How to Clean Bath Toys: A Guide to Preventing Mold

The most reliable way to clean bath toys is to rinse them with warm or hot water, scrub them thoroughly, and then let them dry completely. That's the no-fuss truth about the typical musty smell of a rubber duck. In this guide you'll find a step-by-step method, a small routine for everyday family life, and clear criteria for when replacing a toy is simply the least stressful solution. And because we're a family business from Hamburg and have been doing this for 66 years, we keep things practical and down-to-earth – Ulli & Flo are writing here as parents, for parents.

Ulli & Flo

Owners of bieco · Hamburg · parents themselves

We've learned that it's not "more cleaning products" that does the trick, but getting things dry. With a small routine after bath time, our toys stay fresh much longer. Feel free to browse our bath toys collection.

You can find all our bathtub toys gathered here: Bathtub Toys (great for browsing if you need something that's easy to keep clean in everyday life).

How do you clean bath toys properly (step by step)?

The best way to clean is always the same: clean mechanically, then get everything dry. Mold loves damp and cozy – so let's make it uncomfortable for it.

1. Take everything out and sort it: Remove the toys from the net or basket; set aside any pieces with a hole.
2. Pre-rinse with hot water: Rinse thoroughly with the warmest tap water you can.
3. Make soapy water: Warm water plus a squirt of dish soap in a bowl.
4. Scrub: Use a bottle brush or toothbrush on grooves, seams and suction cups.
5. Rinse the inside (if possible): For squirting and pouring toys, run water through several times.
6. Rinse thoroughly: Don't leave any pockets of suds in crevices.
7. Let them drain: On a towel or drying rack, not back into the damp net.
8. Dry completely: Open and airy, a windowsill works well. Not in a closed bathroom cabinet.
9. Quickly check the storage: Rinse the net or basket once with hot water.
10. Only put them away when dry: It sounds fussy, but it saves you a big cleaning session later.

Why does bath toy mold form so quickly?

Mold forms when moisture lingers and air doesn't circulate well. That's exactly what happens with toys that hold water inside or sit "steaming away" in a net in a damp bathroom.

Mold is fungal growth that thrives on damp materials and surfaces. According to the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, mold can damage materials and be a health concern – especially through spores in the air: BMUKN: Mold.

Biofilm is a slimy layer of microorganisms that clings to wet surfaces. You'll often notice it as a slippery feeling on suction cups or in grooves – and unfortunately it makes a great "carpet" where dirt can settle more easily.

How do I clean bath toys with a hole (squeaky toys & co.)?

Toys with a hole are the hardest to keep clean, because leftover water stays trapped inside. If dark residue comes out when you squeeze, that's a clear warning sign – not a "oh, it'll be fine."

• Clean the outside as in the basic instructions (rinse water plus brush).
• Rinse the inside: Suck up warm soapy water and squeeze it out several times, then rinse with clear water several times.
• Dry as well as you can: Hole facing down, for several hours, ideally overnight.

Removing mold: what about vinegar, baking soda or chlorine?

For everyday use, cleaning plus drying is usually enough – disinfecting is rarely necessary. According to the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), antimicrobial products should only be used in households in justified exceptional cases; the basic rules of hygiene are usually sufficient: BfR: Antimicrobial products in the household.

If you still need "more," please do it without mixing chemicals. Here's how to put each option in perspective, no magic powders involved:

• Vinegar/citric acid: Good against limescale, but not automatically a mold miracle. Important: don't use it together with chlorine-based cleaners.
• Baking soda: Handy against odors and for gentle scrubbing – but it doesn't replace thorough rinsing and drying.
• Chlorine bleach/chlorine cleaner: Can remove mold from hard surfaces, but only with good ventilation and with care. The CDC warns against mixing bleach with other cleaners and gives a guideline of "no more than 1 cup of bleach per 1 gallon of water": CDC: Mold Clean Up.

Dishwasher & washing machine: yes or no?

Whether a toy can go in the dishwasher or washing machine depends on the material and the manufacturer's instructions. If you don't have any instructions, it's better to stick with hand cleaning – it's easier to control and often perfectly sufficient.

• Dishwasher: Can be convenient, but heat and harsh tabs can damage surfaces or warp parts. If you do use it, choose a mild cycle without "extra hot" – and only if the toy is designed for it.
• Washing machine: Often more useful for nets and bags than for toys. Put nets in a laundry bag, wash on a gentle cycle, and let them dry well.
• Important afterward: Whether by machine or by hand – let everything dry completely. That's the real game changer.

Know your materials: plastic, silicone, wood – what does that mean for cleaning?

The smoother and more "open" a toy is built, the easier it is to keep hygienic. Material alone doesn't decide everything – but there are a few handy rules of thumb for everyday life.

At BIECO, we've been looking closely for decades at what works in children's everyday life – including questions about materials and safety. We'd rather be transparent than polished: if something is hard to keep clean, we'll tell you so.

Bath toys for 1-year-olds / 2-year-olds / 3-year-olds: how often to clean – and when to replace?

There's no fixed age limit – what matters is the design, the condition, and your routine. A toy that dries openly can stay fine for a long time; a squeaky toy with water in its belly can turn quickly.

Checklist: when should you replace bath toys?

Replacing makes sense when you can no longer get a toy reliably clean and dry. That's not giving up, that's household management with a child on your arm.

• Visible mold (even after thorough cleaning) – especially inside.
• Musty smell that remains after cleaning and drying completely.
• Dark residue that comes out of the hole when you squeeze.
• Cracks or porosity – dirt especially likes to settle there.
• Sticky surface or changes in the material.

Bath toys for ages 1+ & toddlers: storage without the mold drama

With little ones, what matters most is that toys are easy to clean, quick to dry, and have no hidden water chambers. It's not rocket science – more like common sense with wet hands.

• Let them dry in the open: Not in closed boxes right after the bath.
• Wash nets regularly: Otherwise the net itself becomes a mold shared house.
• Ventilate the bathroom well: The German Federal Environment Agency recommends short bursts of full ventilation rather than just tilting the window, and opening doors and windows after showering or bathing: Federal Environment Agency: Ventilating against mold.
• Less is more: Better a few pieces that you really keep clean than half an aquarium in a net.

If you're looking for inspiration, you'll find a wide selection at Bath Toys. For the very youngest there's also the Baby Bath Toys category, and for bigger water lovers Bath Toys for Kids.

Mini routine: how to keep bath toys mold-free for longer

The best anti-mold strategy is a small routine right after the bath. It sounds like "one more chore" – but it's really just a quick motion once it becomes habit.

1. Give them a quick rinse after the bath (10–20 seconds).
2. Squeeze out the water (for squirting toys).
3. Dry in the open (towel or drying rack).
4. Brush once a week (grooves, suction cups, seams).

FAQ

How do you clean bath toys?

The best way to clean bath toys is with warm water, a little dish soap and a brush, then rinse everything clean and dry it completely. Drying is the key: mold needs moisture. If a toy holds water inside, rinse it extra thoroughly and let it dry in the open for a long time.

How can I clean bath toys that already have mold?

If bath toys have visible mold, first brush them thoroughly, then rinse very well and let them dry completely. For toys with cavities (e.g. squeaky toys), the problem is often on the inside – and that's hard to reach mechanically. If mold stays visible or keeps coming back, replacing the toy is usually the safer choice.

Squeaky toys: can you really remove mold?

With squeaky toys that have a hole, mold on the inside often can't be removed reliably. You can suck up soapy water and squeeze it out several times, rinse with clear water, and then let the toy dry in the open for a long time. If dark residue keeps coming out when you squeeze, or it stays musty, that's a clear sign to replace it.

Dishwasher: can I clean bath toys in it?

Some bath toys can go in the dishwasher, but only if the material and the manufacturer's instructions allow it. Heat and tabs can damage surfaces or warp parts. If you're unsure, stick with hand cleaning using dish soap and a brush – and then let everything dry completely.

How do I clean bath toys that already smell musty?

A musty smell usually means moisture or biofilm is lingering somewhere. Clean thoroughly once (brush, crevices, suction cups), rinse very well, and let everything dry completely in the open. If the smell comes from a squeaky toy with a hole and doesn't go away, replacing it is often the cleanest solution.

How often should you clean bath toys?

With regular bathing, a thorough cleaning every 1–2 weeks is usually enough, plus a quick rinse after every bath. It's worth doing more often if your bathroom is very humid or the toys get a lot of use. Good ventilation helps too; the German Federal Environment Agency recommends short bursts of full ventilation rather than keeping the window tilted all the time.

One last thing (no finger-wagging)

When bath toys are clean and dry, bath time is more fun again – for everyone involved. If you'd like to add to your collection or replace something, take a look at our overviews of Bathtub Toys and Bath Toys – and simply choose whatever is easy to keep clean in your home.