Handwashing plush toys and blankets - is "Dawn" okay to use?

I'm washing anything that says "hand wash" only or "use sponge with mild soap". I just have a bowl of water with Dawn Dishwashing detergent in it. Is that okay?

Or should I just use "Babyganics" wipes on each one?

Message edited 7/31/2011 2:13:42 PM.

Re: Handwashing plush toys and blankets - is "Dawn" okay to use?

I use dish soap for a ton of DD's toys. I think it's fine. I mean, she puts her mouth all over the bottles that I wash in the sink, so why not everything else? I also throw a lot of her toys that don't make noises (if that makes sense) into the washing machine. Even things that say not to submerge, I wash them in the sink with soap, then squeeze them out then hang them on a cabinet knob to dry.

I don't use those wipes on anything really, except I guess I would on stationary toys, like her exersaucer and jumperoo. I use regular lysol wipes on her high chair. I just make sure everything dries well before I let her back in them.

Re: Handwashing plush toys and blankets - is "Dawn" okay to use?

Re: Handwashing plush toys and blankets - is "Dawn" okay to use?

LOL it depends on what you want to do! If it's something you can just run under the sink, I honestly just take a regular sponge, lube it up (ha ha) with soap, and scrub away. Then I run the same item under the sink with hot water and squeeze until it runs clear again. I'm a bit aggressive when it comes to cleaning stuff, but I figure no more so than DD is.

The only item I'd be careful with submerging is Sophie the Giraffe. It took like a week before she'd squeak again when I got her too wet. In that case, I'd just rub with the soapy sponge, then ring the sponge out and rub again with a clean sponge a few times until I feel like the soap is off.

Some of DD's toys are electronic with plastic on them (like the baby einstein music box player thing) -- in that case, I'll use a soapy sponge on the part away from the electronics and keep the soap and water away from the battery incasing and then I'll use a clean dry cloth to just wipe it dry after. I guess a little soap stays on it.

I don't worry much... babies get into so much more than a little dish soap.

Re: Handwashing plush toys and blankets - is "Dawn" okay to use?

Thanks so much!

Re: Handwashing plush toys and blankets - is "Dawn" okay to use?

You need to try to get the soap off as much as possible. Dish soap causes diarrhea if ingested. I'm sure small amounts are okay, but I would just try to get as much as possible off.

Re: Handwashing plush toys and blankets - is "Dawn" okay to use?

I just put them all through the washing machine on gentle. I figured if it holds up great, if not it's not meant to be. At this point I just throw everything in together!! No separate washes anymore. There's no time!!

Re: Handwashing plush toys and blankets - is "Dawn" okay to use?

I was wondering the exact same thing myself!