Organizing your child’s toys can reduce stress, clutter and increase the safety of your home. Some toys can be dangerous if broken or too small to be appropriate for your child. Sanitizing toys and other items helps reduce the risk of your child getting sick. Once you have organized and sterilized the toys, developing a sanitizing routine will help to keep your child safe and healthy.

Here’s how to get started:

You will need: sanitizing wipes, household bleach, empty spray bottle,  towels, bins for storage, cleaning cloths and paper towels.

Begin by gathering all the toys belonging your child. Categorize them by type such as puzzles, action figures, legos, dolls, etc.

For toys that can be washed such as plastic toys, put them in the bath tub and spray with a mixture of 1 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water. Spray the toys thoroughly and then let sit for 5 minutes. Partially fill the tub with fresh water and rinse each toy thoroughly under running water. As you are rinsing, check each toy for breakage. Broken plastic toys can have sharp edges that can cause injury. Any broken toys should be discarded. Once rinsed, place the toys on a dry towel to air dry. When dry, place all the similar toys in a bin and label the bin to help your child to keep the toys organized.

For toys that cannot be sterilized in the tub, use a sanitizing wipe to wipe down each surface of the toy again checking for breakage. Place all the toys in bins according to categories. Label the bins and store in the place in which your child plays.

It is important that you determine whether toys are safe for your child. Toys with parts that are too small for young children should be stored in a safe place out of the reach of smaller children. This is particularly important if you have older children’s toys in your home with a toddler. You should also frequently check toy recall information in order to determine if dangers exist with your child’s toys.

Storage:

Bins are very useful for the storage of children’s toys. They can also serve as cleaning bins for sanitizing instead of using the tub (they will save on water usage too). Use a separate bin for each category of toy such as action figures, legos, cars, etc. If your child has a large collection of toys, bins can also be used to rotate toys weekly to reduce clutter, messes and aid in sanitation. Your child can become overwhelmed with too many items (just like you) and this can lead to frustration and an inability to keep organized at home and in school. Keeping an organized room is helpful for a child to feel focused and secure. Moreover, a child often looses items when their rooms are cluttered and disorganized. Children need dedicated spaces for their items just like adults. Labeling bins and assisting your children to develop good organizational habits facilitates more effective habits as well as makes picking up their rooms easier.

Stuffed Animals:

These can be washed in the washing machine and dried in the dryer. Add a touch of fabric softener to make them soft and fragrant. As you wash these items, check to ensure that any loose parts (eyes, buttons, etc) are securely fastened. These present a choking hazard. If the stuffie is showing wear, you can revitalize them by repainting the eyes and noses with non-toxic paint.

Crayons:

You can upcycle all those old broken crayons into new colorful crayons by using plastic jello molds in fun shapes. Categorize all the crayons by color and have your children help to peel the paper off. Use an aluminum can from your recycling bin to melt each color in a pan of boiling water. Then poor into the molds. When they are hardened remove them from the molds. These are great for younger children who need larger crayons or they can be hot glued to the outside of birthday gifts for that special touch.

Plastic Toys:

Large plastic toys such as Little Tykes can be cleaned and revitalized. These items if kept outdoors in the sun can fade. To prevent fading periodically clean with a mild bleach solution to remove dirt. When dry, apply a clear liquid floor wax with a damp sponge. Let dry.  This will help to preserve and protect these items and then when your children outgrow them, you can sell them. They will fetch more money as they will look newer.

Swing Sets:

Metal swing sets will look new if you wax the metal with car wax. This will keep the paint from fading and maintain your investment until you are ready to sell when your children have grown.

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