Mix a fresh solution each day. Use ¼ teaspoon of unscented chlorine bleach to 1 quart (½ ounce per gallon) of cool water. This assures that the sanitizing solution will have the desired concentration of 50-200 ppm of chlorine.
Sanitizing can be done by using a weakened bleach solution, an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered sanitizing spray, or a dishwasher with a sanitizing cycle. For cloth materials, such as bibs, placemats, and tablecloths, sanitize them by machine-washing and drying them after each use.
Vinegar and water solution, mixed in equal parts, can serve as a natural disinfectant for babies' toys. Alternatively, a diluted solution of hydrogen peroxide and water can also effectively sanitize toys.
Bleach solution: Another way to clean and disinfect plastic toys is to mix a half cup of chlorine bleach and one gallon of water, then soak the toys in there for at least 5 minutes.
If you want to disinfect the toys, mix 10 ml of bleach in 500 ml of water in a spray bottle. Spray liberally then wait a minute. Then you can either wipe dry or leave it to dry on its own. Bleach breaks down rapidly, so it's perfectly safe for your kids.
Quick Answer: Daycares clean toys daily using non-toxic, fragrance-free cleaners and disinfect weekly with solutions like diluted bleach. Soft toys are laundered, while hard toys are wiped down.
Plastic baby and children's toys can be disinfected and sanitized with Clorox or Lysol wipes or a cloth wet with a mixture of 1/2 cup chlorine bleach and one gallon of water. Make sure you let the toys air dry for 30 seconds or more to let the cleaning solution do its work.
For a simpler, more natural cleaning solution, consider adding equal parts water and white vinegar to a spray bottle. Spritz the dirty toys with the vinegar solution and let them sit for about 15 minutes. Be sure to wipe away any remaining vinegar-water solution to minimize the lingering vinegar smell.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful, fragrance-free, non-toxic bleaching, cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting agent.* 6. Here's how it works. Hydrogen peroxide is very similar to water (H2o) in its composition, except it has an extra oxygen molecule (H2O2).
“You should clean stuffed animals and more plush toys weekly or when it is visibly dirty or stained,” says Johnson. “It's also smart to wash these when the baby has been sick to stop the spread of germs.
Using a Disinfectant Solution
You can choose either one part vinegar to one part water, or one tablespoon of bleach to one gallon of water. Obviously, if you are using a baby-safe disinfectant, you can skip this step. Wipe the toys with the cleaning solution.
Vinegar has been proven to have some disinfectant properties, however it's not nearly as effective at killing harmful viruses and bacteria as commercial cleaners. And because it does not kill 99.999 percent of bacteria and viruses, it doesn't meet the criteria required to be considered a disinfectant.
Using boiling water to sterilize your baby's teething toys is as old-school as it gets—and it works. For heat-safe options like silicone teething toys, just drop them in a pot of boiling water for about 5 minutes, then let them air dry completely. It's quick, easy, and zaps those germs without any fuss.
The ideal center should require employees to wash their hands as often as a doctor does -- in between touching every child. If your child-care center doesn't have a sink in every room, look for bottles of hand sanitizer. If employees have to leave the room to clean their hands, they may be less likely to do it.
Summary: Daycare Cleaning Prices
A daycare cleaning company will charge anywhere from $400 to $1000 per month for the average-size facility, depending on how many playrooms or classrooms you have, their size and condition and the frequency of cleaning. Hourly rates average around $40 to $60 per hour, per cleaner.
Sanitizing kills bacteria on surfaces using chemicals. It is not intended to kill viruses. Yes, EPA registers products that sanitize. Disinfecting kills viruses and bacteria on surfaces using chemicals.
Vinegar and bicarbonate of soda are natural germ killers and, when combined with elbow grease, can help you ditch the bleach for good. Mix one part vinegar with one part warm water and 4 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda in a spray bottle and shake to mix.
Hydrogen peroxide is one of the most powerful natural cleaning and disinfecting agents. Health professionals trust it against harmful bacteria, antigens, and viruses. It's used for a variety of disinfecting jobs, including cleaning cuts, removing earwax, and promoting dental hygiene.
Can Fabuloso® Professional, Fabuloso® 2X Concentrated Formula, or Fabuloso® Antibacterial be used as disinfectant for my body? No, Fabuloso® products are intended to be multi-purpose hard surface cleaners and should never be used directly on your skin or taken internally.
To disinfect the toys after they've been cleaned with soap, wipe or spray them with a one-to-one ratio mixture of rubbing alcohol and water. Leave the alcohol solution on for a minute and then rinse the toys with clear water.
For larger toys, use Lysol® All-Purpose Cleaner and then rinse with water after use. Whichever product you use, always remember to follow the label instructions.
Fill up a sink, bucket, or bathtub—an area large enough to submerge the toy—and add two teaspoons of detergent for every gallon of water. Press down on the stuffed animal to fully submerge it, scrub it gently with your hands, and let it soak for at least 15 minutes (up to an hour).
We recommend using unscented household chlorine bleach for sanitizing toys after they have been washed. Other sanitizers are allowed, but they must be used according to label's directions and appropriate test strips must be provided to assure proper sanitizing concentrations.