reach places. Just like hands, the most effective cleaning comes from soap and water with plenty of scrubbing. This is your most important step.
     
   • Rinse the toys well, making sure to remove all soap residue.
     
   • Submerge toys in a tub or sink that contains a bleach and water solution and allow to soak for 10 minutes. One gallon of water to ¼ cup of bleach is the general rule. Don't use too much bleach, as this can be dangerous. Also, bleach tends to be more effective in cool to warm, rather than hot, water.
     
   • Allow the toys to air-dry after sanitizing them. Drying them with a towel can lead to cross-contamination problems, so it's better to just lay them out on a rack and let them dry on their own.
   
   
3. 
   
   Oxygenated bleach powder: Oxygenated bleach is a non-toxic, sanitizing powder that you can mix with water to clean infant toys. It is also an environmentally friendly alternative to regular household bleach.
   
   • Clean toys as directed above.
     
   • Substitute oxygenated bleach powder for bleach. Mix oxygenated bleach powder with water according to package instructions.
     
   • Rinse the toys a second time in this solution.
     
   • Air dry.