The Natural Way: Cleaning Untreated Wood Toys

At Simply Hardwood Toys we prefer the touch of real wood, without any coatings, as it has been shown to have multiple health benefits. Also, we just love the soothing feel of smoothly sanded wood. 
But how do you sanitize toys made from untreated wood? In this post we will focus on how to naturally care for your little one's favorite playthings. Keeping wooden toys clean, including untreated wood toys, is not as hard as one might think. 

 

Differences in Wood Toy Finishes

Let's take a closer look at what makes untreated wood toys different from coated or dyed toys.

Coated toys have a protective layer of lacquer, polyurethane, shellac or oil that dries to a hard film on the surface of the toy. This protects the wood from moisture and dirt for a good amount of time but will eventually wear off.

Dyed or stained toys are treated with a liquid dye that partially soaks into the wood fibers and colors them. This only colors the wood and offers no protection from moisture, dirt or wear.

Untreated toys are just that, natural wood surfaces, sanded silky smooth without any coating or stain. Untreated hardwood is a very strong material with natural antimicrobial properties. While not as resistant to moisture as coated toys, your child is actually touching wood when playing with their wood toys.

 

Benefits of Untreated Wood

Our kids are exploring the world with their eyes, ears and hands but also (and especially) with their mouths. This makes choosing the right toys and cleaning methods an important task. Although the following guide applies to most natural wood toys, here are a few reasons why we prefer untreated wooden toys:

• Untreated wood is a natural and renewable resource, and without a coating there is no risk of chemical contamination.
• Untreated wood has natural antimicrobial properties, making it harder for contamination to survive on the surface.
• Many studies have shown that contact with raw wood promotes relaxation, reduces stress, benefits heart health and more. (We will honor this very interesting topic with it's own article in the future.)
• Well made, untreated wood toys are durable and can remain in service for generations.

 

What You'll Need

Cleaning wood toys requires only a few items that most of us already have in our home:

• Microfiber Cloths: These soft cloths work great for cleaning. If your toy's surface is a bit more rough from extended play or moisture, microfiber cloth may cause fibers or lint to remain on the wood. In this case a cotton cloth or an old t-shirt is a good alternative. Using white cloth is advised to prevent possible transfer of dye onto the toys.
• White Vinegar: Nature's disinfectant - safe for kids and an effective cleaner. If you don't have white vinegar on hand, apple cider vinegar will work as well. Test it on an inconspicuous spot to make sure it does not cause staining or damage to the wood.
• Water: Just plain water works wonders. Our water here in Oklahoma is hard so we prefer filtered water. In combination with vinegar it makes the go-to wood toy cleaner.
• Baking Soda: A paste of baking soda and water makes a great cleaner for tough spots, when vinegar is not enough.

 

General Cleaning Steps

When cleaning wooden toys, always start with the least wet, since moisture and wood don't get along in the long run. For a quick daily clean, a dry microfiber cloth is enough to wipe off dust and dirt. When a deeper clean is needed, white vinegar enters the stage: 

• Create a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water in a spray bottle.
• Get a microfiber cloth slightly damp. Wring it out as good as you can, we don't want a dripping cloth.
• Spray the cloth slightly with the vinegar mixture. Do not spray the toy directly, that is too much moisture.
• Wipe the toy gently.
• Dry off any excess moisture with a dry cloth or a paper towel.
• Always let toys air dry thoroughly to prevent mold! Heating the toy to speed up the drying can lead to warping and cracking. On toys with coatings, the coating might melt or outgas chemicals.
• Sunlight has a disinfecting function. The UV light, that is part of the sunlight's spectrum, kills microbes and bacteria. Therefore it is a good idea to let toys dry or just disinfect by enjoying a few hours of indirect sunlight. Turn the toy once in a while so it gets an even tan. However, as always, to much of a good thing isn't good either. UV light is also what ages and dries wood, so too much sunlight can cause warping or cracking. Stick with indirect sunlight and keep it to a few hours in the sun and your toys will be well cared for.

 

Special Cases

Disinfecting: If your toys need an extra deep cleaning (like after a sick day), increase the vinegar mixture from 1 part vinegar : 3 parts water to 1 part vinegar : 2 parts water. Always test on a small, inconspicuous spot first to make sure it's safe for the wood.

Tough Stains: If you encounter defiant stains, try a cleaning paste made from baking soda and water. Rub a little bit of the mixture onto the stain and rub gently. An old toothbrush works well here. Lastly, wipe the spot clean with a slightly damp cloth and let the toy air dry.

Mold: If you discover mold on the toy, remove it from playtime immediately and clean it carefully but thoroughly with a 1:2 disinfecting vinegar solution. The above mentioned toothbrush will be very useful here as well. Make sure to let the toy air dry completely to prevent new mold buildup. 
If you are unable to remove the mold it might be time to retire the toy.

 

What Not To Do

Skip the Strong Stuff: Stay away from bleach, ammonia, or harsh cleaners - they can damage the wood and leave behind harmful residues. They can also damage the glue, holding toy parts together. Coatings like lacquer or polyurethane might take damage as well.

No Diving: While careful cleaning with damp cloths is a good way to care for wooden toys, submerging them in water is a good way to shorten their life. If allowed, wood will soak up moisture until it is a dripping sponge. It will swell up, warp and crack. Once it is swollen and wet, it will most likely never regain it's original shape and warp and crack more while drying. Depending on the glue used, it too will dissolve in the water and the toy will start falling apart. Even coated (painted) wood toys should never be submerged. It only takes a tiny, invisible crack in the coating to allow the water to soak in and damage the wood as well as the coating itself.

Watch the Sun: Too much direct sunlight can fade or dry out the wood. Even when your wood toy is "dry" (or brand new), it still has a natural amount of moisture in it. Wood will adjust to the humidity in the area where it is stored. Leaving it in direct sunlight will dry out those remaining percent, shrinking the wood slightly and causing cracks and warping.    

Protecting the Wood

A quick web search will reveal a lot of suggestions to protect the wood by coating it with mineral oil or olive oil. The idea is that the oil will nourish and protect the wood, which is partially correct. Oils applied to a wood surface will be soaked up by the wood fibers, filling the hollow spaces and preventing moisture and dirt from entering. 
However, not all oils are created equal. For our application we shall divide oils into two categories, drying and non-drying oils. 

Drying oils harden over time in contact with oxygen (called polymerization). Examples are Linseed Oil, Tung Oil or Walnut Oil. These oils have been used to treat wood for millennia and are a good choice but they often require multiple applications and week-long drying times. Great for furniture restauration, not so great for toy maintenance (unless the treated toy won't be in rotation for a few weeks). 

Non-drying oils are extensively used in cooking and cosmetics due to their pleasant flavor profile, the moisture barrier they provide and the fact that they stay liquid. Examples are olive oil, coconut oil or almond oil. These oils are generally not used in wood preservation because they do not dry and will eventually go rancid.

Food Grade Mineral Oil: Mineral Oil is also a non-drying oil but derived from petroleum instead of seeds and nuts. Because of that, it does not go rancid. It can be used to protect the wood slightly but it has to be reapplied regularly because it does not dry and gets worn off quickly. Make sure to use FOOD GRADE Mineral Oil as other types of mineral oils might have unhealthy additives in it.

Conclusion

Natural, untreated wood toys are not only a joy to play with, the handling of raw wood has benefits for body and mind. Cleaning and protecting these natural treasures only requires a few common items most of us already have at home. Preventing the toys from getting too wet or drying out too much in direct sunlight will maintain them for generations of play. If you prefer to wipe the toys down with a protective oil, Food-Grade Mineral Oil is the easiest and most popular choice. It does require regular re-application though.