1. Put LEGOs in a mesh bag and wash them monthly in the washing machine.
2. Soak tangled Barbie hair in a solution of fabric softener and hot water.
Barbie dolls can be sanitized with a 50/50 mix of rubbing alcohol and water and a cotton ball or rag. Use Q-tips or toothpicks for crevices. After, the dolls’ plastic is sanitized, you can move on to the hair.
This next part is like a deep conditioning treatment and detangler for doll hair. For multiple Barbies, add ¼ cup fabric softener to a pot with very hot water and let the hair soak for up to 10 minutes. If you have only one Barbie, a tablespoon or two of fabric softener and hot water in a glass will work.
After soaking, brush Barbie’s hair with a hard-bristled brush and allow to air dry.
3. Sanitize and loosen dirt from toys with a steamer.
Steam kids’ toys to loosen any grime, then wipe off the condensation and any residue afterwards.
NOTE: Don’t steam toys that have stickers on them — the stickers may peel off.
4. Wash one stuffed animal at a time in a mesh laundry bag.
Obviously, you don’t put toys with electronics in the wash. Also, ensure all accessories are removed and secured to the toy properly. Ideally, you’ll want to air dry the stuffed animal, but you can also set your dryer to low heat on the permanent press setting too.
Use the warmest setting appropriate and make sure these toys dry completely to prevent the spread of germs prior to letting your kids play with them again.
5. Freeze difficult-to-wash stuffed animals and pillows to kill dust mites or pests.
Place the toy in a plastic bag, squeeze out all the air, and chill in the freezer for at least 48 hours.
6. Soak plastic toys in hydrogen peroxide.
Add toys to a large bowl or bucket, and pour in the peroxide — just enough to cover the toys. Let sit for 10-15 minutes. Once the bubbling stops, remove the toy, rinse with water and air dry completely.
7. Clean and deodorize baby toys with baking soda.
Dissolve 4 tablespoons of baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. Wash toys with a clean, damp sponge or cloth. Then, just rinse and dry.
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8. Soak bath toys in a vinegar solution.
Combine two parts warm water and one part white vinegar, and let bath toys soak for 10-15 minutes. (You may need to weigh down foam toys so they’re completely submerged.) The acid in the vinegar will naturally dissolve most of the dirt, so you do not need to use soap.
Note: This will only clean the toys not disinfect. Also, this is not listed on EPA’s website as a disinfectant against the coronavirus.
9. Prevent mold growth on bath toys with hot glue.
The inside of a bath-time squeeze toy will eventually get moldy when water gets trapped inside. Plug up the air hole so no water gets in and prevent mold from forming.
10. Remove crayon from books with a kneaded eraser.
Remove crayon marks on sturdy, thick paper with a kneaded eraser, commonly found at art supply stores.
First warm up the eraser in your hands until it’s pliable. Then use a small circular motion against the crayon mark to gently remove it. As the eraser becomes discolored, stretch the material to use a clean section on the marks.
11. Remove ink stains from plastic dolls with pimple cream.
Make sure the acne cream you use has benzoyl peroxide (most do, and you can find it cheap at the dollar store).
Generously apply the cream on the ink stain, then place the toy in the sun for a few hours. Afterwards, just rise the doll off with water, and the ink should be gone.
12. Spray WD-40 on walls to remove crayon marks.
Only use WD-40 on walls with a sheen to the paint since the oil in WD-40 can stain matte or flat paints. Then, just wipe away the stain with a clean rag.
13. Use a one-part vinegar, one-part water solution to disinfect wooden toys.
Add the solution to a spray bottle then spray a soft cloth. Wipe wooden toys with the cloth and allow to air dry.
Note: This will only clean the toys not disinfect. Also, this is not listed on EPA’s website as a disinfectant against the coronavirus.
14. Clean and disinfect toys in the dishwasher.
15. Remove permanent marker stains with regular toothpaste.
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