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November 2013 Moms
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Cleaning hand me down baby items

Littlemama01Littlemama01 member
in November 2013 Moms
Does anyone have any tips on how to clean a hand me down playpen? My sis dropped it off unannounced and when dh and I unpacked it later it smelled strongly of pee. I mean I get it, They used it 4 years with 2 kids, so it's pretty old. Last weekend I told her I might just go buy myself a new one, but she seemed offended so I couldn't tell her that it smelled!

Anyway, I'm hoping I can put the bassinet part in the washer with some vinegar but I don't want to ruin it cause she wants it back if we aren't using it..
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Re: Cleaning hand me down baby items

  • MsCrispyMsCrispy member

    I'd remove anything that I could and send it through the wash.

    I would then put the structure itself (except for the mattress) and put it in the shower. Then you can scrub down the netting on the side and stuff.

    For the mattress, I would just wipe it down and clean as best as possible. I'm not sure what they are made of, but I don't think I would want to get them completely wet.

    Hope that works.


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  • sarenu1sarenu1 member
    Awhile back on the cloth diaper board someone mentioned vodka as a deodorizer.

    I'd google both vodka and vinegar as cleaners and see it suggests anything.
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  • MrsCCParraMrsCCParra member
    Is it a pack n play type? I read somewhere about using a gentle detergent and putting the whole thing in the bathtub with water and the detergent and to let it soak for hours. I would take the parts out of the "mat" part if possible. I think that's made of "cardboard type" material that may not withstand water. After you let it soak for awhile, I would try to set it up outside if possible and let it dry in the sunshine. Not sure if this method works but it's worth a shot. GL!
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  • PeachsMamaPeachsMama member
    Everything pps said.

    If you can't wash the mattress part they do make play pen sheets. I would febreeze the crap out of it and maybe spray with vinegar. Then buy sheets for it.
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  • Littlemama01Littlemama01 member
    Hmm ok you've given me an arsenal of idea''s. I'm attempting this afternoon just with the bassinet part and see what works and I will keep you posted!
    Thanks ladies, oh Btw - love the bathtub idea, I was struggling with where to do the bigger part
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  • MrsCCParraMrsCCParra member
    Let me know how this works out for you! So I know whether or not to attempt;)
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  • babymama619babymama619 member
    MsCrispy said:

    I'd remove anything that I could and send it through the wash.

    I would then put the structure itself (except for the mattress) and put it in the shower. Then you can scrub down the netting on the side and stuff.

    For the mattress, I would just wipe it down and clean as best as possible. I'm not sure what they are made of, but I don't think I would want to get them completely wet.

    Hope that works.


    I agree with this. Except instead of the shower I'd just use a hose outside. Let it dry then repeat if necessary. Also Lysol the whole thing.

    Not sure if all the effort is worth not hurting her feelings, but this is your best bet if you want to clean it.

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  • rbtrumpetrbtrumpet member
    PPs mentioned good ideas about how to clean it, but since I didn't see it,

    Dry it in the sun!  The sun kills germs, smells, and is a natural brightener.  So wash it with vinegar/soap/vodka/whatever, scrub it down, then if you can, put it outside somewhere on a sunny day.

    I did that to a few hand-me-downs (even though they didn't smell, fortunately).

    Good luck!
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  • MsCrispyMsCrispy member

    I'd skip the lysol and febreeze and just use regular dish soap, vinegar, and baking soda...whatever combo works to get the smell out. I try to keep chemicals away from the baby stuff, especially something they will be sleeping on.

    If you do need to use something harsher, just make sure to rinse it all out.


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  • barista411barista411 member
    I saw this blog post on Pinterest the other day on how to clean your pack n play.

    https://www.alexharalson.com/2013/06/how-to-clean-and-disinfect-pack-n-play.html?m=1
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  • lafsalotlafsalot member
    sarenu1 said:

    Awhile back on the cloth diaper board someone mentioned vodka as a deodorizer.

    I'd google both vodka and vinegar as cleaners and see it suggests anything.

    Vodka is a deodorizer and it steralized the bacteria, it is a costumes trick. I sprayed a whole bottle on a ballet groups costumes a few months ago because the sweat so much during the show and you can't dry clean between every show on a tour. Works wonders, drys clear and cheap stuff works... Don't buy good stuff.
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  • beccaxbooxbearbeccaxbooxbear member
    Don't forget baking soda! Maybe you can use that on the mattress part
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  • chatita_78chatita_78 member
    barista411 said:
    I saw this blog post on Pinterest the other day on how to clean your pack n play. https://www.alexharalson.com/2013/06/how-to-clean-and-disinfect-pack-n-play.html?m=1

    ^^^ This
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  • Littlemama01Littlemama01 member

    Gotta admit, I got lazy yesterday afternoon and didn't attempt this, but I will try it at some point this weekend, and I agree with PP babymama I'm not going to too much effort just to not hurt my sister's feelings, but I figure it might be handy to know in the future anyways.   If I end up getting my own P&p then worst case I give it back to her cleaned up and she can sell it if she wants to get rid of it!

    (I swear she can't smell it, sometimes I found her house in general smelled like pee) and I would comment the diaper pail must be full etc, and she totally didn't know what I was talking about or notice the smell..  They have a smelly dog too, so it could be that I was smelling..

    She's not gross or anything, her house is clean, her and her boys are clean, but I do have a super sensitive sense of smell which is made stronger by pregancy!

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  • 3Dewdrops3Dewdrops member
    Maybe you can be conveniently "gifted" with a new one.  
    I used a PnP with my youngest instead of a crib but the mattress part got soiled.  I learned the hard way it is not meant to be submersed.  I put it in the tub with dish soap 2-3 times over the months that I used it. It ended up getting warped, rendering it useless to use with a baby.  I'm not okay with just covering smells of yucky messes-it has to be clean! We are not bothering with a PnP this time. IMO this is a major design fail of something a baby sleeps on. I'm all for waterproof crib mattresses.  My PnP was old though...they may be different now?
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  • bluebell2012bluebell2012 member
    I vote you buy a new one and say you were gifted it by a friend. Then suggest she keep hers at her home incase you are there and need to use it. Just forget everytime you go there and bring your new one. No hard feelings and she will feel that she will get visits with baby and use hers again which will make her feel good :)
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