5 Easy Ways to Clean Your Baby's Bath Toys

A 2018 study found that no matter how much soap they splash in each night, baby bath toys are quite susceptible to pathogens and unwanted organisms. Yes, organisms. Indeed, the same research found that every bath toy studied tested positive for mold and other "biofilms," including (gag) fecal matter.

If that's not reason enough, learn why experts say you should clean your baby's bath toys and the different methods for getting bath toys squeaky clean.

Why You Should Clean Bath Toys

Just about any tub toy can become a breeding ground for mold and mildew simply due to the nature of its use. Think about it: The toy soaks in warm water for several minutes each day or every other day. Then, it sits around in a warm, humid bathroom without being dried off (thanks to the diaperless toddler who promptly went running down the hall post-bath) and possibly even with standing water inside it.

It's an invitation for a host of germs. So, are they harmful?

"Most children's immune systems should be able to fight off the pathogens found in bath toys," says Jennifer Foersterling, MD, a Washington University pediatrician at Premier Pediatrics. "However, infants, children with compromised immune systems, or those allergic to mold may be more affected. Mold and bacteria could cause serious respiratory illnesses like asthma and lung infections in those vulnerable groups."

According to researchers, bath toy biofilm comes from various sources, including:

• Tap water microbiome
• Human microbiome in used bathwater
• External and environmental microbial contamination in used bathwater

Unless you want to say goodbye to toys at bath time, you can't completely prevent the germs and mold, but you can treat them with a solid cleaning routine.

How to Clean Bathtub Toys

There are several different methods you can use to keep bath toys clean and safe for your little one. Find which works best for your routine.

Disinfect with bleach

Using diluted bleach is a great place to start for cleaning bathtub toys. "A 1:10 ratio is needed to fully disinfect," says Dr. Foersterling. If you're wondering how to clean the inside of bath toys, fill any places where water enters with the bleach solution.

Experts at Michigan State University suggest soaking bath toys that can be immersed in a bleach solution for one to five minutes while soft toys can be machine-washed in hot water with detergent and bleach.

Remember to thoroughly drain and rinse any waterlogged toys to avoid having your child ingest the bleach mixture at their next bath time. "I would recommend rinsing off the bleach after cleaning, then allowing the toy to dry fully," Dr. Foersterling says.

Wash with a vinegar soak

Not a fan of bleach? It's got its drawbacks: It's harsh on your eyes and nose, it can diminish colors and patterns, and it's harmful if ingested. Vinegar, on the other hand, poses less of a risk. And studies have found it has an antimicrobial effect.

So, if you're wondering how to clean bath toys with vinegar, most cleaning guides suggest a 1:1 ratio of water to vinegar. However, while this is sufficient for household cleaning, Dr. Foersterling recommends using it at full strength for bath toys. "Vinegar is not as effective as bleach and must be used full strength and allowed to soak for a longer period of time," she says.

To clean bath toys with vinegar:

1. Place the bath toys you want to clean in the bottom of a bucket.
2. Fill the bucket with enough white vinegar to fully submerge the bath toys.
3. Leave the toys in the vinegar for at least 30 minutes.
4. Remove toys and rinse with clean water.
5. Allow to fully air dry before putting away.

Run through the dishwasher

If your day's about as jam-packed as it gets (trust us—we get it!), you may be looking for a quicker, easier solution to this bath toy debacle. If that's the case, simply drop your little one's bath toys in the top rack of the dishwasher and run it on a hot cycle.

In pediatric waiting room settings, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends washing toys in soap and water, then disinfecting with a bleach solution, or cleaning in a dishwasher designed for sanitizing dishes. Voila—clean toys!

We recommend you check the manufacturer's recommendations before using this method since some bath toys aren't compatible with the dishwasher.

Boil in hot water

Another method for sanitizing bath toys is simply boiling them in a large pot of water. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nonporous objects like toys and infant feeding items can be boiled to sanitize them.

Simply bring water to a boil, then add toys using a pair of kitchen tongs. Let the toys soak in the boiling water for a few minutes, then carefully remove them and place them on a towel to allow them to dry completely. Boiling can also be a great way to clean the inside of bath toys.

Clean with disinfectant wipes

Some of the easier-to-clean bath toys (think sealed, nonporous materials that don't collect water) can simply be wiped down with disinfectant wipes to prevent mold growth and keep them sparkling clean for your little one. As long as there aren't places where water can get inside, Dr. Foersterling says wiping toys down after bath and allowing them to fully dry between baths should be good enough.

How to Pick Easy-to-Clean Toys for Bathtime

Keeping your baby's bath toys clean and free from harmful bacteria and mold is a lot easier said than done with certain toys. "If water can get inside, then mold can, too," explains Abe Navas, general manager of Emily's Maids, a house cleaning service in Dallas. "And it's often difficult to see and remove."

Keeping that in mind, the best solution is to skip toys where water can get in but that you can't get in to clean (looking at you, rubber duckie!). Look for toys that are completely sealed (no holes) and made from nonporous materials like hard plastic or silicone. To keep bathtub toys clean between washes, rinse the toys with clean water after each bath ensuring no water is trapped, and place them in a well-ventilated area to air dry before putting them away.