How to Sterilize Baby Toys
You've found a great bargain at a yard sale or secondhand shop. Gently used baby toys, still clean and unbroken, are perfect for playing. Before letting your little one play with them, however, you'll want to make sure that those toys have been properly sterilized to eliminate any lingering dangers.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Old or dirty toys Dishwasher Bleach A large bowl or small bucket Dish sponge Clean towels
Instructions
-
Dishwasher Method (Hard Toys Without Cloth or Electronic Parts)
-
1
Place the toys in an empty dishwasher.
-
2
Set the dishwasher for a "light wash" or "light cycle" and put the appropriate amount of dishwasher detergent into the reservoir (the exact settings will vary based on your particular machine).
-
-
3
Make sure that any "heated dry" function of the machine is turned off.
-
4
Turn on the dishwasher and allow it to complete its cleaning cycle.
-
5
Remove the toys from the dishwasher and wipe off remaining water with a clean towel.
Bleach Method (General Purpose Sterilization)
-
6
In a bowl or small bucket, prepare a solution of 1 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water.
-
7
Dip a soft, non-scouring dish sponge into the bleach mixture.
-
8
Wipe down the toy with the wet sponge. The goal is not to soak the toy, but to lightly cover all surfaces with the bleach mixture.
-
9
Use a clean towel to wipe off the bleach mixture.
-
1
