Babies and toddlers explore the world with their mouths, so their toys pick up saliva, food, dust and whatever was on the floor in a matter of minutes. Knowing how to clean kids toys properly, and how often, is one of those small household skills that quietly protects a young child’s health. This guide covers plastic, plush and bath toys, explains when washing is enough and when to disinfect, and sets out what to do during a bout of hand, foot and mouth disease.
The aim is not a sterile home. Children need to play, and most everyday germs are handled perfectly well by ordinary soap and water. What matters is a sensible routine, extra care for toys that go into mouths, and stepping things up when someone in the house is ill.
We base the health guidance here on HealthHub and the National Environment Agency. If your child is unwell, please see a doctor, and call 995 in an emergency.
What official guidance says about cleaning toys
HealthHub’s hygiene advice for young children, Washy Washy Clean, recommends buying washable toys and washing them with warm, soapy water and disinfecting them regularly, especially if your child likes to put them in their mouth.
The same page notes that washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds greatly reduces germs. Clean toys help, but they work best alongside handwashing for children and for the adults who care for them, especially after nappy changes and before meals. Good handwashing is also central to preventing threadworms in children.
Cleaning versus disinfecting: knowing the difference
The two words do different jobs.
- Cleaning removes dirt, food, saliva and most germs using soap or detergent and water. This is what most toys need most of the time.
- Disinfecting uses a chemical to kill germs that remain on a surface. It is for toys that have been mouthed a lot, shared with other children, or handled by someone who is sick.
Always clean before you disinfect. Dirt and residue shield germs from the disinfectant, so a quick wipe over a sticky toy does not do the job.
When parents ask how to sanitise baby toys, the honest answer is that for everyday play, a good wash with warm soapy water and a thorough rinse is usually enough. Save disinfecting for the situations above, and use it carefully.
How to clean kids toys by material
Hard plastic and silicone toys
Rattles, teethers, stacking cups and building blocks are the easiest to keep clean.
- Rinse off any visible food or dirt.
- Wash in a basin of warm water with a little mild dish soap, using a soft brush or old toothbrush for grooves and joins.
- Rinse well under clean running water.
- Air dry on a clean rack or towel, in a ventilated spot.
Check the label before using a dishwasher or steriliser. Some sturdy plastic and silicone toys are labelled as safe for the top rack of a dishwasher, while others warp in heat. For feeding items such as bottles and teats, our guide on sterilising baby bottles covers the methods in detail, and our baby formula guide explains preparing and storing feeds safely.
Wooden toys
Do not soak wood. Water can make it swell, crack and harbour mould. Wipe with a cloth dampened in mild soapy water, then with a cloth dampened in plain water, and dry straight away with a clean towel. Leave it to air fully before putting it back in the toy box.
Plush and fabric toys
Soft toys trap dust and absorb drool. Check the label first.
- Machine washable soft toys can go in a mesh laundry bag or pillowcase on a gentle cycle, at the warmest temperature the label allows.
- For soft toys that cannot be machine washed, hand wash gently in mild soapy water, rinse and squeeze out the water without wringing.
- Dry them completely before your child plays with them again. In Singapore’s humidity, a damp stuffed toy can turn musty inside. Use a breezy spot, a fan or a low dryer setting if the label permits, and squeeze the middle to check.
For children with asthma, HealthHub’s advice on practical steps for parents notes that removing soft toys from the bedroom helps reduce dust mites. Follow your child’s doctor’s advice.
Electronic and battery toys
Never submerge them. Remove the batteries if possible, then wipe the surfaces with a cloth slightly dampened with soapy water, followed by a damp cloth to rinse. Where disinfecting is needed, the NEA guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting residences list alcohol-based products with at least 70% alcohol as an option for surfaces. Alcohol is flammable, so use it away from open flames and gas stoves, and keep the bottle out of children’s reach. Let the toy dry completely before replacing the batteries, and keep loose batteries, especially button batteries, away from children. If a child may have swallowed a battery, seek medical help immediately.
Bath toys and the mould problem
Squeezable bath toys with a small hole underneath are a well-known problem. Dirty bath water gets sucked inside, never fully drains, and the warm, damp interior is ideal for mould and slime. Our humid climate makes it worse.
Some practical habits help:
- Squeeze and dry after every bath. Squeeze out as much water as you can, then leave the toys to dry in a ventilated spot, not in a closed basket at the bottom of the tub.
- Rinse with clean water. Fill and squeeze each toy with clean water a few times before drying, so it is not storing soapy bath water.
- Wash regularly. Clean the outside with warm soapy water and a brush once a week.
- Choose better designs. Bath toys with no holes, or those that open up so you can clean and dry the inside, are much easier to keep mould free.
- Know when to throw them out. If you see mould inside a toy you cannot open, discard it. It is very difficult to clean a sealed interior reliably.
Safe disinfecting at home
When a toy does need disinfecting, safety for the child matters as much as killing germs.
- Clean first, then disinfect.
- Follow the product label exactly for dilution and contact time. Stronger is not better, and different products vary in strength.
- Ventilate the room and wear gloves when handling bleach or other disinfectants.
- Never mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar or other acids, or with other cleaning products. The combinations can release harmful gases.
- Rinse toys that go in mouths with clean water after disinfecting, and let them air dry fully before giving them back.
- Keep children away while you work, and until the toys are rinsed and dry.
Store disinfectants safely too. HealthHub’s guidance on keeping your home free from safety hazards advises keeping cleaning products in their original containers and out of children’s reach. If you suspect a child has swallowed a chemical, seek medical attention immediately, do not give them anything to eat or drink, and note what was taken and when. Call 995 in an emergency.
For the rest of the home, our guide on disinfecting high-touch surfaces covers door handles, switches and tables.
Cleaning toys during an HFMD outbreak
Hand, foot and mouth disease is common in young children in Singapore. HealthHub’s page on hand, foot and mouth disease explains that it spreads through direct contact with the nasal discharge, saliva, faeces and blister fluid of an infected person, and that children below five years of age are particularly susceptible.
HealthHub’s guidance includes two points that relate directly to toys:
- Toys or appliances contaminated by nasal or oral secretions should be cleaned thoroughly before they are used again.
- An infected child’s toys, books, eating utensils, towels and clothes should be kept separate from others.
HealthHub’s guide to common toddler conditions also suggests that after the doctor’s visit, it is time to disinfect the toys and objects your child comes into contact with. In practice, that means putting the sick child’s toys aside, cleaning and disinfecting hard toys, washing fabric toys, and not sharing toys with siblings or visiting children until the illness has passed.
If you suspect HFMD, take your child to the family doctor and let the childcare centre know. Seek urgent medical help or call 995 if your child shows warning signs such as severe headache, neck stiffness, drowsiness, fits, or breathlessness. Our separate guide on HFMD cleaning at home covers the wider household routine.
A simple toy cleaning routine
- Daily: wash teethers and any toy that has been heavily mouthed or dropped somewhere dirty. Squeeze and dry bath toys.
- Weekly: wash the toys in regular rotation, wipe down larger toys and play mats, and clean bath toys.
- Monthly: wash soft toys that are used often, and check all toys for cracks, loose parts and mould. Throw out anything broken.
- During illness: separate the sick child’s toys, then clean and disinfect them once they are well.
If you have a helper caring for your children, it is worth walking through this routine together and writing it down. Our article on building a childcare routine with your helper has more ideas.
Related guides: Maid for Newborn Care Singapore: A Practical Hiring Guide and Nanny or Babysitter in Singapore? Why Families Pick a Helper.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I clean my baby’s toys?
Wash teethers and toys that go into your baby’s mouth daily, or whenever they are dropped somewhere dirty. Other toys in regular use can be washed weekly, and soft toys about monthly or when visibly dirty. HealthHub recommends washing toys regularly with warm, soapy water and disinfecting them, especially those your child likes to put in their mouth. Step this up when anyone in the house is ill.
Is soap and water enough to clean toys?
For everyday play, yes. Washing with warm, soapy water and rinsing well removes dirt, saliva and most germs. Disinfecting is worth adding for heavily mouthed toys, toys shared with other children, and toys used by a child who has been sick, such as during hand, foot and mouth disease. Always clean before disinfecting, and rinse mouthed toys afterwards.
Can I use bleach on baby toys?
Bleach can be used to disinfect hard, non-porous toys, but only if you follow the product label for dilution and contact time, ventilate the room and wear gloves. Never mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar or other cleaners. Rinse the toys thoroughly with clean water and let them dry fully before your child uses them, and keep children away while you work.
How do I stop bath toys getting mouldy?
Squeeze out all the water after every bath, rinse toys with clean water, and leave them to dry in a ventilated spot rather than a closed container. Wash them weekly with warm soapy water. Choosing bath toys without holes, or ones that open up, makes them much easier to keep clean. Discard any sealed toy with mould inside.
Should I throw away toys after my child has HFMD?
Usually not. HealthHub advises that toys contaminated by nasal or oral secretions be cleaned thoroughly before reuse, and that the sick child’s toys be kept separate. Hard toys can be cleaned and disinfected, and washable soft toys can be laundered. Toys that cannot be cleaned properly, such as some soft or sealed toys, may be worth setting aside or replacing.
Conclusion
Clean toys do not require special products or a spotless home. Warm soapy water, a good rinse and thorough drying handle most of the job. Add careful disinfecting for mouthed and shared toys, and when someone is unwell. Pay particular attention to bath toys and soft toys, which suffer most in Singapore’s humid climate.
Store cleaning products out of reach, and see a doctor if your child is unwell. Call 995 in an emergency.
A clear, shared toy-cleaning routine is one of the easiest ways for a helper to support young children’s health day to day. You can get in touch with the Femme5 team to discuss your family’s needs, read more about how we work with employers, or explore what a good placement looks like.
The Femme5 Team
Maid placement specialists, Femme5 Maid Agency
Our consultants work with Singaporean and expatriate families on helper matching, contracts and MOM compliance, and we verify the regulatory guidance in our articles directly against the Ministry of Manpower’s published requirements.
