Cleaning Your Kids’ Outdoor Toys

With summer in full swing, you may be looking at your kid’s outdoor toys and thinking yuck! They are probably stained, dirty, covered in cobwebs and who knows what else. Not exactly ideal for your kids to be playing with. Here is our go to list for cleaning those outdoor toys to open up endless opportunities for fun for your kids!

Plastic Outdoor Toys

First look at each plastic toys stability. If the toys are solid, and you have access to a pressure washer cleaning them is simple and efficient. Test the pressure of the machine you’re using to avoid any damage and be sure to keep your distance just like when you’re washing your car!

If a pressure washer is out of reach, some dish detergent, a good brush, and some elbow grease will do just as well. First, brush off any caked mud or dirt. Once all caked mud/dirt has been removed, add dish soap to a bowl of hot water and scrub down the plastic with a softer wired brush. A toothbrush is a great option to get into the crevices and small hard to reach places.

If you’re looking for a more natural way of cleaning you can substitute dish soap for white vinegar and mix 50/50 with water. Take note that vinegar can do some harm to your grass if spilled.

Ride Ons

The ride ons parked in your garage are probably some of the most beloved toys your children own. Each year after washing them down in the same manner as your plastic toys, look over any moving parts and give a thorough safety check. If you notice anything sticking, spray some WD40 into the moving parts to get them moving efficiently again. A good cleaning and proper maintenance go a long way to ensure the longevity of ride on toys.  

Playhouses
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While a playhouse can fall under the same category as plastic outdoor toys, there is a bit more to cleaning a playhouse. For the outside of the house, scrub with hot soapy water to remove any stains, cobwebs, etc. Next, dilute a solution of 2 tablespoons of bleach in 5 litres of water. Wipe down the outside of the house with this solution and let sit for 15-30 minutes. Wipe clean after to leave the exterior looking like new.

Disposable cleaning wipes or hot soapy water are both excellent options for cleaning the interior of a plastic playhouse. Much like the exterior, wipe down all surfaces, and crevices with the cleaning product of your choice. The biggest challenge cleaning the inside is having enough room to move around! Cleaning the inside of the playhouse is the perfect opportunity to turn cleaning into a fun game for your little ones while getting some help with the chores!

While a little dirt never hurt anyone, it’s always a good idea to keep outdoor toys in good working order and clean. Which of your kids’ outdoor toys is their favourite?