Marie, my baby is three months old, and they are putting everything in their mouth! I would like to know if it’s safe to wash my baby’s objects. Thanks in advance, Rose

Hello Rose,

Great question! As a general rule, soapy water and rinsing are enough. However, many cleaners that are labelled antibacterial have been proven to be ineffective.

If you have a dishwasher at home, a hot water wash is a great idea. You can wash items that are hot water resistant.

I also did some research about products used in daycares and other places babies are cared for.

Two products stand out:

•  Lysol™ Multi-Surface Cleaner with Hydrogen Peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide in this product dissolves grease, cleans different surfaces (except wood), and is safe. You don’t need gloves, glasses or a mask. It can be used throughout the home. Sold as wipes or a liquid you need to dilute before using.
• Virox™ AHP® 5 RTU. Virox is a commercial cleaner used in health establishments and in the food industry. Virox contains 0.5% hydrogen peroxide which is the active ingredient. Can be bought as ready-to-use wipes or in a concentrated form you have to dilute in water before using. You need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and take the precautions when diluting. It won’t irritate the skin, but like with many cleaning products, you need to protect your eyes.

I am sure there are other products you can use safely on your baby objects, but I think this is a good start Rose.

Talk soon,

Marie

The Baby Expert