How to Clean Rubber Toys
Keeping your children's rubber bath toys clean is important as they could become a breeding ground for mold, germs and bacteria. Although the toys, such as rubber duckies and fish, are dunked in soapy bathwater on a daily basis, they can still become unsanitary if not properly cared for.

Things You Will Need
- Absorbent towel
- Dishwasher with soap
- Tub or large bucket
- White distilled vinegar
- Small scrub brush (optional)
Keeping rubber toys clean and sanitary is more eco-friendly than simply throwing them out when they get dirty. Put sanitizing rubber toys on your weekly housecleaning list so you don't forget the important chore.
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Squeeze the water out of rubber bath toys after each use. Rinse the toys with clean water and allow them to air-dry on a dry, absorbent towel.
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Clean the rubber toys in a dishwasher once a week. Run the dishwasher on a normal cycle with soap to remove any bacteria from the toys.
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Soak the rubber toys in a deep-cleaning vinegar solution once every two weeks. Fill your tub or a large bucket with three parts hot water and one part white distilled vinegar.
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Allow the rubber toys to soak in the vinegar solution for at least 10 minutes; soak them longer if they are really dirty or moldy. Scrub any areas with built-up dirt or bacteria with a small scrub brush. Rinse the toys with clean water and allow them to air-dry.
References
Writer Bio
Elizabeth Arnold has written for a wide variety of publications and websites. Her experience includes writing travel features for "Recommend" magazine and packaging marketing copy for both Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Warner Bros. consumer products. Recently, Arnold was a staff writer for "Special Events" magazine. Arnold studied English at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Photo Credits
- rubber duck in bubbles image by Karin Lau from Fotolia.com
- rubber duck in bubbles image by Karin Lau from Fotolia.com
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