Toys beloved by children can get super gross, so we’ve come up with some methods to help you clean off all that grossness. 

The key to remember when cleaning any surface, toy or otherwise, is to scrub enough to remove dirt and grime. No amount of chemical will clean a toy unless the surface debris has been removed. 

Below is a chart stating which types of toy can be cleaned in what ways, with detailed cleaning methods underneath. Each cleaning method is divided between toys with batteries, and those without. 

Cleaning with Soap and Water:

Good ole’ soap and hot water will clean off most bacteria and viruses from surfaces just from the mechanical action of scrubbing. Unless a toy has been exposed to a person who is currently ill or recovering from a very recent illness, soap and water is perfectly adequate in general cleaning. Once a month or so, you may want to use a mild bleach solution to sanitize children’s toys, but really, skipping the bleach is unlikely to result in a catastrophic pandemic. We trust that you have done your own research and know what’s best for those in your life.

Toys without Batteries:

Mix a few drops of soap into warm or hot water. Hand soap and dish soap both work fine. Scrub away any visible debris, rinse, then let the toy dry. Let the toys soak if dried debris needs softening.

TIP: If the toy fell into something stinky, adding white vinegar to the water will help eliminate odors. About a ½ cup of vinegar to a sink full of soapy water should do it. (Feel free to add more, so long as you’re comfortable with the smell of vinegar.) You can let the toy soak anywhere from 5-30 minutes.

Toys with Batteries:

If the toy has any electrical component, be sure to remove all batteries, and carefully wipe the toy down with a cloth or sponge. Keep a dry cloth handy, as any excess moisture getting inside the toy could potentially damage circuits, affecting the toy’s ability to produce light, sound, or other battery operated functions.

Do not submerge this kind of toy into water.

Cleaning with Alcohol and Water:

This is a common method used by many of those who want to avoid using bleach on a regular basis. Be sure to do a spot test on toys that have painted areas, as alcohol is a pretty effective paint remover.

Toys without Batteries:

Clean off any visible debris.

Make a 70/30 solution of rubbing alcohol and water in a spray bottle. Spray down toys, then let them sit for a minute. Rinse off, and let dry.

Toys with Batteries:

Clean off any visible debris. Remove all batteries or unplug toy.

Using the 70/30 solution of rubbing alcohol and water, carefully wipe down toys making sure excess moisture does not reach the internal areas. Keep a dry cloth handy, as any excess moisture getting inside the toy could potentially damage circuits, affecting the toy’s ability to produce light, sound, or other battery operated functions.

Do not submerge this kind of toy into water.

Cleaning with Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2):

Steadily increasing in popularity, Hydrogen Peroxide is another cleaning method used by people wanting to avoid overusing bleach. Though not as likely to remove paint as alcohol, H2O2 may affect painted areas on toys. Do a tiny spot test if you aren’t sure how the paint will react, and use soap and water if it looks like it’ll be a problem.

Toy without Batteries:

Clean off any visible debris.

Make a 50/50 solution of Hydrogen Peroxide and water. Place toys in a bowl, then fill the bowl with the 50/50 solution so that the toys are covered. Wait until the liquid stops bubbling, then rinse off toys, and let dry.

Toys with Batteries:

Clean off any visible debris. Remove all batteries or unplug toy.

Using the 50/50 solution of H2O2 and water, carefully wipe down toys making sure excess moisture does not reach the internal areas. Keep a dry cloth handy, as any excess moisture getting inside the toy could potentially damage circuits, affecting the toy’s ability to produce light, sound, or other battery operated functions.

Do not submerge this kind of toy into water.

Cleaning with Vinegar:

Cheap and ecofriendly, vinegar has become another popular cleaning chemical. Vinegar’s acidity helps it kill some household germs, but its real benefit is its ability to help cut odors. This can be useful when a toy has been dropped into something stinky, or been in an area where cigarette smoke may have left a mild scent on the toy. In the case of strong cigarette odors, we recommend using an enzyme cleaner designed to combat stale smoke.

Toys without Batteries:

Clean off any visible debris.

To soak toys, add about ½ cup white vinegar to a sink full of water. (Using cold water will help keep the smell of vinegar from wafting through the whole room.) Toys can soak anywhere from 5-30 minutes. Rinse, then let air dry. The vinegar smell will dissipate as the toy dries.

To give toys a wipe down, just make a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water (or just plain white vinegar if you don’t mind the smell) in a spray bottle. Spray down toys, let sit for a few minutes, then rinse off and let air dry.

Toys with Batteries:

Clean off any visible debris. Remove any batteries, and make sure toy is unplugged.

Wipe down toys with a mix of at least 50/50 white vinegar and water. More vinegar can be used if desired. Make sure moisture does not get into the toy’s internal parts, as this can damage any electrical components.

Do not submerge this kind of toy in water.

Cleaning with a Baking Soda Scrub:

Sometimes, oil and dirt can get really ground in. When this happens, baking soda’s abrasiveness can come to the rescue. Be gentle though, as this same abrasive action can take off thin layers of plastic, leaving discolored areas. Use a cloth, or better, an old toothbrush to scrub away smudges. Be careful on painted areas, as this could scrape the paint right off. Be. Gentle.

Toys without Batteries:

Make a paste of baking soda and liquid soap. A single drop of soap to a tablespoon of baking soda seems to work out okay. Using a cloth, an old toothbrush, or your finger, use the paste to scrub away smudges and streaks. Rub in small circles, making sure to start out gently until you know how the surface is going to respond.

TIP: If it seems like paint is flaking off, run the area under warm water until most or all of the paste is rinsed away. Once it seems like most of it is gone, use a wet rag to wipe off the reminder, doing so gently.

Toy with Batteries:

Use the same method above, just be sure to mix the baking soda with water instead of liquid soap. Since electronic toys cannot be submerged in water, it may be difficult to rinse away the scrub in the case that paint starts to become damaged.

If paint starts to fleck off during the scrubbing process, don’t try to rinse the toy! Instead, let the paste dry completely (this is why you use water, not soap), then gently flake it off.

Sanitizing with Bleach:

Bleach is highly effective, cheap, and a little bit goes a long ways. Please be sure not to exceed the amount needed. Additionally, bleach breaks down fairly quickly in water, so make up a new batch of bleach and water every time you need to use it.

Toys without Batteries:

Clean off all visible debris.

To sanitize, mix ¼ teaspoon bleach with 1 quart of cold water (or 1 ½ teaspoon bleach to 1 gallon of cold water). Use this to soak toys for a few minutes, spritz from a spray bottle, or just wet a cloth and wipe toys down. Rinse, then let toys air dry.

Toys with Batteries:

Clean off any visible debris. Remove any batteries, and make sure toy is unplugged.

Using a mix of ¼ teaspoon bleach to 1 quart cold water, wipe toy down. Bleach is extremely damaging to electronic components, so be especially careful if using bleach to clean any sort of electric or battery operated toy. Keep a dry cloth handy just in case the cleaner gets where it shouldn’t.

Do not submerge this kind of toy in water.

Cleaning with Wipes:

Most toys can be wiped down with any store-bought disinfecting wipes. Just make sure that any paint will not be affected. Rinse or wipe off any chemical residue.

Cleaning in the Washing Machine:

Did you know that plastic toys can be tossed into the washing machine? Cool, right? Place the toys into a delicate’s bag, and wash on cold or warm (hot may melt thinner plastic or destroy paint), using a small amount of detergent.

Toys that cannot be put through the wash:

• Toys that are super fragile/old
• Toys that have glued on pieces that may come off
• Battery operated or electronic toys of any kind
• Toys filled with foam pellets (Beanie Babies may not come out so well)

For stuffed animals and other plush toys, please see our blog, How to Clean Plush Toys.

Cleaning in the Dishwasher:

We don’t recommend this method, as many plastic toys may deteriorate over time, or end up with a strange, somewhat tacky texture. If the toy is made from 100% silicone, it should be okay.

We strongly suggest you inspect your toy’s packaging to see if the manufacturer states the toy being dishwasher safe.

Did we miss anything? We hope not, but hey, we’re human. If you have a great toy cleaning tip or a question to something you’ve read here, send us a message at guidefortoys1@gmail.com.