Cleaning Old Toys

Updated on August 21, 2007
J.W. asks from McKinney, TX
6 answers

Hi Moms,
Just wondering if anyone has any idea on how to clean some old toys. My inlaws sent my older son a big box of Lincoln Logs and soon will also be sending Legos. These date back to almost 40 years ago when my husband and his brothers use to play with them. They look like they are in good shape but I worry that my younger son who is a toddler could end up putting it in his mouth. The Lincoln Logs are made of wood with a brown stain and some have green stain on it so if these were stored in a basement somewhere, could they have developed mold on them? So far it does not look like they did. I am assuming the Legos are plastic and I could probably just dump them in a bucket of water and clorox and wash them that way but the Lincoln Logs I am not sure. Is it even a good idea to keep them with all the recalled toys that is going on these days, who knows what was the standards were back then. Any ideas or thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

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T.F.

answers from Dallas on

cleaning any toys in bleach is not really safe. a much better and totally safe option is hydrogen peroxide (I read it in a "mommy" book on cleaning). It disipates fast and leaves virtually no residue. What little residue it does leave is safe for babies (even if put in mouthes, on skin, etc).

As for wood, i'd try the dishwasher if you aren't worried on how it will dry out the wood (it dries out wood-handled knives over time, but that is only with repetitive use).

Just my thoughts!

T.

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C.S.

answers from Dallas on

Not sure how I'd clean the Lincoln Logs. Perhaps a soak in a Lysol solution and good wash with a vegetable brush and dishsoap afterward, but the Legos could go through your dishwasher at least on the top shelf in a mesh bag or container.
C. S.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.T.

answers from Dallas on

The clorox could be harmful if your youngster put the toys in their mouths! You should be looking to use all natural cleaners, so that you don't have to worry about it. I can recommend some great products, that are safe, cheap and work great! As far as "recalls" and being old toys, I'm not sure about that...but good luck and congrats on getting those great toys!

T.

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K.H.

answers from Dallas on

i always wash my kids toys in the dishwasher on the top rack...the wooden ones i'm not sure about, although i have washed some wooden blocks in the dishwasher & just let them dry out in the sun, but they were not anything special so if they got messed up i didnt really care.
i wouldnt know about the standards though...your main concern would be the paint, but i think lincoln logs are stained...so i'm not really sure about that.
if you decide that you didnt want your little one to play with them but still wanted to keep them as a keepsake you could put them in a shadow box, you know like make a little house or something & put it in there & put them on the walls in their room.

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J.B.

answers from Dallas on

Hi J., good old soap and water will clean your leggos just fine. You shouldn't clean them with bleach as that will leave a very toxic residue on them. I would check to see if you find out what year the Lincoln logs were manufactured in case they would contain lead based paint. Otherwise, again soap and water will do the job. Chlorine bleach is the number 1 poisoner of children in the US, so be really careful with where you use it if at all. Blessings, J.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.T.

answers from Dallas on

I use a water/vinegar solution to wash my kids' plastic toys. It disinfects them like Clorox, but it not h*** o* the plastic. I also use this for bath toys.

For the wood toys I would use Lysol or one of the cleaners made for children's toys. If you use the Lysol, let them sit for a couple of days to let the chemicals dissapate before letting the kids play with them.

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