Maintaining a clean home all the time is already a feat on its own, but it can be even harder when you have young children, particularly ones who have lots of toys.
asserted
who → maintain → toys
While cleaning rooms and doing laundry are a part of everyone’s routine, keeping toys like Legos, stuffed animals, electronics and dolls clean isn’t on everyone’s list of chores.
asserted
keeping → clean → chores
To find the best way to clean toys — and the best products to use — I spoke to multiple cleaning professionals for their guidance and recommendations.
asserted
I → find → guidance
“Different materials absolutely need different care,” says Becky Rapinchuk, founder of Clean Mama, a cleaning blog and product line.
asserted
Rapinchuk → need → Mama
In other words, some toys only need a wipe down with mild soap, while others may have to go in the washing machine or require more care.
uncertain
others → need → care
Want more from NBC Selected? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.
The best chemical-free cleaners for toys
The products below are either direct recommendations from our experts or staff members, or are based on our previous coverage and/or are from brands we’ve tested.
asserted
we → want → brands
As someone who writes a lot about cleaning, I rarely ever write a story without recommending this product from Dawn.
asserted
I → write → Dawn
It’s one of my, and NBC Selected reporter Zoe Malin’s, favorite affordable cleaning products, because it is mild, effective and has many uses.
asserted
it → ’ → uses
I use it all the time to clean my kitchen countertops as well as my refrigerator.
asserted
I → use → countertops
And while it’s great for cleaning dishes, it’s also a powerful mild soap that you can use to clean the surface of plastic toys.
asserted
you → ’ → toys
You can spray this onto a damp cloth and use it to wipe dolls, dollhouses, building bricks and other toys with finished surfaces.
asserted
You → spray → surfaces
Almost every cleaning expert I talked to recommends using microfiber towels with warm water and mild soap to clean plastic toys.
asserted
I → talk → toys
They last longer than paper towels, are reusable and are machine washable in warm water.
asserted
They → last → water
NBC Selected senior editor Shalwah Evans uses these microfiber cloths and says that they’re durable and don’t get ruined after many uses or after several washes.
asserted
they → use → washes
If you plan on cleaning toys that haven’t been used in a while, they’re likely covered in dust, especially if they have fabric or upholstered surfaces.
asserted
they → plan → surfaces
This duster kit includes one handle and five dusters to clean around your home, including those toys.
asserted
kit → include → toys
I use these to clean things like my television, around the bedside table, baseboards and coffee tables.
asserted
I → use → table
They work incredibly well and they do an excellent job of attaching to dust like a magnet, not just pushing the dust from one spot to another — I rarely ever have to go over the same surface more than once.
asserted
I → work → surface
Plus, it’s easy to replace the duster head, which you need to do after a while.
asserted
you → ’ → while
I love Method’s lineup of plant-based, non-toxic cleaning products and body washes, since they’re effective but don’t have strong chemical smells.
asserted
they → love → smells
They’re alcohol-free and made from ingredients like corn and coconut, according to the brand.
uncertain
They → ’re → brand
The wipes are also compostable and each container has 70 wipes.
asserted
container → have → wipes
People who bought them say they enjoy the lime scent and say that the wipes don’t rip easily as you clean.
For an unscented option that’s also safe on toys, skin and other surfaces, try Dreft’s All-Purpose Wipes.
asserted
that → buy → Wipes
If you use either of these, just be sure to avoid electronic and battery compartments and wipe the toys with a damp cloth after.
asserted
you → use → cloth
These laundry detergent pods are unscented so they’re perfect for people who are sensitive to strong smells or don’t want toys to have a soapy fragrance.
asserted
toys → ’re → fragrance
The pods are made from biodegradable ingredients, so they’re safe to use on even delicate articles of clothing and machine-washable stuffed animals.
asserted
they → make → clothing
This option is made for sensitive skin so the pods are fragrance free and they’re accepted by the National Eczema Association.
asserted
they → make → Association
While they’re great for general cleaning, you may have to take further steps or use another product to get rid of harsh stains.
uncertain
you → ’re → stains
Since many stuffed animals and toys are machine washable, a washing machine bag such as this one is a great option for getting them clean while protecting any delicate parts or material.
asserted
them → stuff → parts
They’re large enough to fit stuffed toys like Squismallows and Jellycats, but they’re also suitable for several types of clothing.
asserted
they → ’re → clothing
You can use them for silk clothing, satin bedding, knits, scarves and other delicates.
asserted
You → use → clothing
They also have a zippered closure to keep the toys inside the bag while they roll around in the washer.
asserted
they → have → washer
How to clean plastic toys (building bricks, dolls and playsets)
For most plastic toys without compartments for batteries or any other electronic features, simple is best.
asserted
simple → clean → batteries
You can clean them with items you probably already have in your home, particularly in your kitchen.
asserted
you → clean → kitchen
“Hard plastic toys like Lego sets, play kitchens, and doll houses can be wiped down with a damp cloth and mild dish soap, or soaked briefly in warm soapy water and rinsed well,” says Rapinchuk of Clean Mama.
asserted
Rapinchuk → wipe → Mama
“Avoid bleach and harsh disinfectants on plastic toys, as they can degrade the plastic or leave toxic residues.”
asserted
they → avoid → residues
Additionally, you shouldn’t use alcohol-based cleaning products to clean toys made of finished wood since it can strip the finish.
asserted
it → use → finish
You should also use soft tools, such as a microfiber cloth, to clean plastic toys instead of abrasive scrubbers, sponges or scouring pads to prevent scratches.
asserted
You → use → scratches
For cleaning small pieces, like Legos, for example, it might be easier to wash them all at once by cleaning them in a sink or bowl with warm water and mild soap, instead of wiping each one hand by hand.
uncertain
it → clean → hand
“You never want to lose a [Lego] down the drain, so just do yourself a favor and throw a strainer in the drain to catch any strays so they don’t get lost forever,” says Ryan Knoll, owner of cleaning company TidyCasa.
asserted
Knoll → want → TidyCasa
…and 40 more, not listed.
The Aporia
