Keep Mold Away From Your Child’s Bath Toys
When it comes time for a bath, your little one probably has a favorite toy they like to bring into the tub with them. But what’s really lurking on that bath toy? Just like your shower and bathtub walls, your child’s bath toys are at risk for mold growth.
Here are a few tips on how to clean your child’s bath toys to keep them mold-free and ensure your child is safe:
Keep Mold Growth Away
Following the bath, squeeze as much water out of the toy(s) as possible. Set them along the side of the bathtub or on a counter where they can dry fast. Most mold growth occurs inside of bath toys. Use a hot glue gun to close up any holes along the toy to prevent this.
Clean The Toys
Unfortunately, your kids’ bath toys don’t get enough of a cleaning from the soap in the tub. About once a week, make sure to remove all toys from the bathing area and give them a cleaning. The best option to clean toys is vinegar. It acts as a natural cleaning agent that dissolves soap scum and removes stains. Fill a bucket with ½ vinegar and ½ warm water. Submerge the bath toys and let them soak in the mixture for about an hour. After the soak, rinse each toy with water and allow them to air dry.
Sterilize Bath Toys With Heat
You can sterilize bath toys and kill disease-causing germs with high heat. The best way to do this is use your dishwasher. To keep from damaging the toys, load them onto the top shelf – where the heat isn’t as intense. Use your regular dishwasher detergent and run a cycle with just the toys inside.
If you don’t have a dishwasher, you can still sterilize the bath toys in the sink. Fill a bowl or basin with the hottest water possible and a few squirts of dish soap. Submerge the toys and let them soak for a few minutes. Wipe them down with a clean sponge or cloth. Rinse the soap off and, again, let the toys air dry.
Sanitize Bath Toys with bleach
For a heavier clean, consider bleach. You want to use a solution that’s strong enough to kill bacteria and viruses, but weak enough to ensure there isn’t any bleach lingering on the toys (that may end up in your child’s mouth).
It’s recommended to use 1 tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water. Mix the solution in a bucket and submerge the bath toys for about 10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with water and allow the toys to air dry.
Do you worry about mold in your bathroom or has your shower been damaged by mold growth? Contact A-Abel plumbing for more information about a bathroom remodel.
