Rubber ducks, funnels, toy fishing rods with magnetic fish; kids love to take toys into the bathtub.
Unfortunately, while your child is getting clean, these toys may be getting nastier and nastier, especially if you’re not cleaning them between baths, especially if they’re the kind with a hole in the bottom that can let water in.
With some diligence, though, you can keep your child’s bath toys clean and mold-free. Here are some expert-driven suggestions for how to clean bath toys.
Choose Bath Toys That Are Less Likely To Get Moldy
Many bathtub toys are advertised as mold-free. These are typically shaped toys that do not have holes for water to become trapped inside.
Choosing toys of this variety will make keeping them clean and safe a little easier. Just to share a few examples, TubWorks has a set of sealed jungle critters that don’t trap water inside, and Munchkin has a toy fishing set with magnets and no holes. We bought the Munchkin set or a similar one to go with a water table several years ago, which was an utter delight.
Keep an eye out to prevent your kids from sneaking unsanctioned toys, like Barbie dolls, plushes, and toy cars, into the tub, since they are not designed for the water, and are more likely to get rusty or moldy if not maintained.
You can also use hot glue to seal the holes in toys, but you’ll have to check them regularly to ensure they’re still sealed.
Dry It Out
Letting toys stay wet is an invitation for mold.
Store toys in a mesh bag or a plastic basket with plenty of holes (including in the bottom) to allow air to circulate and let any water drain. Toys left in the tub or stashed in a bucket or bin are more likely to stay damp between baths.
If your toys soak up water, you’ll need to dry them after each bath.
Squirters and other toys with holes should be squeezed thoroughly to get every drop of water out.
Spongy toys, like the Cocomelon Bath Buddy (one of the rare plush dolls that can be taken in the tub), should be squeezed dry and frequently run through a washer and dryer.
Remember, try never to put your child’s toys away when wet, especially when they are holding water.
Disinfect Toys Frequently
WebMD recommends a weekly thorough disinfectant wash for your child’s bath toys and a wipe-down with a disinfectant wipe after each bath.
Depending on the toys and the tools you have available, there are a few methods of this.
A dishwasher is a good choice for many toys, but if you don’t have one, an alternative is to add very hot water to a tub with some dish soap, give the toys a good soak, and then thoroughly scrub them.
Diluted bleach is also effective but has the highest risk. It can damage some toys and should only be used in a well-ventilated area. If you use bleach, combine a half cup of bleach with a gallon of water and use gloves. Be sure to protect your face and clothing.
The third option is vinegar and water. Soak toys for 15 minutes to 24 hours in a solution of equal parts water and vinegar. Squeeze any toys with holes so that the vinegar solution gets inside and then squeezed out.
Supervise Bath Time
Until your child is old enough to bathe alone, you should watch closely during baths to ensure they’re not putting the toys in their mouths.
Small children love to use their toys as transport to move bath water from the tub to their tummies. Even if your bathtub and all the toys are super clean, it’s not a great idea for them to drink the water their bodies are in, especially with soap and shampoo added.
Add the fact that the toys may be harboring microscopic amounts of mold and bacteria, and it’s even grosser and riskier.
If your child is determined to have a drink during tub time, bring a bottle or sippy cup of clean water to the bathroom, keep it on the counter, and offer it as necessary so your child can learn the difference between water clean enough to drink and water used for cleaning their body.
Never let your child use bath toys to squirt water into their mouth!