S/O cleaning

[jackie011]

DS now puts everything in his mouth. How often do you clean toys? What do you use for cleaning? At daycare I know they use a diluted bleach solution, but I wonder if there's something better for home?

[Deleted]

Rarely. If they get sticky, I noticed it's been slimed on a lot, or looks gross I'll toss it in the dishwasher or the next sink of dishes.

DS has a bear he sucks on and I toss that in the laundry. DD dolls get gross too (she drags them outside) and I pull out the battery pack if necessary and wash.

I've only actually ever disinfected hardcore with the bleach/scrubbed ALL the toys 2 winters ago when we had strep and a virus we couldn't get rid of.

[Deleted]

Like never. Maybe if one of them got really sick I would.

[lg28]

Never unless its puked on.

[zarapipe]

I did a few times when she was young...then never unless she was sick and then i would just lysol them.

[dcn]

I only cleaned them when he had a stomach bug.

[DarcyLongfellow]

Basically never.

With DD1 (fewer toys in the house, more paranoid first time mom), I did sometimes. I used soap and water and sometimes I'd soak them in a diluted bleach solution.

With DD1, I'd clean after I hosted playgroup because it grossed me out to have 6 toddlers slobbering all over all the toys. I haven't started hosting playgroups for DD2 yet, but I can't imagine how I'd do that now because our toy volume has probably increased tenfold.

[bananapancakes]

I use vinegar and water. Note: I've done this once.

[sent]

Usually only when they look visibly grimy or I know I dropped them somewhere gross.

But I do wash them more often when I'm putting on an act in front of others. Like we were at my husband's aunt's house. The aunt has a granddaughter who is just a few weeks older than DD. She said "we wash granddaughter's toys every night." So I would pretend to wash DD's toys every night while we stayed there. I just don't have the courage to say to her that maybe I'm more breezy about toy washing than her DIL.

[formerlyllizzyb]

Sept 20, 2014 9:56:17 GMT -5 @carmensandiego said:

Like never. Maybe if one of them got really sick I would.

Same. Or if I notice a toy looks disgusting.

[Ashley&Scott]

We wipe stuff down with baby wipes or wash it in the sink with dish soap & warm water. Things that could be tossed in the washer were. When he was in the "everything in my mouth" stage it was probably once a month or if something was puked on or taken out of our home. Now it's less than that but still occasionally.

[h]

With soap and water, but only if puked on/sticky/covered with crud. I can't remember the last time I cleaned a toy.

[Marmee]

After I dig them out of the garage for the next kid...pretty much not ever else unless they are sticks or visibly dirty.

[t]

Only if visibly gross or the toy was in the tub during a code brown. Lol. Those got a bleach and hot water bath.

[winemaker06]

Probably more often than most people posting!
Toys that get dropped on the ground outside when we're out and about get washed when we get home. Otherwise every so often I'll clean everything with soap and water.

How long does the 'sticking Everything in the mouth' phase last?

[rugbywife]

Wow. I was scared when I saw the OP and now I feel way better.

[irishbride2]

I'd rather my kids get a few germs than bleach.