Elliot has had the same set of Winny the Pooh stick on letters since his first Christmas (in 2009)....gross. I was thinking about all the times that I've put him in the bath and he's peed, or he maybe didn't have all of the poop off his butt...and then I think about when he was little and would put those in his mouth. *GAG*
I know that bath squirts are also popular but the other day I was squeezing out one of his and I noticed a black filmy gunk coming out. Needless to say I almost puked. I have a terrible gag reflex, I can't help it.
Well I've done a little research and it turns out it's not uncommon for bath toys to start growing mold or mildew. Add this to the list of things they don't tell you before becoming a mom.
Anyway, one option is to clean your bath toys. Here is the process:
What you'll need:
Small Plastic Tub
3/4 cup bleach
sponge
Directions:
1st
Run a gallon of warm water into the plastic tub. Add 3/4 cup of bleach to the water. Dip the toys into the bleach. If they are hollow, with an opening where water can enter, squeeze water into them and squirt it out several times. Use a toothbrush to scrub away small lines or blotches of mildew.
2nd
Empty the plastic tub, rinse it and fill it with clear cold water. Rinse the toys thoroughly in the tub. Again, squeeze water in and out of the hollow, open toys.
3rd
Dry the toys with a soft, absorbent cloth. Place them on a shelf, preferably one which has a bottom that is open to the air, such as a wire rack. Allow them to finish drying. Examine the toys for mildew again before giving them back to your child. If the mildew is still there, you can add a further step in cleaning.
4th
Spray straight white vinegar water on the toys. Squeeze it up into the hollow, open toys.Do not rinse the vinegar off. Let the toys dry and see if the mildew disappears.
5th
Throw away any toys that are beyond help and replace them. Bathtub rims and some shelves allow bath toys to sit in pools of the water that drains out of or off of them. Get and install a wire or mesh shelf that provides for this drained water to go away from the toys all together.
These steps were found HERE.
An effective way to keep mildew out of toys with holes, such as rubber ducks, is to simply put a small dot of hot glue over the hole to seal it off. This will keep the water out of the toy and depending on the toy actually helps them float better.
So down to the brass tacks, when do I throw out the old toys and replace them?
According to thebabyzone.com once a toy has mold in it you should throw it out immediately and get a new one.
But what about those pesky spongy stick on letters?
I couldn't find much info about when is a good time to throw out the letters, but my thoughts: After three years of basically staying in the bacteria filled tub (yes I clean my tub, but bacteria is a fact of life) they need to go!
Bottom line: Unless you sanitize your child's bath toys on a regular basis there is the risk of mold. When to throw them out is at your discretion but I can tell you this, Elliot can say goodbye to the three year old letters, and Mr. Green Duck is getting (for lack of a better description) a plug in his butt!
2nd
Empty the plastic tub, rinse it and fill it with clear cold water. Rinse the toys thoroughly in the tub. Again, squeeze water in and out of the hollow, open toys.
3rd
Dry the toys with a soft, absorbent cloth. Place them on a shelf, preferably one which has a bottom that is open to the air, such as a wire rack. Allow them to finish drying. Examine the toys for mildew again before giving them back to your child. If the mildew is still there, you can add a further step in cleaning.
4th
Spray straight white vinegar water on the toys. Squeeze it up into the hollow, open toys.Do not rinse the vinegar off. Let the toys dry and see if the mildew disappears.
5th
Throw away any toys that are beyond help and replace them. Bathtub rims and some shelves allow bath toys to sit in pools of the water that drains out of or off of them. Get and install a wire or mesh shelf that provides for this drained water to go away from the toys all together.
These steps were found HERE.
An effective way to keep mildew out of toys with holes, such as rubber ducks, is to simply put a small dot of hot glue over the hole to seal it off. This will keep the water out of the toy and depending on the toy actually helps them float better.
So down to the brass tacks, when do I throw out the old toys and replace them?
According to thebabyzone.com once a toy has mold in it you should throw it out immediately and get a new one.
But what about those pesky spongy stick on letters?
I couldn't find much info about when is a good time to throw out the letters, but my thoughts: After three years of basically staying in the bacteria filled tub (yes I clean my tub, but bacteria is a fact of life) they need to go!
Bottom line: Unless you sanitize your child's bath toys on a regular basis there is the risk of mold. When to throw them out is at your discretion but I can tell you this, Elliot can say goodbye to the three year old letters, and Mr. Green Duck is getting (for lack of a better description) a plug in his butt!
