Cleaning Question for those with experience with children

[trotskyleon]

Re: Cleaning Question for those with experience with childre

Since you're new to the forums, I'm going to assume that you don't know my back story. :thumbleft: Quick run down: this has been a very complicated pregnancy and kiddo isn't here yet though due any day now. I started this thread to help me get the rest of the difficult to clean toys ready for the impending arrival even though said toys won't be used for quite a few months.

Oh Congratz then! I am sure everything will be fine. Already got toys before the baby comes out wow!

You are gonna have lots of fun :lol:

My advice enjoy them when they are still baby, cos they grow up quick. Once they become toddlers they are good fun (break stuff, make a mess, talk etc). Join a "MILF" group :mrgreen: . Get to know other moms, and share experiences and make friends!

you will be fine!

 

[Rose]

Re: Cleaning Question for those with experience with childre

Since you're new to the forums, I'm going to assume that you don't know my back story. :thumbleft: Quick run down: this has been a very complicated pregnancy and kiddo isn't here yet though due any day now. I started this thread to help me get the rest of the difficult to clean toys ready for the impending arrival even though said toys won't be used for quite a few months.

Oh Congratz then! I am sure everything will be fine. Already got toys before the baby comes out wow!

You are gonna have lots of fun :lol:

My advice enjoy them when they are still baby, cos they grow up quick. Once they become toddlers they are good fun (break stuff, make a mess, talk etc). Join a "MILF" group :mrgreen: . Get to know other moms, and share experiences and make friends!

you will be fine!

Thanks for the advice, but already done. :thumbleft:

This pregnancy was far from a surprise, lol.

 

[LadyLuna]

Re: Cleaning Question for those with experience with childre

I haven't finished reading but...

75% rubbing alcohol is the best solution for getting rid of germs, if you use a slightly damp washcloth, it'll be sterilized and will air dry completely with no alcohol left. Just wear a mask so you don't inhale the fumes while you're pregnant and you should be good.

If you're paranoid about the alcohol still being there, get a washcloth damp with the hottest water you can stand to touch and wipe it down again after the alcohol. The water being so hot helps it evaporate faster. Then wait two days before using any of the elecronic stuff on it just to be safe.

Note: getting electronics wet doesn't actually hurt them. It's using them while they're wet that hurts them. It's important that it's completely dry before you use it again, and this is the part that people fuck up. Small electronics drenched in a downpour (like my ipod that one time in college...) take 3-4 days to dry to the point where it's safe to use them again. The giant tv my partner and I grabbed off a sidewalk during a downpour took 3 weeks to dry completely and be useable.

 

[Red7227]

Re: Cleaning Question for those with experience with childre

When in doubt, Bleach! (obviously diluted down for general cleaning purposes)
As long as it doesn't get on fabric that could turn white bleach is probably the best all around germ killer in any household. Not only toys but it's great for kitchen countertops, cutting boards...everything.
Also great for water purification in case the power ever goes out and you're forced to drink water from a questionable source. :geek:

Yes but, I can't exactly get these toys wet because of the electrical parts. It's hard to explain how it works.

Normally a bleach solution is my go to for any cleaning problem, but I don't want to damage the toy before it's ever been used. Maybe wetting a rag and wiping the toy down with my go to bleach solution? I'm not sure if that's any safer than just spritzing it with my spray bottle though.

Let me clarify, these toys CANNOT GET WET OR THEY WILL BE RUINED. They CANNOT SAFELY BE WASHED IN THE DISHWASHER OR THE SINK. Otherwise, they'd already be cleaned and put away. :thumbleft: All of my fabric toys are already cleaned and good to go. It's the hard plastic toys with electrical parts that still need to be cleaned and put away.

Don't worry, you hygine standards will collapse in a heap and just scraping off the obvious bits with a finger nail will be about the limit of your interest

If you still have standards, then some cotton balls/ripple/buds and alcohol/metholated spirits will work. They will not affect electrics and will have mininmal impact on plastics

 

[Red7227]

Re: Cleaning Question for those with experience with childre

Note: getting electronics wet doesn't actually hurt them. It's using them while they're wet that hurts them. It's important that it's completely dry before you use it again, and this is the part that people fuck up. Small electronics drenched in a downpour (like my ipod that one time in college...) take 3-4 days to dry to the point where it's safe to use them again. The giant tv my partner and I grabbed off a sidewalk during a downpour took 3 weeks to dry completely and be useable.

Straight alcohol works fine with electronics and leaves zero residue. Getting electronics wet has no impact if the water is pure, but residue left by drying water can coat contacts and cause issues.

Stuff cleaned with alcohol can be used after an hour with no ill effects. Use in a well ventilated area of course.

 

[SexyGabrielle]

Re: Cleaning Question for those with experience with childre

the clorox wipes and other cleaning wipes are safe enough. once theyre dry the chemical has evaporated supposedly.

...a 1 to 10 bleach solution, applied with any cloth or paper towels or whatever, very wrung out is completely safe after the surface has dried (the bleach once in water converts to non - toxic chemicals after a few hours anyway).

my sis uses regular baby wipes for just dirt, and the clorox wipes for disinfecting. and the little dingleberry is just fine.

Totally agree. I have 6 nieces and 2 nephews, all of them under 5 and that is how I get to keep stuff clean when I babysit them all. Regular dirt: Baby Wipes. Desinfection: Clorox or Lysol wipes. Most of the times, I help my aunts to clean up toys during the night, to let the toys to dry and be ready for the next day usage.

So far, they're the most happy and healthy guys in the world. :dance:

 

[JickyJuly]

Re: Cleaning Question for those with experience with childre

I use baby wipes for everything. Tables, chairs, toys, hands, face, everything. They are so freakin' handy. If I need to sanitize something new I go the route of Clorox wipes.
2 1/2 years and I've managed to keep my kiddo alive and healthy, so I guess it's working. :lol:

Yeah, this.
Nobody got time for tons of products. Hehehe.
Sometimes I just wipe toys on my shirt or a burp rag and call it good.
Anything that needs to stay dry to survive won't make it very far anyway. Babies drool like sticky little waterfalls.

 

[Rose]

Re: Cleaning Question for those with experience with childre

Anything that needs to stay dry to survive won't make it very far anyway. Babies drool like sticky little waterfalls.

I know! That's why I absolutely do not understand baby/children's toys that aren't waterproof. Blows my mind.

They're like walking messes so you think the toy companies would keep that in mind when making toys. Nope! Whatever. We've got two dogs and my mom has a backyard full of sticks, rocks and dirt. Once Spawn is old enough to toddle he can just play with that stuff. It's what I played with at that age and after the first mouthful of dirt he'll learn that it tastes nasty and hopefully won't try to eat any more of it. :lol:

 

[LacieLaPlante]

Re: Cleaning Question for those with experience with childre

Definitely, when in doubt, use rubbing alcohol! I'd feel better doing that than using bleach.

 

[SoTxBob]

Re: Cleaning Question for those with experience with childre

A titbit of food for thought.... As a single dad with lots of exp, I can tell you that the germaphobia that seems to be rampant these days is highly sensationalized for the bottom line of the folks that sell the cleaning products. With the exception of those that have compromised immune systems, kids are pretty bullet proof and, as told to me by several well respected pediatricians, germs/dirt/funk ingested via daily life actually build the kids a better immune system than those that are in a constantly cleaned and "sanitized" environment...
For my guys, I cleaned the major stuff but didn't fuss over the little things much. Both of them are seldom sick with anything, including colds, when all their buddies are sick as dogs.
......You can never take too many pics.... as said, they grow up so fast.

 

[Rose]

Re: Cleaning Question for those with experience with childre

A titbit of food for thought.... As a single dad with lots of exp, I can tell you that the germaphobia that seems to be rampant these days is highly sensationalized for the bottom line of the folks that sell the cleaning products. With the exception of those that have compromised immune systems, kids are pretty bullet proof and, as told to me by several well respected pediatricians, germs/dirt/funk ingested via daily life actually build the kids a better immune system than those that are in a constantly cleaned and "sanitized" environment...
For my guys, I cleaned the major stuff but didn't fuss over the little things much. Both of them are seldom sick with anything, including colds, when all their buddies are sick as dogs.
......You can never take too many pics.... as said, they grow up so fast.

Nannying taught me it's impossible to keep everything completely clean anyways. :lol: As long as there's no visible dirt, crumbs on the floor, mud on the face, hand prints on the fridge/dogs/floor/walls/etc, then I'm not too worried about it. Past the newborn floppy head stage it's not such a big deal anyways because all the slobbering is a breeding ground for cooties so you might as well just learn to deal with it. It helps that I have two large dogs that live inside and track all sorts of nasties in the house, especially right after I've steamed the carpets.... :roll: They're preparing me for 24/7 baby slobber and boogers since it's been a few years since all my clothes had baby stains on them.

It helps that I'm a 'photographer-in-training' too. This poor kid is going to grow up with a camera in his face constantly. Plus his paternal grandpa is a photographer, his maternal grandmother is a hobbyist photographer and his uncle's wife is a hobbyist photographer. If we don't end up with enough good pictures of Spawn, I'll be completely shocked and someone should confiscate my camera and kick me out of school. Lol...

 

[WildFingers]

Re: Cleaning Question for those with experience with childre

Let me clarify, these toys CANNOT GET WET OR THEY WILL BE RUINED. They CANNOT SAFELY BE WASHED IN THE DISHWASHER OR THE SINK. Otherwise, they'd already be cleaned and put away. :thumbleft: All of my fabric toys are already cleaned and good to go. It's the hard plastic toys with electrical parts that still need to be cleaned and put away.

Okay, evidently getting a washcloth in bleach water and wringing it out so it's only damp will still ruin the item? If that's the case the only thing I can think is the dry foam hand disinfectant like those used in hospitals and clinics.

like this
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004KAFIEY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1AOKA2QDMJMMD

If it's just a damp wash cloth and I don't let it get in the speaker holes or the light up parts then it shouldn't ruin it, but putting it in the sink and running water over it or putting it in the dishwasher like Katerina suggested would ruin it.

Most of the toy is splash proof, but the rest is not. I read somewhere that wiping it down with a standard baby wipe would be fine, but we all know that everything you read on the internet is true. Lol.

Mostly I was just curious if anyone else had had direct experience cleaning toys like this. There's loads of them in toy stores and I figured since it's all adults on this forum, chances are at least one person here has had experience cleaning a toy like this.

Re vinegar: I have had experience cleaning with vinegar but right now I can't deal with the smell at all or I end up really sick. :? Damn super smell needs to scat pronto.

Teething babies DROOL excessively I am sure that a damp cloth or Clorox wipe will do no harm to the electronics. I am sure that it is sealed enough for drool not to penetrate that a damp cleaning cloth would be fine.

Germs are good to build immunity.

 

[LadyLuna]

Re: Cleaning Question for those with experience with childre

While I agree that a certain exposure to germs needs to happen, I'm also of the firm opinion that anything second-hand needs a thorough cleaning before use. You literally don't know where it's been or what it's touched, and there's always the possibility that it could hold something very bad, instead of "bad, but immune-building".

Also, if you ever get the chance to play with turtles, wash your hands, have the kid wash his/her hands. Baby turtles carry salmonella.

 

[Rose]

Re: Cleaning Question for those with experience with childre

All toys, clothes, linens and gear have been cleaned (as needed), organized and stored/put away. At this point all that's left to do is take out the trash and do the laundry and the house is totally ready for Spawn. :whistle:

Waiting is boring.....lol. There's nothing left to clean! I guess I'll go watch a movie now?

 

[JerryBoBerry]

Re: Cleaning Question for those with experience with childre

All toys, clothes, linens and gear have been cleaned (as needed), organized and stored/put away. At this point all that's left to do is take out the trash and do the laundry and the house is totally ready for Spawn. :whistle:

Waiting is boring.....lol. There's nothing left to clean! I guess I'll go watch a movie now?

NO, you need to take many many pictures of the clean house. That way you have something to remember it by for the next 18 or more years till it gets that way again. :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Rose]

Re: Cleaning Question for those with experience with childre

All toys, clothes, linens and gear have been cleaned (as needed), organized and stored/put away. At this point all that's left to do is take out the trash and do the laundry and the house is totally ready for Spawn. :whistle:

Waiting is boring.....lol. There's nothing left to clean! I guess I'll go watch a movie now?

NO, you need to take many many pictures of the clean house. That way you have something to remember it by for the next 18 or more years till it gets that way again. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Lol, I don't need pictures. This is what having a mother, sister, father and scads of high school girls who are chomping at the bit to babysit are for. :lol: My baby shower was a room full of teenage girls (and one guy) who were all asking who would be allowed to babysit first, how often and can any of them be on my emergency sitters list. Lol....I guess that's definitely one benefit of having a sister who's three years younger than me and really popular. I get to mooch off all her friends! :lol:

One quick, semi distressed phone call to my mother and $10 says she'll be speeding up here to come sit with kiddo for an hour or two while I clean and/or nap. My whole life we've been dealing with the prospect that I most likely wouldn't be able to have children so she is EXTREMELY excited and eager to help after kiddo gets here. She's been preparing herself to not get any grandkids at all and now she's getting one so I'll be surprised if she doesn't go above and beyond to help out. This is a dream come true for her and my dad. They helped clean the house when I was on bed rest so it will be very surprising if they don't beg to babysit when I need to clean after Spawn is here.

 

[SexyGabrielle]

Re: Cleaning Question for those with experience with childre

It helps that I'm a 'photographer-in-training' too. This poor kid is going to grow up with a camera in his face constantly.

Off topic:

Hurry up, Spawn! I love baby photos. :love5: