How To Clean Your Bath Toys

May 7, 2021

Written by Jo Charnock

May 7, 2021

Written by Jo Charnock

Bath time should be a fun time for you and your baby! Bath time is an opportunity for you to play with your baby. It’s also a time to introduce bath toys which can encourage independent play and keep them busy. However, have you thought about how to clean your bath toys? Or can you put bath toys in the dishwasher? In this article, we will talk about the importance of keeping bath toys clean and the best ways to do this.

Why should I clean bath toys?

Firstly, you may be wondering why should I clean my baby’s bath toys? After all, they do spend most of their time in warm soapy water. We put our babies in the bath to get them clean, so why would the bath toys get dirty?

Unfortunately, bath toys are a breeding ground for mould and bacteria. While the outside may look clean, the inside may be a different matter. Squeezy bath toys often have small holes to let the water squeeze in and out, and the small size often helps make a fun noise. However, these squeezy bath toys never completely dry out and if water is trapped inside it’s the perfect place for mould to grow. The humidity in your bathroom crossed with soapy, then ‘dirty’ water, means that bath toys can be full of bacteria, which encourages mould to grow.

Research shows that your baby’s favourite bath toy might be putting them at risk of an eye, ear or stomach infection if not regularly cleaned.

How do I clean bath toys?

Before you start cleaning your bath toys make sure you rinse them well and then squeeze out all the water after each use. Then make sure you dry them well by placing them with the squeezy holes facing somewhere that is cool and dry. This will help to stop the growth of mould and prolong their use.

For cleaning bath toys we recommend the following methods:

Soap and water:

The best and simplest way to clean bath toys is with soap and warm water. You can use dishwashing liquid or even a squirt of shampoo. Squeeze the air out of the toy and allow it to draw in the clean soapy water. Do this a few times or until the water runs clear. Then make sure you have squeezed all the water out and leave the toy somewhere to dry, and so that any trapped water can drain out.

Vinegar and water solution:

Sometimes soap and water are not quite up to the job of removing stubborn mould. Vinegar is a very effective and all-natural cleaner, and a favourite amongst parents. You can mix a vinegar solution by combining two parts warm water and one part white vinegar. Soak your bath toys in the solution for 10 minutes. The acid in the vinegar will naturally dissolve most of the dirt, so you do not need to use soap. Afterwards, rinse the toys in warm water and then let them dry.

Bleach:

Not every parent will want to use strong cleaning chemicals with their children’s bath toys, but there’s no denying the mould-busting cleaning power of bleach. If you do use bleach, always follow the instructions on the packaging. The secret to using bleach safely is to make sure you rinse the toys of any bleach solution several times. To clean your baby’s bath toys with bleach, soak the toys in a weak bleach and water solution overnight. Afterwards, thoroughly rinse the toys several times and leave to air-dry.

baby bath toys

Can you put bath toys in the dishwasher?

The good news is that yes, you can put bath toys in the dishwasher! But first check that the toy is dishwasher safe. Dishwashers run at high temperatures to kill germs, and may destroy a toy that is not dishwasher safe.

For cleaning bath toys in the dishwasher fist make sure any water is squeezed out. Then place the toys on the top shelf. Use regular dishwasher detergent and wash them like any other plate or cup. Once your dishwasher cycle is complete, lay the toys out on a clean towel and let them dry completely before putting them back in the bathtub.

If you use bleach to clean your baby’s bath toys, then you can also use your dishwasher to give the toys a final clean. This will make sure you are rid of any harmful cleaning chemicals.

Which materials are dishwasher safe?

Always check to see if your baby’s bath toys are dishwasher safe. Silicone toys should always be OK, however plastic toys require more care as some are not dishwasher safe. Also, not all plastics are BPA free, so always make sure you buy BPA free bath toys by checking the label. Our Cherub Baby silicone suction bath toys are made from pure silicone and so they are 100% BPA free. This means they are safe for your baby and safe for the dishwasher. Shop for the complete set of our mould resistant bath toys here.

How often should you wash baby toys?

Firstly prevention is better than the cure. So always make sure you rinse your bath toys after each bath, squeeze any excess water out and place them somewhere to dry.

There is no official guide as to how often you should wash your baby’s bath toys. However, we do recommend that they get a thorough clean at least once a week. As bath toys spend most of their time in water, cleaning them is often overlooked. This will result in a build up of bacteria and mould, especially in the unseen areas – the inside of the toys.

Dirt and mould can build up very quickly inside squeezy bath toys, even with regular cleaning. So if you see traces of black mould being squeezed out of the toy in the water, it’s time to get rid of the toy.