How To Wash Plastic Toys
As I mentioned recently in a post about cleaning stuffed animals, my somewhat psycho-rigid side prevents me from having too much fun with things like grime and dirt in general. Imagine my badly faked smile when a couple of weeks ago, my kids giddily brought up a box full of 30-year-old LEGOS from my parents’ basement!
This brought up a mind-numbing cycle: the inventory of all plastic toys needing to be cleaned in our house and how to do it.
Well, turns out it’s not that complicated. phew!
• Building blocks, LEGOS, large non electronic plastic toys can generally be washed in the dishwasher. Simply use a mesh bag or colander and wash in the upper drawer. It is recommended to use 1/4 cup of baking soda instead of detergent in this case, and let them air dry rather than using the heat setting.
- Of course you can hand wash them as well using warm water and dishwashing detergent. Let the toys soak for a few minutes before scrubbing using a sponge.
• Toys with electronic components can be washed with a soft cloth and a spray bottle of white vinegar. Spray the toy and wipe clean, let it dry.
• To remove mold from bath toys, you can soak them in white vinegar overnight. If it looks like it needs another round, soak them in warm water overnight with a denture tablet and rinse thoroughly the next day.
Tip: Include the kids in the hand washing, it becomes quite a game!