How to clean wooden toys?

Did you know that we love wooden toys? Trick question. Everyone knows how much we LOVE wooden toys at CleverStuff.

They are natural, eco-friendly, durable and educational. They stimulate a love of learning in early childhood education.

But, one question we get asked almost daily is how do you clean wooden toys? What is the best way to keep wooden toys clean and safe for children?

Here are our best tips for keeping your wooden toys clean and sterile for your child.

1. Never soak them or immerse the wooden toys in water. Especially do not put them in a dishwasher. A simple spray and wipe with a cloth and warm, soapy water will do the trick. Because wood products are porous they can soak up any water if immersed, which can lead to swelling and cracking.

   

2. Use natural products when cleaning your wooden toys. Dishwashing liquid with some warm water and a splash vinegar (we like apple cider, but white vinegar works well too) is ideal. Because wood is naturally antibacterial they will be more protected against germs compared to their plastic counterparts.
3. Pop the freshly cleaned wooden toys out in the sun for a short time. This is a great way to kill more germs and will help them dry quickly too. Don’t leave them in direct sunlight for an extended period of time as this may lead to cracking or the gorgeous colours of your toys fading.

   

4. Above all else, check the manufacturers care instructions and follow them. The above is general advice, but not recommended for every and all wooden toys.

So, there you have it. Our top tips for cleaning wooden toys. How simple and easy does that sound.

Now that your toys have had a quick spray and wipe, it’s time to play again!

Need some new wooden toys to add to your collection? We can help! Check out our huge range of wooden educational toys here.