Steralising Linkadoos (and other play rings)

[nicoleE]

Does anyone know if you can steralise Linkadoos and other such links (you know the circular plastic links you hook toys to etc) in a steam steraliser?

I know you can steralise in liquid with liquid steralisers but it would be so much easier if i could put them in with a load of bottles every now and then. I dont steralise them all the time but like to every now and then as i have cats and want them to be free from their germs (i also do it if other kids have touched them! :p)

[metalhead713]

I never sterilise any toys.. maybe a rinse or wash in hot water every month or longer.. no point really, its a good way for them to build up immunity

eta. if somthing particularly gross or germy has touched the toy, I do rinse or wash in hot water. But I dont think sterilizing is really needed

[UmmInayah]

I don't really sterilse toys, but I do put some of her soft toys in the washing machine. I usually give the toys a wipe down with antibacterial wipes if I dropped them in the shopping centre, or the carpark or something. But toys at home I don't bother with. She crawls so she probably has so many germs on her grotty little hands, I doubt her toys being clean are going to make much of a difference.

[Shakey]

I don't often sterilise toys

but if I do feel like they really do need a really good clean, I clean with the milton tabs, just make up the solution as if I was going to sterilise, but instead of soaking everything, I just get a clean cloth and go over everything

I don't use any other chemicals, cause all their toys go in their mouths, and I know milton is very safe so use that

[missie_mack]

I wash most things in hot soapy water and pop it in the freezer. I especially freeze soft toys as it kills dust mites.

Otherwise I would use the Miltons or denture tablets as a general thingo. However the linkaroos are probably ok in the steamer as they are pretty sturdy :)

[RmumR]

i wouldn't put them in the steam steriliser if i were you. I use a microwave steam steriliser and my DH but one of DD's dummy chains which is plastic in it a few weeks ago and totally ruined it so bad we had to buy a new one.
the plastic melted to the steriliser and made the whole thing smell like burnt plastic....yuck.
I suggest you just use the milton stuff or perhaps wash in a bit of dettol and hot water or something similar cause the last thing you want is to have to buy a new steriliser.....believe me i know!

[draught]

I was told by a microbiologist that the best way to clean bottles and other things isn't to boil them or use a steam steriliser as the only way to truly sterilise anything is to use an industrial autoclave. Instead she recommended that just washing in hot soapy water, rinsing in hot water and letting things completely air dry is the best and most effective way of cleaning them.

The other option is to use the dishwasher - we use it for a lot of plastic toys. My rule is that if it can't survive the dishwasher or the washing machine we probably don't want it anyway.