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How to Clean Wooden Toys: Tips for Keeping Them Safe

How to Clean Wooden Toys: Tips for Keeping Them Safe

People's awareness of the need to care for our planet is continuously growing. In many aspects of life, we strive to reduce plastic consumption in favor of natural, safe, and eco-friendly goods. This mindset is also embraced by conscious parents who choose toys for their children—specifically, toys made of wood. Are they beautiful? Absolutely. But are they durable? That depends on the proper care and cleaning of raw wooden toys.

 

Beech Wood - The Ideal Choice for Toys

 

Beech wood is hard and durable, making it an excellent material for producing children's toys due to its excellent workability. Thanks to its natural oils and waxes, it possesses antibacterial and antiseptic properties, which is why it is often used for teething rings and toys for infants. However, this refers to raw wood, which has not been artificially smoothed by coating the toy with varnish or paint.

It's important to note that raw wood will never be perfectly smooth and will not be as durable as wood covered with any type of chemical finish. But ask yourself this: why are you looking for a wooden toy for your child—so that they can put paint or varnish in their mouth?

 

Natural Toys Require Care

 

As parents and individuals who appreciate the beauty and power of natural materials, we want wooden toys to be free from unnecessary chemicals. The best toys are made from raw wood, which is carefully sanded, dusted, and finally coated with a mixture of beeswax and olive oil to protect them from premature wear, give them a beautiful color, and enhance their smoothness. This one treatment greatly helps and significantly impacts the quality.

However, it’s essential to remember that toys used by children require regular cleaning and proper care to maintain their beautiful appearance for a long time. Below are two golden rules—if you follow them, the toy will serve your child well for years to come

 

Rule No. 1 – Cleaning and Drying

 

Raw wood should not be soaked! This applies to toys as well as wooden furniture, wooden floors, cutting boards, and kitchen utensils. Wooden toys should be wiped with a damp cloth and warm water. Mild soap can be used for this purpose. However, you should not sterilize the toys, wash them under running water, or soak them in a bowl. Excessive soaking will cause the wood to swell, dry out excessively, and become dull and rough.

While this roughness does not hinder the continued use of the toy and is not harmful to the child, it visibly affects the quality and appearance of the toy, making it clearly different from when it was first taken out of the packaging. After cleaning, the toy should be left to air dry. Do not hasten the drying process by blowing warm air on the toy or placing it on a radiator, as this will also increase the roughness of the wood.

 

Rule No. 2 – Treatment

 

After cleaning and drying the toy, it should be treated each time. If you purchase wooden toys that are not varnished, they are usually completely raw and therefore more susceptible to moisture from a child’s mouth. This shouldn’t be surprising—treatment requires additional materials and time, and time costs money, which manufacturers aim to minimize.

If you want to further protect the toy from moisture and premature wear, rub a small amount of olive oil or coconut oil into the wood. Wipe off any excess oil with a clean cloth. This treatment should be repeated every time after cleaning; this way, the oil will penetrate deeper, and moisture will be less harmful to the toy.

 

Discard Worn Toys

 

Remember that nothing lasts forever, and if, despite proper cleaning and care, you notice that a toy has been chewed by your child or shows other signs of wear that could pose a safety risk, you should discard the toy.

It's important to note that a slight increase in roughness resulting from soaking and lack of treatment is not considered dangerous wear or a defect in raw wooden toys. While this roughness should not be a cause for concern, you must remember that toys that are not properly cared for will wear out more quickly.

 

Summary

 

Caring for wooden toys is essential to maintain their beauty and safety for children. Proper cleaning involves using a damp cloth without soaking the toys, followed by regular treatment with natural oils to protect against moisture. If a toy shows significant signs of wear, it should be discarded to ensure the child's safety.

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