The Cleaning Solution You'll Want To Use On Toys

Whether it's a set of building blocks or an outdoor play set, everyday plastic and hard-surfaced toys are infamously dirty. Fortunately, a quick clean with Windex is one of many ways to regularly freshen up the toys that kids love and enjoy the most. Most commonly touted as a useful glass cleaner, Windex is a popular household product that effectively removes grime from the dirtiest of items. And while the original cleaner works, Windex now has a multi-surface spray capable of eliminating bacteria and is even more suitable for projects like deep cleaning children's toys.

The same germs that are found living in the air, on the body, and even in stool can survive on hard surfaces for weeks at a time. With this in mind, it's important to be cognizant of how frequently different toys should be disinfected. In this case, hard toys like bath toys and building blocks that are played with daily should be cleaned at least once a week.

According to the company's website, there is a four-step process to follow when using Windex Disinfectant Cleaner Multi-Surface spray to ensure that you're getting the most out of it. Start by pre-cleaning the individual items to remove any excess dirt or residue. Then, spray the surface until it is thoroughly coated in disinfectant, wait 10 minutes, and remove the product with a dry towel. While this is a solid baseline, there is an extra step that you should take when cleaning toys.

Of course, the most important part of cleaning children's toys is safety. While it's critical to remove bacteria with cleaning products like Windex, you should never leave chemicals on any surface a child touches. That being said, take the extra time to thoroughly rinse each toy and play area disinfected with chemical products with water. Once the toys have been cleaned, disinfected, and rinsed, it's time to dry them. Much like chemicals in cleaning products are hazardous to kids if left on the surface of their toys; water can pose the threat of mold if the toys aren't dried quickly and properly.

Today, there are seemingly endless amounts of cleaning products that seem to be perfect for cleaning up after children. However, it's important to read the fine print for such an important task. Both original Windex and Windex Disinfectant Cleaner Multi-Surface products kill 99.9% of germs on a surface. They target multiple types of bacteria that cause frequent sicknesses in children, including Streptococcus pyogenes (strep throat) and the common cold.

Many Windex products are also ammonia-free, which is a huge plus when it comes to cleaning toys. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes the chemical as a "corrosive substance" that is commonly found in household cleaning products. When exposed to the substance, people often experience coughing and eye irritation, and when ingested, it can cause burns in the mouth and throat. Because children are constantly putting things (like play food and all other toys) that they shouldn't be in their mouths, it's important to clean their items with ammonia-free products.