How To Clean Bath Toys & Prevent Mold

To clean bath toys and prevent mold, soak them in one of three solutions — 10 parts hot water to 1 part bleach for about 6 minutes, equal parts white vinegar and water for 15 minutes to 24 hours, or equal parts 3% hydrogen peroxide and water for 15+ minutes — squeezing the solution in and out of any toys with holes, then rinsing thoroughly and air drying completely. The single best prevention: rinse toys after every bath and let them dry fully. Never mix bleach with vinegar or peroxide. Here’s the full guide, including a dishwasher method and how to rescue a moldy rubber duck.

What bath toys are made of

Most bath toys are made of water-friendly materials — plastic, silicone, or rubber. If you’re buying plastic toys, choose ones that are phthalate-free and free of BPA and PVC.

When bath toys need disinfecting

Signs it’s time for more than a rinse:

• Your child had an accident (pee or poop) in the tub with the toys.
• You can see mold or mildew inside the toy.
• It’s been more than a couple of weeks since the last cleaning.

Those tiny squirt holes trap water and germs, so regular cleaning matters.

Supplies you’ll need

Safety note: pick one disinfectant per job — never mix bleach with vinegar or hydrogen peroxide (or any other cleaner), as the combinations create toxic gases. Work in a ventilated bathroom and rinse toys thoroughly before they go back to your child.

How to disinfect bath toys with bleach

Step 1: Fill a plastic tub with 10 parts hot water to 1 part bleach (e.g. 10 cups water to 1 cup bleach).
Step 2: Submerge the toys, squeezing any with hollow interiors so the solution fills them.
Step 3: For toys too big to submerge, wear gloves and use a sponge to keep them coated and wet for at least 6 minutes.
Step 4: Let everything soak at least 6 minutes.
Step 5: Remove and rinse in hot water, filling and squeezing the interiors several times until no bleach remains.
Step 6: Air dry completely before reuse.

The video below shows a bleach-free alternative.

How to clean bath toys in the dishwasher

Step 1: Rinse off obvious dirt.
Step 2: Arrange the toys on the top rack, openings facing down so hot water reaches inside. Put small toys in a mesh laundry bag so they don’t fall to the bottom.
Step 3: Add your regular dishwasher detergent.
Step 4: Run the cycle with just the toys.
Step 5: Let the drying cycle run.
Step 6: If water remains inside any toy, air dry fully before reuse.

How to clean a moldy rubber duck

If the duck is getting moldy inside, this vinegar soak rescues it.

Step 1: Fill a tub with equal parts vinegar and water (white vinegar is cheapest).
Step 2: Submerge the toys, filling any cavities with the solution.
Step 3: Soak at least 15 minutes — up to 24 hours for stubborn interior mold.
Step 4: Squeeze the solution out and rinse thoroughly under hot running water.
Step 5: Air dry before returning to the tub.

Vinegar’s bonus: it’s safe even on wooden bath toys, and it’s non-toxic, so no gloves or special ventilation needed. (If interior mold keeps coming back despite soaking, it’s safest to just replace the toy.)

Tips to keep bath toys clean

• Rinse each toy under hot water after every bath and let it air dry — this is the most important step, since it stops bacteria from settling in.
• Always disinfect after any accident (pee or poop) in the tub.
• To keep water out of squirt toys entirely, seal the holes with a dab of waterproof glue.
• Check inside toys regularly and disinfect at the first sign of mold.

When in doubt, toss any toy you can’t get fully clean — it’s not worth the risk to your child’s health.

FAQ

Conclusion

Bright bath toys are great fun, but those water-trapping holes can turn them into a home for bacteria and mold. Soak with bleach, vinegar, or peroxide (one at a time, never mixed), rinse and dry thoroughly, and — above all — rinse and air dry after every bath to keep them safe for your kids.