How to Disinfect Baby Toys That Go in Mouth

The short answer: wash baby toys that go in the mouth daily with hot, soapy water, then disinfect weekly. For plastic and silicone toys, soak for 15 minutes in a baby safe sterilising solution or run through a steam steriliser, rinse with clean water and air dry. For plush toys, machine wash at 40 to 60 degrees. Never soak wooden toys, do not use bleach meant for household surfaces, and always dry toys completely before you give them back. Thorough cleaning is enough after six months per NHS hygiene guidance.

Why mouth contact toys need more than a quick wipe

Babies explore with their mouths. From about three months they mouth everything within reach, and teething makes it constant. Saliva transfers bacteria and viruses to toy surfaces, and those toys then roll across floors and sofas before going straight back into the mouth. A quick wipe with a baby wipe removes crumbs but does not remove dried saliva film where microbes survive.

The UK Health Protection guidance for childcare advises regular cleaning of mouthed toys, with separate cleaning after contact with sickness or nappy contents.

You do not need to sterilise every toy like a bottle. The NHS sterilising guidance is clear that feeding equipment should be sterilised until 12 months. Toys that go in the mouth should be sterilised alongside bottles in the first six months, then can move to thorough hot washing as your baby builds immunity, unless your baby was premature or is unwell. For toy storage and rotation ideas that cut daily cleaning time, keeping a small basket of daily mouth toys separate from the main box helps you stay on top of washing.

Sort toys by material before you clean

Put all mouthed toys on a clean towel and split them into four piles. This takes two minutes and prevents damage.

• Hard plastic and silicone , rattles, teethers, stacking cups, bath toys without holes. These tolerate soap, cold water sterilising solution and steam.
• Plush with no electronics , teddies, fabric books, soft balls. These need the washing machine, not a soak.
• Plush or plastic with batteries , remove the module if you can, wipe only if you cannot.
• Wood , beech or rubberwood teethers, wooden rings. These need wiping only, never soaking or steaming.

Check care labels for dishwasher safe or steriliser safe notes. If the label says surface wash only, respect it.

Method 1: Hot soapy water for the daily clean

Hot soapy water is the most underrated method and the one the NHS guidance on stopping germs spreading cites for removing bacteria from surfaces. Warm water around 40 to 45 degrees with washing up liquid breaks down saliva and grease, and scrubbing removes far more than disinfectant alone on a dirty surface.

How to do it: Fill a clean bowl with hot water and washing up liquid, scrub toys with a bottle brush around seams, rinse until no bubbles remain, then air dry on a clean towel. Five minutes covers a handful of toys.

This daily wash is enough for most days after six months. Keep a small basin just for toys so you are not mixing water with dishes. Fragrance free washing up liquid is fine if you rinse well, or use a baby bottle wash if you prefer a neutral scent.

Method 2: Cold water sterilising solution for teethers

Cold water solutions use diluted sodium hypochlorite, the active ingredient in Milton sterilising fluid, and work at low temperature for heat sensitive toys.

How to do it: Mix exactly as the bottle states, usually one cap per five litres of cold water. Submerge clean, pre washed plastic and silicone toys so they are fully covered. Leave for 15 minutes, then remove with clean hands, rinse with fresh water if the label says so, and air dry on a clean rack. Make fresh solution every 24 hours and never mix with other cleaners.

Do not use household bleach or kitchen surface sprays that contain fragrances or benzalkonium chloride unless the label says baby safe for mouthed objects. Stick to a product sold for baby feeding equipment. A lidded container kept only for sterilising saves solution compared with using the sink.

Useful picks for batch cleaning: a microwave steam steriliser doubles as a toy steriliser and saves making fresh solution. See our best baby sterilisers UK for size and cycle comparisons. Two compact options we assessed: Philips Avent Microwave Steam Sterilizer for quick 2 minute cycles, and Tommee Tippee Microwave Steam Steriliser for larger loads. The MAM Electric Steriliser and Express Bottle Warmer also handled mixed dummies and teethers well in our test load. For wooden teether care, keep a separate wipe routine and see best teething toys for babies for material notes. If you sterilise often, a Tommee Tippee Electric Steam Steriliser or Philips Avent Premium Steriliser and Dryer gives you dry storage for up to 24 hours with the lid closed.

Method 4: Dishwasher and washing machine

Dishwasher for hard toys: Place heat stable plastic without batteries on the top rack. Use a normal cycle with powder or tablet, no rinse aid, and a heated dry if available. Skip toys with stickers or thin paint. Remove promptly and check no small parts have loosened. This is handy weekly for Duplo and stacking toys.

Washing machine for plush: Put soft toys in a mesh laundry bag, wash at 40 to 60 degrees with fragrance free detergent, no fabric softener. Softener coats fibres and can irritate mouths. Air dry flat then brush the pile once dry. If a teddy has a sound box you cannot remove, spot clean around it and wipe the hard module separately.

For sterilising food jars and feeding equipment, the same clean first then sterilise rule applies.

Wooden toys: wipe only

Wood is porous. Soaking makes it swell and crack, steam strips the finish, and the dishwasher will ruin it. Wipe with warm soapy water, then plain water, and dry immediately with a towel plus air drying.

If a wooden teether looks dry, wipe with a cloth barely dampened with one part white vinegar to four parts water, then wipe with clean water and dry.

What not to do

• Do not use undiluted bleach or kitchen surface sprays on mouthed toys unless the label states baby safe for mouthed objects. Residue risk is higher than benefit.
• Do not soak or steam wooden toys. Treat wood as wipe only.
• Do not dry microwave toys to sterilise them unless they are sold as microwave steriliser bags for that toy. Dry microwaving can melt plastic.
• Do not reuse the same wipe across many toys. You move germs from one toy to the next.
• Do not store toys damp in a closed box. Darkness plus moisture grows mould.

How often to do this

• Under 6 months: daily wash plus two to three sterilising soaks per week.
• 6 to 12 months: daily wash, weekly disinfect, extra after playgroups.
• Over 12 months: weekly wash for most toys, more often for favourites that live in the mouth.

During winter colds, return to the younger baby rhythm for two weeks. Rotate the toy box so fewer toys are out at once. Fewer toys out means fewer to wash and less floor contact, a trick many nurseries use and one we note in our room by room baby proofing guide.

Drying, storing and when to replace

Air dry on a rack for at least an hour and check plush seams with a tissue. Store only when fully dry in an open basket, not a sealed tub. Replace any toy that is cracked, peeling or traps water that no longer drains.

That routine keeps mouth contact toys safe without turning evenings into a cleaning shift. Daily hot water does most of the work, weekly sterilising catches the rest, and material matched methods protect the toys.

For more sleep guides, visit My Baby Now.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I disinfect baby toys that go in the mouth?

Daily with hot soapy water when your baby is under six months or after illness, and at least weekly disinfection on top. After six months a weekly disinfect plus immediate cleaning after playdates is enough for most homes.

Can I put baby toys in the dishwasher or washing machine?

Hard plastic without batteries can go on the top rack of the dishwasher, and plush without electronics can go in the washing machine at 40 to 60 degrees in a laundry bag. Always remove batteries and check the care label first.

Is Milton or sterilising fluid safe for baby toys?

Yes when diluted exactly as the bottle states and used cold for 15 minutes, then rinsed and air dried. It is designed for baby feeding equipment and is safe for mouthed toys when you follow the instructions and make fresh solution daily.

How do I disinfect wooden baby toys safely?

Wipe with warm soapy water, then plain water, and dry immediately. Do not soak, steam or dishwasher wood. A barely damp cloth with diluted vinegar can refresh occasionally, but thorough drying is the key step.

Do I need to sterilise toys as well as bottles?

Until six months, sterilise mouth contact toys and teethers alongside bottles. From six to twelve months thorough hot washing is usually enough unless your baby is premature or unwell. Bottles themselves should still be sterilised until 12 months per NHS guidance.

What should I do with bath toys that have mould inside?

Throw away any sealed cavity bath toy with visible black mould that does not fully drain. Replace with solid or open drain designs and clean weekly with hot soapy water, drying upright after each bath.

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Last reviewed: 6 September 2026 · Evidence-based content · Contains affiliate links