Just because the rubber ducky joins your children for their evening bath, doesn’t mean it stays squeaky clean. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Wet rubber bath toys, left behind in the bathtub, are prone to the growth of bacteria and mold, approximately 24-48 hours after bath time, if not properly maintained.
Luckily, these simple cleaning tips will help stop mold and mildew in their tracks, and keep your children healthy. Here’s how:
Maintenance
To help keep your children’s bath toys in pristine condition between baths, make sure to rinse them off. Shake and squeeze bath toys to remove any water that may have been trapped inside. Thoroughly dry each toy with a clean towel, and then lay them out to dry. Make sure to stand squeezable toys up-right, to encourage any leftover water to drain. Refrain from leaving your bath toy in the bathtub or bathroom, after rinsing, as humidity can encourage the growth of mold and mildew. Instead, store your children’s bath toys in a dry area of your home.
Deep Cleaning
A deep cleaning of your children’s bath toys should be done approximately one to two times a month in order to keep toys clean, and to keep mold and mildew at bay. Since bath toys sit in the tub with you children, and often find their way into their mouth, it is recommended that you use a natural cleaning solution to clean their toys.
Start by combining one cup of white vinegar with four litres of hot water into a clean sink or bucket. Place the bath toys into the sink or bucket and mix them around in the solution. For any squeezable toys, squeeze the solution into the hole at the bottom of the toy and shake. Once you’ve cleaned the inside of the toy, squeeze out the solution and place the toy back into the sink or bucket. Let the toys soak for approximately one hour.
Once the toys are done soaking, drain the solution. Using a stiff bristled scrub brush and warm, soapy water, scrub the outside of each toy. Rinse each toy thoroughly after. For squeezable toys, fill each toy with clean, hot water and then squeeze out the water. Do this a couple of times to ensure all the soap and water has been removed.
Dry toys thoroughly with a towel and let them air-dry in a dry area of your home.
