Babies of all ages generally have one thing in common; they put nearly everything in their mouths on a consistent basis. Mouthing is how infants explore their world. This is one reason it’s important to learn how to clean baby toys. Even indoor toys or toys that are new and haven’t been played with can harbor dangerous germs and chemicals which will go straight into your infant’s mouth putting him/her at risk for illness and infection.http://www.new-vis.com/fym/papers/p-feed1.htm

However, some cleaning products are just as dangerous to your baby as the germs you are attempting to kill. While keeping baby toys clean is important, cleaning them properly is equally vital. Improper cleaning can also lead to damaged or destroyed toys, which quickly becomes expensive.http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=10&e=expertadvice&content=31105

This simple step by step guide will demonstrate which products are safe for cleaning baby toys, how often toys should be cleaned and how to clean the various play things your baby has.

Experts are torn on whether regular exposure to cleaning products can cause health issues in children. There are, however, indisputably safe cleaners that parents can use with confidence.http://www.babiestoday.com/articles/home-safety-issues/can-household-products-harm-your-baby-174/

Vinegar: Vinegar has been long known to disinfect and clean. It may not taste good, but its edible and entirely safe for all ages. http://www.care2.com/greenliving/vinegar-kills-bacteria-mold-germs.html

Baking Soda: Baking soda will neutralize odors and work like a detergent but without the harmful chemicals.http://www.armhammer.com/basics/magic/#1

Hot Water: As clean and safe as it gets, good old fashioned boiling or hot water is underestimated in the cleaning world. http://www.blisstree.com/treehuggingfamily/25-safe-non-toxic-homemade-cleaning-supplies/

Just about anything, including your baby’s toys, can be cleaned using various combination of these three items, while saving money on cleaning products to boot.

If you would rather use conventional cleaning products, be sure to read labels carefully. Look for products that are non-toxic and biodegradable. If they are safe for the environment, they are most likely safe for human beings. You may also want to avoid heavily scented cleaning products as these may aggravate some children's breathing or cause skin reactions. Consider freshening the scent of your home with plants instead, as they are known for their ability to improve air quality. Or purchase fragrant herbs for cooking and start a fragrant indoor herb garden.http://www.extension.umn.edu/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/h110Indoorair.html

You don’t have to go cleaning and sanitizing every toy in the house each and every night to have a healthy baby. In fact studies suggest that children who have some exposure to everyday dirt and germs actually have healthier immune systems than children that are raised in a hermetic and sanitized environment. This is because their bodies are exposed to less dangerous or even harmless bacteria and germs which allow their immune system to become stronger, where as a child that has never been exposed to such things will have an unprepared immune system when it inevitably encounters toxins in the course of a lifetime.http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/health/27brod.html

Clean baby’s toys about once a month or if any of the following instances occur:

1. When toys become visibly dirty or have been covered in food or drink bits.

1. If your baby, family members or visitors have been sick or are recovering from sickness.

1. When other babies come to play and drool, or otherwise, on your baby's toys.

As a parent, a good litmus test to determine when it's time to wash the toys, is to determine at what point you would no longer put the toys in your mouth. If they are too dirty for you to mouth, then they should be washedt.http://www.fisher-price.com/us/prepare/qanda.asp?c=bg_clntoy&qandaid=159023

Now that you know what to clean with and when to clean, the final step is to clean those toys.

Cleaning Hard Material Baby Toys without Batteries

Wash these toys like you would a dish. Throw them in the dishwasher or into the sink with everything else. All natural soap and some hot water is all that’s needed. Larger toys can be sprayed with a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water and then wiped down.

Cleaning Hard Material Baby Toys with Batteries

You don’t want to submerge these toys as if a toy has batteries it likely has electronics which will be destroyed in water. You can spray these toys with a vinegar water solution and then wipe clean with a rag. Be careful not to over saturate and some toys are particularly sensitive to moisture.

Cleaning Plush or Soft Baby Toys without Batteries

You can clean these toys just like the laundry. Toss them in the machine. You can use your baby’s detergent or plain old baking soda as cleaner. You may want to air dry them as many baby toys can melt in the dryer.

Cleaning Plush or Soft Baby Toys with batteries

Unfortunately these toys are hard to clean. In some cases you can remove the electronic box from the toy and wash them as stated above. If the electronic parts are not removable you can spray the toy with a mix of vinegar and baking soda to disinfect and deodorize. Some parents swear lemon juice and sunlight will remove stains. Hand washing may also work if you are careful to avoid soaking electronic components. http://www.make-baby-stuff.com/how-to-clean-baby-toys.html