Life hacks for parents: how to properly care for children's toys?

Children's toys, in addition to bringing joy to their owners, can bring unpleasant consequences in the form of allergies or, even worse, serious diseases like asthma. For example, rubber ducklings, which are so fun to take a bath with, quietly grow mold, and all kinds of soft toys accumulate dust, one of the most common allergens.

There is only one conclusion: children's toys require constant care. YokoSun advises how to properly care for toys made of various materials.

How often to wash children's toys

First, let's decide how often you should wash children's toys. The fact is that there are no universal recommendations; a lot depends on the materials, conditions of use, and the baby’s habits. However, it is definitely worth carrying out the treatment after visiting the clinic, in some cases, both after a walk and during the child’s illness.

For the rest, you can focus on this graph:

• Rattles and chewers require daily care;
• We process plastic, wooden and rubber toys once a week;
• Stuffed toys should be washed every 2-3 months.

How to care for toys made of different materials?

In order not to spoil your baby’s favorite toy, it is important to properly care for products made from different materials. For example, wood absorbs water well, and therefore such a toy can quickly swell. Rodents require more careful treatment, since the child comes into closest contact with them. Let's look at each case in more detail.

• Plastic and rubber toys

They are the easiest to care for. Materials such as plastic and rubber do not absorb moisture and dust does not accumulate in them. Caring for such toys is as simple as possible: just wash them in soapy water.

Even wet wipes are suitable for daily care. At the same time, it is important that the napkins do not leave soapy streaks and consist almost entirely of purified water, without fragrances or aggressive chemical components. This is exactly what the YokoSun brand produces. YokoSun wipes are safe for children, do not cause allergies, and the impregnating lotion is 99.9% purified water.

Rubber toys in the bathroom require special attention. They most often accumulate mold - fungi that can cause cough, runny nose and even skin diseases. To check if there is mold on such a toy, just hold it up to the light. If you see dark spots, it's time to throw away the toy.

To avoid the rapid development of mold on your child’s favorite duck, seal the hole through which water can leak. Dry the product immediately after use or choose toys that will not get wet.

• Soft toys

Soft toys are dangerous because they often accumulate dust - another reason for coughing or allergic reactions. Therefore, it is important to take good care of them.

It is convenient to wash such toys in the washing machine, but there are several nuances. Firstly, a gentle temperature regime is necessary - the water temperature should not exceed 30C, the washing time should not exceed 40 minutes.

Secondly, usually such products have a wide variety of unusual colors, and therefore paint well. Try to wash one toy at a time in the drum, without using harsh surfactants (surfactants).

Some children like to sleep with soft toys, and therefore it is necessary to exclude allergies to laundry detergents. Choose products suitable for caring for children's things. With YokoSun washing gel you don’t have to worry about not only the safety of the child, but also about stains. It effectively fights stains, while protecting the color and structure of fabrics due to its gentle composition.

• Toys for newborns: rattles and chewers

Rattles are usually made of plastic, and chewers are made of silicone. It would seem that these materials are easier to care for. However, if the child is less than a year old, washing such a toy becomes a little more difficult - disinfection will be required.

The easiest way to clean these items is to throw them in the dishwasher. There the water is heated to 90C, which ensures that bacteria and germs are eliminated. Never wash toys in the washing machine - powder particles may remain on their surface. It is also worth thinking about the composition of the dishwasher detergent: it should not contain phosphates, chlorine and other aggressive substances. As for example inphosphate-free dishwasher tablets YokoSun. This product is not only safe for children from birth, but also provides care for the dishwasher itself, softening the water and preventing the appearance of plaque.

If you don’t have a dishwasher, just rinse the toys under warm water with dishwashing detergent - again, hypoallergenic. After washing, rinse the toys with hot water or use a chlorhexidine solution.

• Wooden toys

Wooden toys can also be washed with plain water, but there is one caveat - wood absorbs moisture well. Therefore, the longer such a toy is in water, the higher the likelihood that it will swell and simply deteriorate.

Use YokoSun antibacterial wet wipes. Their impregnation based on purified water will quickly evaporate from the wooden surface. If the toy is small, you can steam it. For example, hold an iron on the appropriate mode over it for several minutes.

• Toys with batteries

Such products do not tolerate contact with water - batteries and contacts quickly oxidize, and, even worse, can ignite. How to care for them?

Some parents put toys in the freezer for a couple of days - this way, they believe, the bacteria die. In fact, at a temperature of - 18C (on average, these are the values ​​the temperature in a household freezer reaches), bacteria and other microorganisms actually stop reproducing. But when defrosted, the bacteria will not die, but will be ready to be active again. Therefore, this method cannot be called effective.

Here again, wet wipes can come to the rescue - thoroughly wipe the toys with an antibacterial agent. If the toy is very dirty, remove the batteries and gently wipe with soapy water without touching the contacts. Then dry thoroughly.

Remember, any baby’s toys need constant care. Moreover, care should not only provide effective cleansing and protection from bacteria, but also not harm the child’s health. Whether it's toys, clothes or dishes - trust products that cope with dirt and take care of the little ones.