More and more wooden toys are the preferred option of parents for their children. Wooden toys are much more sustainable than plastic ones, more resistant and durable, so their useful life is longer. In addition, they are more hygienic, since the wood is much more resistant to bacteria and they are less toxic, as long as they are well cared for and the products used to paint and varnish them are suitable for children. Wooden toys have it all, although sometimes parents wonder how we should maintain them and what is the best cleaning method. Step by step to clean the child’s wooden toys.
Clean child’s wooden toys. What to do not to spoil them
For wooden toys to last over time and, above all, so that they do not get damaged, we must take care of them, pamper them and clean them. If you don’t know very well how to do it, pay attention to this guide that we have prepared for you!
1. Basic cleaning
As they are more resistant to bacteria, it is not so necessary to clean them constantly, unless they have been exposed to an environment in which they may have come into contact with bacteria or viruses . Cleaning them once a week is usually enough.
To do this, the ideal is a cloth moistened in a solution of water and liquid detergent (preferably organic). Rub the toys well with the cloth, and then pass a cloth dampened with water again to remove excess soap. Instead of liquid detergent, you can use a solution of water with a dash of vinegar (one part vinegar to ten parts water), following the same procedure.
Once you have cleaned them, it is advisable to let them dry in the sun, so that the wood dries properly and we avoid the accumulation of bacteria. Don’t over-sun them, though, as the wood could crack.
2. Disinfect wooden toys
Once a month or when necessary you can do a deeper disinfection of the toys . To do this, make a solution of vinegar and water in equal parts. You can put the toys in the solution for a minute and then rub them with a sponge to remove dirt and bacteria. Don’t let them soak for too long as excess moisture is never good for wood. Once the process is finished, leave them to dry in the sun.
3. Curing toys
Wooden toys need some maintenance to last a long time in their original state, especially if they are completely natural, that is, if they do not have any varnish treatment or their treatment is made with natural products. If every six months or annually (depending on the use and humidity in the environment) we carry out a curing process on the wood, these will remain intact for life. In addition, we will prevent moisture from entering the interior that can harbor bacteria or the wood from drying out excessively, causing cracks.
Curing wood is very simple, you just need some kind of vegetable oil or beeswax. Coconut oil is one of the most recommended, since it is antiseptic, but olive oil is also widely used. It involves printing a small layer of oil or wax on the toy with a dry cloth , so that the wood is sealed. Grease the toy with a little oil, wait about 15 minutes for it to absorb all the grease, and then remove the excess grease with a napkin. You can leave them in the sun for a while after this process, so that they dry well.
Basic care required by wooden toys
Wooden toys can be played both indoors and outdoors , although it is important that when they are used outdoors they are collected after use. Excessive sun could crack them, rain could dampen them and spoil them. If they get wet, it is important to dry them well and even if necessary leave them in the sun for a few hours until they are completely dry.
It is important that when cleaning them you take special care in the nooks and crannies that you can find in some toys, for example if they have holes or interior spaces. Do not forget to clean them inside and also to treat those areas when appropriate.
It is difficult for a wooden toy to splinter, but if this is the case we can simply sand it down a bit and that’s it, it will be like new. It is also important to store them in dry places, since moisture could damage them. Finally, when a wooden toy has a stain, it can be removed with a concentrated mixture of vinegar and water. Spray the stain and rub until it is removed. Then let it dry in the sun! If the stain has not been completely removed, you can sand it down a bit so that it finally disappears.