After a while, you may have to clean your baby’s rattle. Most likely, it would be covered with snot, saliva, dirt and grime. A dirty rattle can be a source of germs that cause diseases and illness. Cleaning it regularly is important and there are many practical solutions to clean baby toys effectively and safely at home.
Let’s take a look at some of the tips and tricks on how to clean your baby’s rattle.
Dishwasher
If you own a plastic baby rattle, tossing it into your dishwasher is probably the easiest and most convenient way to clean a baby rattle. Most plastic baby rattles are dishwasher safe but you should still check the care instructions.
Soap and Water
Many parents stay away from wooden toys in general because of the incorrect notion that wooden toys are difficult to clean. It’s actually easy and simple to clean wooden toys like a wooden rattle. Wood has natural antibacterial properties but you still need to clean them regularly.
First, you need to check the packaging of your wooden rattle for any cleaning instructions. The toymaker may suggest a few recommended ways to clean your rattle so simply follow their instructions.
Use a sponge or a used toothbrush to remove any obvious dirt and grime. If your baby rattle has stains, you may want to use baking soda or sodium bicarbonate. Baking soda is a common household item that is an effective cleaning agent.
You need a piece of cloth and a spray bottle filled with a soapy solution to clean the surface of your baby rattle. Keeping it natural is highly recommended. Natural soap like Castille is a good option. If you are disinfecting, you probably want to use vinegar instead.
Spritz a small amount of your cleaning solution into the baby rattle. Wipe the surface of the rattle thoroughly with a piece of clean cloth. Make sure to wipe all soapy or vinegar solutions.
Never soak or submerge the baby rattle in water or any other liquid cleaning solutions. Wood is porous and submerging them in any liquid can result in deformation. You do not want to end up with a damaged or deformed rattle.
Washing Machine
If you have a rattle made from fabric, chances are you can pop it into your washing machine. Make sure that your cloth rattle is machine washable. Some cloth rattles use metallic sound makers which are prone to rusting and corrosion.
Drying
Sun-drying your baby rattle is highly recommended. After all, the heat of the sun kills germs and bacteria naturally. When sun-drying, monitor how long the rattle stays under the heat of the sun. Prolonged exposure can result in paint chipping and fading.
Use a dryer only if it’s recommended by the manufacturer. The heat of the dryer might melt some pieces of the rattle and you don’t want that.
Additional tips
Clean your baby rattle immediately as soon as you notice stains and dirt. You should also clean them at least once a week and disinfect at least once a month even if it looks clean.
Disinfect your baby’s rattle immediately if she has been sick or if other children have been playing with her to prevent spreading of bacteria and germs.
