Sanitizing Toys

ashleyvictoria

What's your preferred method(s) of sanitizing toys? I have a lot of hand-me-down toys and now that LO is getting big enough to play with them (aka stick them in his mouth) soon, I'm thinking about how I'm going to sanitize them. Rattles, Oballs, etc. Bleach, vinegar, boiling water.... Which works best and what is the quickest and easiest way to do it? Any STMs have any tricks/tips?

ETA: Spelling

Virginialeigh

When I worked at the preschool we used bleach and water, but sometimes the water would get into the toys and if you didn't get it all out it would mold. I've been using microwave steam bags.

ashleyvictoria

Virginialeigh said:

When I worked at the preschool we used bleach and water, but sometimes the water would get into the toys and if you didn't get it all out it would mold. I've been using microwave steam bags.

Yeah I am worried about getting water in them. The steam bags are a good idea.

golfingdarwinfish

I have a fear of plastics and will not put plastic toys in steam bags.  I've stocked up on toy cleaning wipes and will use those or soapy water.

2goingon3

Dishwasher!

staryb

Baby dish soap and water. I don't know if it's any different from regular dish soap but it says "baby" on it and it specifically says its good for toys so we use it on them. Haven't gotten any hand me downs yet but we use it on the toys that have open packaging.

RockyNFrankie

ashleyvictoria said:

Virginialeigh said:

When I worked at the preschool we used bleach and water, but sometimes the water would get into the toys and if you didn't get it all out it would mold. I've been using microwave steam bags.

Yeah I am worried about getting water in them. The steam bags are a good idea.

Be careful with this. I wanted to clean some toys that another child was playing with before DS was able to play with them and I figured I would just throw them in the sanitizer bag... Well they melted all over everything!

MuffinMom14

I have some 7th Generation spray that came in a set. But to be honest I will probably forget.

angeltennis3

Pure plastic toys that didn't have places water could get into I ran through the dishwasher. Other stuff I have some babyganics toy cleaning spray that I used to wipe down the toys. Soft stuff I just throw in the laundry machine.

ashleyvictoria

RockyNFrankie said:

ashleyvictoria said:

Virginialeigh said:

When I worked at the preschool we used bleach and water, but sometimes the water would get into the toys and if you didn't get it all out it would mold. I've been using microwave steam bags.

Yeah I am worried about getting water in them. The steam bags are a good idea.

Be careful with this. I wanted to clean some toys that another child was playing with before DS was able to play with them and I figured I would just throw them in the sanitizer bag... Well they melted all over everything!

Eeek....thanks for the warning!

cmac6186

Would it be wrong to use adult toy cleaner spray on baby toys? :-?

hippohat

To do a bunch of water tight toys at once I did a bleach wash in the bathtub. Just be sure to rinse them really well if you use bleach. For one or two I just hand wash with hot soapy water, no special soap. I use Method spray on larger items.

If you use Clorox wipes make sure you rinse or wipe down with water before its played with!

JJsMum

theresat858 said:

I've never sanitized a toy..

Pretty much this. If i get used toys, I'll give them a wipe down with a Clorox wipe and then rinse with a wet paper towel. As far as toys in our home, I have once, and only because DS#1 puked on them.

BKLiz

I plan to use star San --- it's the sanitizer used in home brewing so we have tons of it. It's food grade and doesn't get rinsed off. Spray snd you're done.

hecklet

BKLiz said:

I plan to use star San --- it's the sanitizer used in home brewing so we have tons of it. It's food grade and doesn't get rinsed off. Spray snd you're done.

Genius!.... We will always have this on hand as long as my DH is willing to share