The Care & Feeding of Your Wooden Toys

Here at Incy Rooms, we love wooden toys They are beautiful, durable, and made of safe, non-toxic materials. We love how seamlessly they blend into any home decor without creating a bright plastic eyesore, like some children’s toys do. Plus, toys made of natural materials nourishes a young child’s senses and connects them to nature. Thankfully, keeping them clean is simple and you can even get your kids involved in the process, since no bleach or harsh chemicals are required. Wood has natural anti-bacterial properties, so germs don’t stick around as much as they may on toys made of plastic, rubber, or other materials. You don’t need to clean them everyday, but giving them a refresher every couple of weeks or even just once a month will help keep them in good condition. There are just a few easy steps to keeping wooden toys fresh so they can be passed on for years to come. We put together a few tips and tricks on how to clean wood toys below.

 

 

Simply wipe

• Wood toys can be wiped with a dry cloth for daily maintenance and cleaning. You can also use a slightly damp cloth or sponge to remove dirt or dust and then air dry.
• If color transfer happens with your slightly damp cloth, don’t be alarmed. It’s a natural by-product of the wood and should lessen with time.
• For an extra special cleaning (extra anti-bacterial action) you want to use a gentle cleanser using a simple vinegar and water solution (1 part vinegar to 10 parts water). You don’t want to use bleach or harsh chemicals as it can dry-out or bleach the wood.
• Always remember to wipe extra moisture off and air dry

 

No Soaking

• You never want to soak wooden toys, as wood is very porous. It can change, warp and damage them with too much moisture, and if the toy doesn’t dry completely, more germs and bacterial will want to hang out. Using a slightly damp washcloth to clean will keep the wood from getting too drenched.
• Do not use water or steam based sterilizer as it will damage the wood.

 

Treating Stubborn Stains

• Vinegar is your friend. Create a more concentrated 1:1 ratio mixture of vinegar and water. Spray on the washcloth and spot clean. Air dry

 

Replenish Moisture

• Every once in a while, you may want to moisturize wooden toys when it starts to look dry or dull. Coconut oil or olive oil does the trick. Use sparingly and apply with a washcloth or rag. If there are oily bits left, wipe away! Then let it dry.