For some families, there seems to be no escaping the tub full of bath toys. If you find that every time you open the shower curtain to bathe, you need to remove the wet, dripping bath toys, you would probably appreciate some organization. Not only is a tub full of bath toys a slippery hazard, it is also a breeding ground for bacteria and mildew. Keeping the bath toys disinfected, dry and organized can make your shower experience that much more enjoyable.
Step 1
Sort through the bath toys. Discard any soft cloth bath toys that contain mold or mildew. Replace the discarded toys with new ones, if necessary.
Step 2
Disinfect plastic bath toys, even those that contain mildew, in a bleach bath. Fill a basin with cool water. AgriLIFE Extension from Texas A&M University recommends adding ¼ cup of household bleach for each gallon of water in the basin. Allow the toys to soak for a minimum of two minutes, rinsing afterward with cool water. Set the toys in a dish rack to air dry.
Step 3
Store the clean toys in a mesh bag after cleaning, suggests Mississippi State University. Mesh bags, such as the kind used for laundry, are washable and keep the bath toys organized all in one place. They also contain air holes, which allow the bath toys to breathe and drip dry when wet.
Step 4
Hang the mesh bag from the shower head. Remove the bath toys from the mesh bag during use. Rinse the bath toys and place them in the mesh bag to drip-dry after use.
Tips and Warnings
- Remove the bath toys from the mesh bag every two weeks for disinfecting. Toss the mesh bag and any soft toys in your washing machine for cleaning and then in the dryer to fluff-dry. Place the plastic toys in a bleach bath for 10 minutes, rinse and air-dry. If you have a dishwasher, place the plastic toys in the top rack and run the dishwasher through its normal cycle. The heated water can kill bacteria and mildew, replacing the bleach bath every two weeks.
- Avoid buying cloth toys for bathtub use. Soft toys do not always drip-dry thoroughly, which often leads to mildew stains. Hard plastic toys are easily cleaned and less likely to develop mildew problems. Do not use a bucket, basket or plastic bin to organize bath toys. Water can collect at the bottom of these storage devices and breed mildew, which may transfer to the toys.
Things You'll Need
- Basin
- Household bleach
- Mesh bag
