Aug 12, 2010 | By Lisa Porter
Lisa Porter began writing professionally in 2009. She writes for LIVESTRONG.COM, eHow, Answerbag and TrailsTravel. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Amherst College.
Photo Credit baby with toy ring image by Pavel Losevsky from Fotolia.com
Infants often put toys in their mouths, meaning that toys shared between toddlers can easily spread germs. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment recommends that parents and childcare providers avoid letting infants and toddlers share toys. You can also help prevent the spread of germs by regularly cleaning and sanitizing children's toys.
Step 1
Provide babies with toys that you can easily wash, such as plastic or rubber toys.
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Step 2
Place dirty toys or toys recently placed in an infant's mouth in a bin designated for dirty toys.
Step 3
Scrub the dirty toys in warm, soapy water, using a wire brush or sponge to scrub creases and hard-to-reach areas.
Step 4
Rinse the soap off the toy with clean water.
Step 5
Soak the toy in a disinfectant solution for about 10 to 20 minutes. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment recommends using a bleach disinfection solution made with 1 tablespoon of bleach and one gallon of cold water.
Step 6
Rinse the disinfectant off of the toy with clean water.
Step 7
Dry the toy to prevent bacteria or mildew from growing on it.
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Tips and Warnings
- Discard leftover bleach solution rather than saving it to use again. You can also wash plastic toys in a dishwasher and cloth toys in a washing machine. If you are out and cannot disinfect toys with bleach solution, use sanitary wipes to clean toys temporarily or give your child a fresh toy from your bag.
- Bleach mixed with chemicals may form a toxic solution. Only mix bleach with fresh water. Keep the bleach disinfectant solution away from children.
Things You'll Need
- Bin
- Soap
- Bleach
- Water
- Wire brush or sponge
References
- Kansas Department of Health and Environment: Toys, Children and Sanitation
- Healthy Kids: Cleanliness---Cleaning and Sanitizing