When it comes to your children, you can never be too careful. When it comes to their toys, however, making sure that find a way to combat the myriad stains and marks which can appear on even the most innocuous of items is vital when it comes to battling bacteria. Germs and bacteria can build up on any surface, but when children spend so long coming into contact with their playthings and often during and after playing outside and in messy and dirty environments, finding a way to help keep children’s toys clean is a very big part of any house cleaning regime. For those plastic toys, many can be treated in a similar manner to how you would approach kitchen cleaning; getting a good anti-bacterial spray and a cloth can help you deal with the majority of bacteria which grows and festers in the area where muddy and grimy fingers are always reaching and grabbing. With many toys having odd and strange shapes, it is often vital to make sure that you reach into every creak and crevice. Plastic toys can often have a gap between pieces which have been fixed together and this can be a particularly dangerous area in which germs can build up. If you know that your children have a particularly favourite toy, paying close attention to these little details can make all the difference. Soft and cuddly toys are often a different matter. Teddy bears and other such items can often be one of the most treasured items during childhood, and they are not only carried absolutely everywhere but they can often accompany the child to bed. As such, finding a way to keep the items clean becomes absolutely vital. Many of these plush toys and soft toys will have a special label on them relating to best washing practices, meaning that you have clear instructions on how to approach this cleansing operation as part of your regular house cleaning regime. Many are machine washable, which can make the entire process easy. Using a fabric softener can keep those soft toys safe and sound, as well as soft and cuddly for as long as possible. In those instances where the toy might not be machine washable, you may have to hand wash the toy. If so, be sure to be careful as any damage might well be noticed by your child and you might not be in their best books. Hand cleaning can often be similar to upholstery cleaning, but remember to take a careful approach. As well as making sure that hard and soft toys are clean and tidy, it can often be just as important to pay attention to the environment in which they are stored. As well as the rooms throughout the house in which the toys might frequently be found, toy chests and plastic boxes can often be a place where dirt and germs can freely build up so a regular cleaning can always be hugely beneficial. Sometimes, however, the best approach to keeping toys clean is a preventative measure. Dirt and grime can often build up due to the toys being taken through messy environments and being coveted by dirty palms and fingers. To combat this, try to make sure that – should your son or daughter find themselves with muddy hands – you either get them cleaned up first or wash the toys before the dirt has had a chance to take hold. When it comes to keeping you children’s toys clean, reactive and proactive methods can often work in tandem, with you doing as much as possible to make sure that the toys stay safe.