As a busy mom, it often feels like your to-do list is endless. Between managing postpartum fitness, meal prepping healthy low-carb recipes, and keeping up with baby care, house chores can quickly become overwhelming.
Just last week, while cleanfng up my toddler’s playroom, I realized I spent a whole hour just scrubbing plastic blocks. Consequently, I told myself—there has to be an easier way to handle this crazy mom life!
Therefore, if you are still wiping down every single plastic building block, LEGO, and pacifier one by one, you should stop right now. Fortunately, there is a much easier, non-toxic, and completely hands-free way to sanitize your kids’ toys while you sleep or focus on your self-care routine.
In this article, I will share the ultimate lazy-mom toy cleaning hack that will completely change your DIY home organization game.
Why You Need to Sanitize Toys (Without the Heavy Chemicals)
First of all, toddler toys go everywhere. They end up on the dirty floor, outside in the backyard, and most importantly, straight into your child’s mouth. As a result, they become massive magnets for germs, sticky juice stains, and dust.
However, while keeping a clean playroom is essential for safe home wellness, using harsh chemical sprays around babies and toddlers is a big no-no. For this reason, this natural, heat-based sanitizing method is the perfect solution for eco-friendly moms.
The Secret Tool: Your Dishwasher
Surprisingly, the secret tool you need is already in your kitchen—your dishwasher! You see, your dishwasher isn’t just meant for plates and cups. In addition, it is actually the ultimate steam-sterilizing machine for hard plastic toys. Consequently, it cuts your cleaning time from hours down to just a few minutes of prep work.
What Toys Can You Clean in the Dishwasher?
Before you start, however, you must make sure you only wash hard, solid plastic toys. For instance, you can safely wash:
- Plastic building blocks and LEGOs
- Plastic animal figurines and trucks
- Large plastic rattles and teething rings
- Bath toys (specifically those without holes that trap water)
Note: You should never put electronic toys, wooden toys, or toys with fabric/batteries in the dishwasher.
Step-by-Step: How to Safely Wash Toys in Bulk
To make this speed cleaning routine work without ruining your dishwasher or the toys, you must follow these simple steps carefully:
- Use a Mesh Laundry Bag: First, gather all the small plastic pieces and place them inside a zippered mesh laundry bag. This prevents small pieces from falling into the heating element.
- Secure on the Top Rack: Next, place the mesh bag or larger plastic toys strictly on the top rack of your dishwasher. The bottom rack is too close to the heating element and might melt the plastic.
- Add a Natural Cleaner: Instead of harsh chemical dish tabs, use a mild, eco-friendly dish detergent. Alternatively, you can simply put a cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe bowl on the top rack to naturally disinfect everything.
- Run a Gentle Cycle: After that, run a normal or gentle wash cycle with warm water. Crucially, turn off the “heated dry” option. Finally, let the toys air-dry on a clean towel on your kitchen counter instead.
Save Time and Protect Your Sanity
In conclusion, managing family life and home organization doesn’t mean you have to spend your entire weekend scrubbing the playroom. By using smart household hacks like this one, you can keep a clean, germ-free home. Furthermore, you will save your precious energy for the things that truly matter—like your baby, your fitness, and yourself.
Have you tried this dishwasher cleaning hack yet? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to save this post to your favorite Pinterest board
