How to Sanitize Teething Toys

How do you clean and sterilize teething toys?

An important part of keeping your baby safe and healthy is keeping their teething toys clean. However, with your hands full nearly 24/7, you may be wondering how to keep them clean when they’re not in use.

At Tushbaby, we design safe and functional products to cover alllll the needs of life with a baby, like our Tushbaby Hip Seat Carrier. It’s designed to evenly distribute your baby’s weight, and features five storage pockets to conveniently stash baby gear and personal items. Whether you’re hanging around the house or out on the go, you can take advantage of those handy storage pockets to keep teething toys close and clean. Plus, it can double as a breastfeeding pillow!

Our lineup of game-changing baby products doesn’t stop there— later on, we’ll share more parenting must-haves, but first, let’s go over some tips on cleaning and storing teething toys.

How to Sanitize Baby Teething Toys

Table of Contents

The Boiling Method
The Microwave Method
The Dishwasher Method
Electric Steam Sterilizers
Cleaning vs. disinfecting teething toys
How do you disinfect teethers when on the go?
How do you clean certain types of teething toys?
How to properly store teething toys to keep them clean

The Boiling Method

The ol’ tried and true, you can clean teething toys and kill germs by boiling teething toys in hot water for about five minutes. Most plastic toys and wooden toys can be boiled, but you should always check product-specific recommendations before cleaning. Be sure that teething toys have fully cooled before giving them to your baby to use.

The Microwave Method

The beloved microwave gets yet another use: cleaning teething toys. To clean teething toys in the microwave, you’ll need a microwave-safe bag or bowl. Place the toys in the microwave-safe bag or bowl and use the sterilization setting on the microwave for about ten minutes.

Another way to use the microwave is with boiling water and a microwave-safe bowl. The microwave can heat up the teething toy to kill the germs, making it a much-loved method for many parents and caregivers.

The Dishwasher Method

Some teething toys may be dishwasher safe. If your teething toys are in fact dishwasher safe, you can use the dishwasher to clean them. Be mindful that the dishwasher may mean harsh detergents that can linger on the teething toys, so be sure to check for any product-specific recommendations about detergent.

Electric Steam Sterilizers

Electric steam sterilizers can also be used to kill most germs. To use an electric steam sterilizer, simply follow the instructions on the steamer. Most will require a small amount of water, which will then turn to steam. Again, check teething products to make sure they are safe to use in an electric steam sterilizer.

Cleaning vs. disinfecting teething toys

Cleaning and disinfecting are, in fact, two different processes when it comes to teething toys.

While you may not always have time to do both, you’ll want to clean teething toys as often as possible and disinfect them as you see fit. And when disinfecting, always be sure to clean first! When cleaning teething toys, you’re removing germs and surface dirt, and after cleaning, you can then apply a disinfectant or use a disinfecting method. The process of disinfecting helps stop germs from reproducing.

How do you disinfect teethers when on the go?

As a parent or caregiver, we know life can get busy. When you’re on the go, you’ll need teething toys clean and handy, but how can you clean them on the go?

There are certainly many disinfecting wipes to choose from, or for a more at-home method, you can keep a mixture of white vinegar and water handy. Using a clean cloth, apply the mixture to the teething toy and let it dry.

How do you clean certain types of teething toys?

Materials matter, especially when it comes to care instructions. While specific instructions can vary depending on the product, here are some general practices for cleaning certain types of teething toys:

Cleaning a silicone teether: Silicone teething toys are generally straightforward to care for and can be more resistant to bacteria. Most silicone teething toys are also dishwasher safe. If your silicone teething toys are dishwasher safe, you can use warm, soapy water to clean them and run them in the next dishwasher cycle. It’s pretty low maintenance—just the way we parents like it.
Cleaning a wood teether: Similar to silicone, wooden teething toys can have antibacterial properties. However, they can’t stay germ-free without your help. To clean most wooden teething toys, use warm water and soap and lay them out to dry completely.
Cleaning teethers with strings inside: Teething toys with strings inside may take a bit more attention when it comes to cleaning. Most people will advise against boiling or steaming. Use warm water and soap to clean them, similar to the other types of teething toys. Be sure to rinse the soap off thoroughly and let the toy dry.

How to properly store teething toys to keep them clean

As parents, we may know the proper way to do things, but what’s handy or available often becomes our norm—which means, you may not always have an official storage area for clean teething toys. With Tushbaby products designed for moms, by moms, you can be sure you always have what you need when you need it.

We offer a stylish range of parenting products designed to make life with a baby fuss- and fluster-free. To keep teething toys clean and nearby, check these out:

Tushbaby: Our supportive, streamlined Tushbaby Hip Seat Carrier is a must-have, delivering tons of benefits like built-in lumbar support, an open-face design, and the ability to be folded up and stored away as needed.

But it gets better than that: Tushbaby features five storage pockets to stash baby gear and personal items, a hideable bottle holder, loops for toys, and it can even double as a breastfeeding pillow. Keep your teething toys tucked away and clean while keeping them at arm’s length.

The Pod: Our luxury pacifier case, The Pod, can be easily clipped onto your Tushbaby’s toy loops (or your purse, stroller, backpack, you name it) for easy access to teething toys or pacifiers. With three easy-to-clean fabric options—vegan leather, polyester, and velvet—you can keep toys and pacifiers close for quick soothing. Plus, The Pod is baby-safe, PVC-free, lead-free, and phthalates-free.

Totebaby: If you love style and practicality, say hello to the mom bag that offers it all. Our Totebaby is a buttery vegan leather tote that doubles as a diaper bag, grocery bag, stash-all-your-things bag, or whatever you need it to be. Fully stocked with an organizer, vegan leather fold-up changing pad, and removable divider pocket, the Totebaby can help you streamline your stuff when you’re bringing everything but the kitchen sink.

As a parent, you need to be ready for anything. . . shop Tushbaby to make life with a baby easier!