Babies are adorable, but they also make a lot of messes. From spit-up to diaper blowouts, you need to know how to clean your baby’s stuff. That’s why we’ve compiled some practical and easy tips on how to clean baby clothes, toys and more with minimal fuss and maximum results.

Cleaning Baby Clothes

Babies come with an increase in loads of laundry, and it may also mean a change in your laundry habits. Regular detergent should be fine, but if needed there are also detergents formulated for sensitive skin or laundry soap designed specifically for babies.

To get out those common baby stains, you may want to use an enzymatic stain remover and let it sit before washing. Garment bags can also be useful for laundering small items and keeping them together, like those tiny baby socks.

Cleaning Baby Toys

Babies love to explore with their mouths, so you want to make sure their toys are safe and sanitary. Here’s how to clean different types of baby toys:

• Wood or Plastic: These toys can be cleaned with soap and water. Sanitize them with a disinfectant wipe, making sure to follow the label directions for the contact time. Then rinse them with water and let them air dry.
• Plush: Most plush toys can be washed in the washing machine. Check the tag for instructions and use a gentle cycle. To dry them, you can use a hair dryer. Spot clean them between washes as needed.
• Electronics: These toys need to be surface cleaned with a cloth dampened by warm water and a little bit of soap. Then wipe them with a clean, damp cloth and let them air dry.

Remember to check the toys regularly for signs of damage and discard them if they are no longer safe. By keeping your baby’s toys clean, you can provide them with a healthy and fun environment to play and learn.

Safe Storage

September is Baby Safety Month and an important time to note best practices when keeping your baby safe. As babies start to reach and crawl, they can get themselves into trouble before you know it. Be sure to store all cleaning products up and out of reach and sight. Keep them in their original containers to make use of child-resistant packaging and to have important safety information easily accessible.

For more information on cleaning needs for infants, check out the Clean First Steps toolkit. It has helpful information on cleaning diapers, changing stations, bottles, and more.