Bath toys - how often do you clean them?

[Fleur]

Not as often as i should, although they aren't as bad as the older kids toys used to be. I am guessing it has a bit to do with what products you use in the bath. Vinegar is good, to clean them.

[~Kaz~]

I have probably sterilised ours in Milton twice or three times and DS is nearly 2.

They don't seem to get slimey though? ......maybe I should take a closer look jic they are and I haven't noticed lol!

[Gigi]

i read stuff about mould and illness, and decided to throw those bath toys out (the ones with hole in bottom, the squirter bath toys).

you can buy inflatable bath toys, "odd ducks" made entirely out of one piece of PVC (so no hole in bottom) and i bought cotton shaped animals, all fabric, in shape of animals - they dry out entirely. no they don't float, but they don't get mould either.

i nearly died as a result of mould (brain virus i caught), so i am more cautious than most, about mould. it took years of my life so i take mould very seriously now.

the mould that is of concern, is what you CAN"T see, on the interior of the bath toy.

here's some info re this subject, cut n pasted from the web, cos not allowed to put URLS on this site

Start of cut n paste

Avoid the moldy rubber ducky: Glue gun the holes in the bottom of the rubber duck and other bath toys shut. Problem solved. I wish I would have thought to do that a while ago, because it would have saved a lot of effort and heartache.

If you dare leave the rubber duck as is and it gets moldy, use it to suck up distilled vinegar and leave it inside over night. Repeat. If that doesn’t work, your best bet is to just toss it and buy a new one.
Weekly cleanings: Martha Stewart suggests a weekly cleaning of bath toys in one part hot water, one part distilled vinegar and a few drops of dish soap. Vinegar dissolves soap scum while dish soap removes dirt. Soak the toys for 10 minutes and use an old toothbrush to help clean them, if necessary. Rinse the toys in warm water and let dry completely.
Storage is key: Store bath toys in a perforated bag or tray to allow for proper drainage. Leave a window open and make sure the room is well ventilated. We installed bathrooms fans that automatically sense humidity and turn themselves on and off. They have really helped the bath toys dry out.
In most cases, I would rather throw away the toys than use chlorine bleach. If you do use bleach, just make sure you dilute it with water and avoid mixing it with other household cleaners.
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[Arcadia]

Wow, thanks for all the replies.

Gigi, that info is really helpful (I gotta spread the love though)! I am going to throw out all the squirt-style ones...I can see the mould in them and thats what's been bothering me the most.

As for the other toys, we only use organic wash (Gaia or eco-wash) and I clean the bath regularly...but even the "non-stick" mat has mould under it (despite being cleaned fortnightly). That might have to go too.

The other toys are little boats that seem to hold the water, despite being drained and hung in a mesh bag.

Hmmm...*off to assess the bath toys*

[Fleur]

Just thought I'd add, I read a story (years ago when my big kids were little) about a child who became very very sick as a result of sucking on bath toys - the ones with the little hole in the bottom. I can't remember details, but it was a scary read and made me a bit more wary of them.
Mostly we avoid those, we have sponges shaped like animals, and I have just bought a fishing set from Aldi for the bath, instead of being inflatable they are foam shapes with the insides cut out. So less places for grot to get in & hide.

Gigi, that is a brilliant idea to plug up the holes with glue!
And I agree, I tend to throw things out when they are really bad.

[Muffy]

Umm maybe once every six months....

[MummyDeb]

I throw them out once they get to mouldy, but some great advice there

I wouldn't want my kids getting sick thats a scary thought!