Toy Cleaning in Childcare: Schedule, Methods and Safe Products
Toy Cleaning in Childcare: How Often, Which Method and What to Check
Toy cleaning in childcare should be prioritised daily for mouthed and high-contact items, with most other toys cleaned on a rolling weekly cycle and disinfection reserved for after illness, soiling, or contact with bodily fluids. Cleaning removes dirt and most germs from surfaces, while disinfection targets remaining germs on already-clean items, so the two steps work together rather than replacing each other.
Getting this right matters in a setting where young children share toys, put them in their mouths, and have developing immune systems. A clear routine keeps toys usable, can help reduce hygiene risks when done consistently and correctly, and gives educators a system they can actually follow during a busy day. This guide covers the cleaning process, a compact schedule by risk level, how to handle different toy materials, and when disinfection is genuinely needed.
How Often Childcare Toys Should Be Cleaned
Cleaning frequency depends on how a toy is used, not just how it looks. Mouthed toys and items handled by babies and toddlers need the most attention because they carry saliva and are a direct route for germs to spread.
As a practical guide:
- Mouthed toys and dummies/teethers: clean after each child uses them, or set aside in a "used" container for cleaning before reuse
- High-contact toys (blocks, cars, dress-ups, kitchen sets): clean daily
- General shared toys: clean every few days to weekly, depending on use
- Low-contact or display items: clean weekly or as needed
- Any toy that is visibly soiled or contacted by bodily fluids: remove and clean straight away, then disinfect
The rule of thumb is simple: the younger the child and the more mouthing involved, the more often the toy needs cleaning.
When Childcare Toys Should Be Disinfected
Disinfection is not needed every time a toy is cleaned. Routine cleaning with detergent and water handles most day-to-day needs. Disinfection is warranted when the risk is higher, such as:
- after a child has been unwell (vomiting, diarrhoea, or a known infection)
- when a toy has been in contact with blood, faeces, vomit, or nasal discharge
- during an outbreak or when directed by your service's health guidance
- for mouthed toys in rooms with very young babies, as an added measure
For general guidance on outbreak management and hygiene, services often refer to state or territory health advice and NHMRC Staying Healthy: Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services. Check your own service policy, as requirements can vary. Everyday Clean provides scheduled cleaning support for childcare centres that can complement your in-room hygiene practices.
Cleaning, Sanitising and Disinfecting Explained
These three terms are often used loosely, but they mean different things.
- Cleaning uses detergent and water to physically remove dirt, food, and many germs from a surface. This is the foundation and should always come first.
- Sanitising reduces germs on a cleaned surface, usually through heat or a sanitising product, according to the method or product directions.
- Disinfecting uses a chemical to kill a higher proportion of remaining germs, but only works properly on a surface that is already clean.
The key point: disinfectant applied to a dirty toy will not work as intended. Clean first, then disinfect only when needed. No cleaning or disinfection process removes every germ, so cautious language and a consistent routine matter more than any single product claim.
How to Handle Different Toy Types
Different materials need different handling, and some toys should not be soaked or sprayed at all.
How do you clean hard plastic toys?
Hard plastic toys are the easiest to manage. Wash in warm soapy water, scrub crevices with a brush, rinse, and air dry. Many dishwasher-safe items can be run through a dishwasher on a hot cycle, which handles both cleaning and sanitising. Check for a dishwasher-safe symbol first.
How do you clean soft toys and fabric items?
Soft toys and dress-ups usually need machine washing. Check the care label for temperature limits, use a laundry bag for small items, and dry thoroughly before returning them to the room, as damp fabric can harbour mould over time. Rotate a spare set so play is not interrupted while items are drying.
How do you clean shared sensory items?
Sensory materials like water-play equipment, sand toys, and playdough tools need frequent cleaning because they collect residue. Empty and clean water and sand play daily. Discard and remake edible or homemade sensory materials rather than trying to disinfect them.
How should baby and toddler toys be cleaned?
Baby and toddler toys are frequently mouthed, so they need cleaning after use or at least daily. Avoid strong-smelling chemical residue by rinsing well where the product requires it. Battery-operated or electronic baby toys should be wiped, not soaked, to protect the components.
How do you clean outdoor toys?
Outdoor toys collect dirt, and ride-ons or larger equipment can be hosed down and scrubbed with soapy water. Let them dry in the open air. Sandpit toys should be cleaned regularly and the sandpit kept covered when not in use to reduce contamination.
How do you clean mouthed toys?
Mouthed toys need the most careful handling. Set them aside as soon as a child finishes so they are not shared before cleaning. Wash in warm soapy water, rinse, and air dry. Where disinfection is appropriate, follow the product label closely, allow the required contact time, and rinse if the label directs it for items that go in mouths.
A Compact Toy Cleaning Schedule by Risk Level
This schedule can be adapted to your rooms and reviewed against your service policy.
| Risk level | Examples | Clean | Disinfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | Mouthed toys, teethers, baby toys | After each use or daily | After illness or soiling |
| Medium | Blocks, cars, dress-ups, sensory tools | Daily to every few days | When contaminated |
| Lower | Puzzles, books, display items | Weekly or as needed | Rarely, only if soiled |
| Any toy soiled with bodily fluids | Any category | Immediately | Immediately after cleaning |
Keep the schedule visible in each room and assign responsibility so tasks are not missed during handover.
Safety Checks Before and After Cleaning
A few checks protect both children and staff and help any product work as intended:
- Read the product label and follow dilution and usage directions exactly
- Observe contact time, the minutes a disinfectant must stay wet on a surface to work
- Rinse where required, especially for mouthed toys and where the label directs
- Dry fully before storage, as damp toys can grow mould
- Store cleaned toys separately from used ones to avoid recontamination
- Check age suitability so small parts or damaged toys are removed from younger rooms
- Consider allergies and sensitivities, choosing lower-irritant products where possible and keeping chemicals well away from children
- Follow manufacturer instructions for electronic or specialty toys
For choosing suitable products, it helps to review options designed for early learning environments, such as guidance on cleaning products for childcare facilities and child-safe disinfectants. Always confirm a product's suitability against its own label rather than assuming any product is safe for children.
Choosing Products Cautiously
No product should be described as child-safe unless its label or manufacturer guidance supports that use. Look for products suited to early childhood settings, check that they are registered for their intended purpose, and confirm whether rinsing is needed after use on toys. Store all cleaning chemicals locked away and out of reach, and never mix products, as some combinations release harmful fumes.
When contact time, dilution, or rinsing instructions are unclear, treat the label as the authority and, if still uncertain, contact the manufacturer before using the product on toys children handle or mouth.
When to Bring in Professional Cleaning Support
In-room toy cleaning generally stays with educators, since toys are cleaned throughout the day as part of normal care. Professional cleaning becomes useful for the broader environment: floors, surfaces, bathrooms, and general hygiene that supports a healthy room but sits outside an educator's daily toy routine.
A regular commercial clean can lift the overall standard so staff can focus on close-contact toy hygiene. If your service wants dependable cleaning that fits around childcare hours, broader childcare cleaning routines can be arranged to suit your rooms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should toys be cleaned in childcare?
High-contact and mouthed toys should be cleaned after use or at least daily, while general shared toys can be cleaned every few days to weekly depending on use. Any toy that is visibly soiled or has contacted bodily fluids should be removed and cleaned straight away. Frequency depends on the age of the children and how much mouthing is involved.
Do all childcare toys need to be disinfected?
No. Most toys only need regular cleaning with detergent and water. Disinfection is reserved for higher-risk situations, such as after a child has been unwell, when a toy contacts blood, vomit, or faeces, or during an outbreak. Disinfecting every toy daily is generally unnecessary and can add chemical exposure without clear benefit.
Can childcare toys go in the dishwasher?
Many hard plastic toys can be cleaned in a dishwasher on a hot cycle, which handles cleaning and sanitising together. Check each toy for a dishwasher-safe symbol first, and keep electronic, battery-operated, or fabric toys out. Secure small items in a mesh basket so they do not move around during the cycle.
What is the difference between cleaning and disinfecting toys?
Cleaning uses detergent and water to remove dirt and many germs from a surface, and it should always come first. Disinfecting uses a chemical to reduce remaining germs, but only works properly on a surface that is already clean. Applied to a dirty toy, disinfectant will not perform as intended, so the two steps work together.
Are disinfectants safe for children's toys?
Only if the product label supports that use. Some disinfectants require rinsing after use, particularly for mouthed toys, and all require the correct contact time to work. Never assume a product is child-safe without checking its label or manufacturer guidance; store all chemicals out of reach, and rinse toys where the instructions direct.
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