How to wash soft toys in a washing machine and by hand

Care of children’s toys should be taken seriously, because the health of the baby depends on it. Soft toys perfectly absorb dust and moisture, they can easily become a breeding ground for disease-causing bacteria. Regular washing and compliance with the rules of operation will protect the child from adverse consequences. Let’s consider how to wash soft toys correctly. Here are tips for washing in a washing machine and by hand.

About choosing toys

You should think about washing toys when you buy them. The choice in children’s stores is huge, and parents are often tempted to give their child another cute teddy bear. However, it is wiser not to surround the baby with a large number of plush friends. It is better to buy him some good quality toys that will be easy and simple to care for.

We recommend following several rules when buying:

• Be sure to first look at the label of the toy you like. If it is not machine washable, think twice about buying it.
• Buy toys only from well-known manufacturers that use quality materials. Beware of bears and bunnies with a toxic smell produced in an unknown Chinese factory. Firstly, the materials from which such a toy is made can be dangerous for the child’s health. Secondly, they may contain low-quality dyes, and after the first wash, the toy will lose its appearance.
• If there is a pile on the product, check that it is well stitched. Otherwise, the toy will begin to shed, which will cause trouble for both you and the child.
• Pay attention to whether the toy has hard parts and how easy it is to remove them. The presence of such details can be dangerous for children, and in addition, it will make washing more difficult. Remember that you cannot wash things with decorative elements in the washing machine, which can damage the drum.

• When buying a new toy, first think about how much your child really needs it. Do not accumulate a lot of soft products at home, it will not be good for your baby. Get rid of old toys in a timely manner. There are many charities where you can donate things that are no longer needed.
• Don’t buy a toy that’s too big to fit in the drum of your washing machine. First, such a plush friend will become a giant dust collector. Secondly, you will have to spend money on dry cleaning. This is a very impractical purchase.
• Do not buy white toys because you will have to wash them separately from colored items. In addition, they will get dirty faster.
• Purchase a toy storage container with a lid. It will help protect them from dust.
• The higher the humidity in your home, the fewer soft toys you should have. Do not forget that soft products perfectly absorb moisture and become a convenient place for bacteria to multiply.
• Musical soft toys will also be an impractical purchase, as you will not be able to wash them. That is, you can, of course, but after that they will cease to be musical.
• Pay attention to the toy filler. Some types – for example, metal balls – cannot be washed in a washing machine.

So, let’s summarize. The ideal situation: your child has several high-quality toys from well-known manufacturers that can be washed in the washing machine. They are stored in a special container with a lid that protects them from dust. You timely get rid of old toys in good condition, giving them to friends or to charitable organizations.

How often should children’s toys be washed?

It depends on how often and actively they are used. The standard rule is as follows: we clean children’s things once a week. However, if the toys are kept in the container under the lid most of the time, then they should be treated as necessary.

With active use, the toy can get dirty in a couple of days. In this case, put it in a separate container for dirty laundry, and then wash it. Never store dirty toys with clean ones.

Hand washing rules

If your child still has toys in his collection that can only be washed by hand, then this is done as follows:

1. Soak the product in a slightly warm soapy solution for half an hour.
2. Then rinse the product in a basin of clean water, gently pressing it to remove soap residue. Do this several times.
3. Squeeze the toy very carefully.
4. Dry the product thoroughly. This is a very important stage. Do not forget that bacteria can spread easily in a wet product.
5. If the toy has a long pile, comb it to restore the fluffiness of the product.

For washing, use baby powder or mild shampoo. To remove stains, use special children’s stain removers.

Machine wash

1. Put the toys in a special laundry bag or in an old pillowcase. Do not mix colored and white products.
2. Pour a small amount of baby powder into the detergent compartment, preferably a soft washing gel.
3. Select the hand wash mode (temperature 30 degrees) and minimum spin.
4. After washing, dry the toy thoroughly. It is best to do it in the sun, as ultraviolet rays have a disinfecting effect.

How to clean toys without washing

If the product is too large, or washing is prohibited, proceed as follows:

1. Vacuum the toy using a special nozzle.
2. Find a plastic bag for the size of the product. Put a toy there, pour baking soda or potato starch into the bag.
3. Close the bag tightly. Shake it vigorously several times to distribute the cleaning agent evenly throughout the product. Leave for a couple of hours.
4. Remove the toy and vacuum it again, removing all detergent residue.
5. Comb the toy with a brush if it has a long pile.

This method is not suitable if the child tends to pull the toy to the mouth. In this case, it is better to get rid of the product, leaving the baby only those toys that can be washed in water.

How to remove stains from toys that cannot be washed

1. Take a soft sponge, wet it with water and wring it out.
2. Wipe the stained area until it is wet.
3. Then gently apply foam from household soap or a solution of children’s stain remover with a sponge.
4. Wait a few minutes.
5. Gradually remove the remnants of the detergent with a squeezed sponge.
6. Dry the soaked area thoroughly.

You can try to remove greasy stains with ethyl alcohol, but it can damage the dye.

Do not use aggressive products for cleaning children’s products. Especially if your child tends to pull toys to his mouth.

Can musical soft toys be washed?

A soft toy with a special mechanism for playing sounds can be difficult to care for. Check the toy’s manual to see if the mechanism can be removed from the product. If not, then we advise you not to buy this toy, or accept its ephemerality. You can try to tear apart the product, remove the mechanism, wash the soft base, and then reassemble the toy. However, this is a rather risky method, and it can lead to damage.

How to disinfect toys

It happens that the child’s things have been in the hospital, and you want to make sure that there are no disease-causing bacteria left on them. In this case, you should do the following with soft toys:

1. First, wash them in the appropriate way and dry them.
2. Process the products with hot steam from an iron or steamer.

You can also put the products in a bag and put them in the freezer for a couple of days. Or put it outside or on the balcony if the weather is cold outside.

Do not use chlorine to treat toys, this substance is dangerous for a child.