Wooden toys are brilliant for toddlers and older children alike as they’re extremely durable, making for a safer playtime. Wooden toys are also more eco-friendly than plastic toys, and with proper care, your children will be able to pass their wooden toys down through the generations. They're also a great way to help young children develop their motor and cognitive skills, what’s not to love?
However, like all toys, they will be thrown on the ground, buried outside and will no doubt be put in your child's mouth, so it is important to regularly clean them.
Due to their natural element, wooden toys need to be cared for more closely and cleaned differently compared to plastic toys. Let’s take a look at all of the aspects you need to consider when caring for your child’s wooden toys!
The BrightMinds how to clean wooden toys guide
Luckily, keeping wooden toys clean is quite a simple task and can even be done with the help of your little ones, as the cleaning process uses no harmful chemicals or bleach. Wooden toys have natural properties so the germs do not linger as much as plastic toys.
How often should you be cleaning wooden toys?
Wooden toys are generally low-maintenance toys, which is great news for parents!
With wooden toys you don't need to be cleaning them every day, however, it is possible for germs to build up on the surface - if toys are played with daily - it’s recommended to wash them weekly to ensure they stay clean and will help keep them in good condition to be enjoyed for years to come.
What should you be using to clean wooden toys?
The best way to keep your wooden toys clean is to use all-natural materials and stay clear of any harmful chemicals.
Cleaning your wooden toys is as simple as any other and you’ll likely have everything you need to clean them within your cupboards. This includes;
- A clean microfibre cloth
- Warm water
- Spray bottle
- And your choice of cleaning product, this could be white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or a mild soapy solution
To ensure you are cleaning your toys suitably, make up your cleaning solution and add this to a spray bottle. This will allow you to quickly and effectively clean your whole toy collection. Spray each toy and wipe down with a damp cloth, you may need to use a sponge or small brush for any stubborn dirt. Wipe down with a dry cloth or paper towel and leave to air dry, it’s as simple as that!
Top Tip - Beeswax polish, olive oil or other conventional non-toxic polishes can be used to give your wooden toys an extra shine once dried.
Things to Avoid when cleaning wooden toys
The one thing you should be aware of when cleaning your wooden toys is to never leave them to soak in water, this is because prolonged time in water can cause the toy to lose its shape and colour.
Our favourite wooden toys
At BrightMinds, we carry an extensive range of educational wooden toys for many age groups and interest levels. Below are some of our favourites this season!
Bigjigs Wooden Transporter Lorry
One of our best-sellers and for good reason! This wooden transporter lorry set is perfect for car-obsessed young children. This fun push-along set includes a transported lorry with a movable ramp and four brightly coloured wooden cars for hours of fun.
This transporter lorry set is perfect for encouraging observational skills, concentration, fine motor and cognitive skills in younger children.
Melissa and Doug Lacing Beads in a Box
This beautifully presented wooden bead set makes a lovely relaxing lacing activity. The 27 chunky hand-painted beads come in a variety of shapes and bright colours with two extra-long laces to thread them onto.
Perfect for fine-motor development with both threading and stacking activities to try and also great for early numeracy as the beads feature countable dots and numerals from 1 to 10.
This is a really lovely educational toy and comes in a nice wooden presentation crate perfect for displaying in your little ones room.
Tidlo Country Play Kitchen
This stunning new farmhouse-style wooden country play kitchen from Tidlo will delight any child and look great in any house. It has been designed to be slightly taller than other play kitchens for years more play and the pale blue and white colours coupled with the beech wood effect counter are simply gorgeous.
Featuring an oven, hob with clicking dials, storage cupboards, a Belfast sink, clock with moveable hands, utensil shelves, plus three kitchen utensils, a plastic bowl in the sink, salt and pepper shakers and some washing up liquid for realistic role-play! It is also portable as the handy side carry slots mean that it can be moved easily.
This Country Play Kitchen is without a doubt one of our favourite wooden toys and will provide many happy hours of play!
Shop BrightMinds range of sustainable wooden toys
So you now know everything you need to know about caring for your wooden toys. Then why not browse our fantastic range for young children? BrightMinds stocks a wide range of wooden educational toys including wooden puzzles, wooden toy garages, doll houses, train sets and more! Shop our wide range today to create a fun and educational experience for your little one.
Got a question or need some guidance in finding the perfect toy for your child? We’d love to hear from you! Get in contact today to find out more about our range of toys.
