How often do you wash bathtub toys?

MommyToAshley wrote: My MIL told me about a special she saw on TV (one of those news magazine type shows)-- The show had families on that their children had gotten seriously ill from their bathtub toys. Appearantly, they had some of toys that had gotten water in them that didn't drain all the way (even though the mother said she squeezed all the water out) and mold built up inside the toy and then the child was putting the toy in his mouth. Ever since my MIL told me about the show, I have been trying to wash/sanitize Ashley's bathtub toys once a week. I always let them drain well at night as well. She only has one of those rubber duckies that you can squeeze and the water goes inside and I try not to give her that one too often. I make sure I drain it well and wash it often.

Just wondering what you do?

kit kats mom replied: I try to remember to stick them in the dishwasher and run the sani rinse at least once a week but i've gone a lot longer than that. She has a few of those toys that squirt water but she doesn't play with them that much anymore. I should probably just throw them out.

A&A'smommy replied: wow thats awesome info to know NOW! Thanks!!

juliajaj replied: DH & I are concerned about the mold with Olivia's tub toys also. Right now, she's mosting interested in a cycling water bottle that I can easily wash & a Big Bird tub toy that doesn't have a hole it it. I run her tub toys thru the dishwasher, but I should make a habit of doing it more often. Also, since most of them are very inexpensive, we're not against throwing them out & buying new a few times a year.

ediep replied: wow! Interesting......I try to squeeze the water out and I have thrown some away. I am definately going to be more aware now! Thanks!!

kimberley replied: yeah, i have thrown quite a few away too. once a week should be good enough for cleaning though.

Kaitlin'smom replied: hummm never thoguth about putting them in the dishwasher.....I will do that tongiht and get them clean, she loves the squirt toys the most and I usually sweeze them out and rinse them off squeese them again and let them dry.

well I know what I am doing when I get home, trowing them in the dishwasher and probably throwing some away!

Thanks for the info

coasterqueen replied: Kylie doesn't play with her squirt toys anymore, but they are still sitting in her bathtub bag, hmmm, guess I should either throw them away or clean them. Thanks for the info!!

maliksmommy replied: I am so glad you brought this up, I hadn't really thought about mold getting in them. I am definately going home and throwing some away and also putting them in the dishwasher!!

Jamison'smama replied: I saw the beginning of mold in Jamison's bathtub toys so I got rid of all the squirting ones. I felt I could never get them clean. We replaced them with wind-up toys a watering can, a fish net and fish and those alphabet letters that stick to the walls.

chloe&tysmommy replied: wow! That is interesting- thanks for the info

We have one toy that squirts water but I think I'm going to get rid of it now

MommyToAshley replied: I've also thrown toys away. I never really thought about putting them in the dishwasher. I washed them with soap and water and then put them in boiling water... the dishwasher seem so much easier! *smacks self on head* Why didn't I think of that! What about the little spongy letters? I am afraid that they would fall through the rack on the dishwasher and end up on the heating coils.

Jamison'smama replied: I put the spongy letters in the basket where I put the valves from the sippy cups.

amynicole21 replied: You could probably put the spongy letters in the clothes washer, too - on a hot cycle. I've only washed Sophia's toys a few times ever I need to throw some things away... going to do that right now.