How to Get Mold Out of Bath Toys
If a bath toy squirts out cloudy water or smells musty, it likely has black mold growing inside, where trapped bath water sits in the dark. You can clean them, but the squeeze hole makes mold hard to fully remove, so sealing or replacing them is often the honest answer.
We make small-batch beeswax candles in Far Rockaway, so a room that truly smells clean is our whole focus, and that always starts at the source rather than the scent. Below is where the smell comes from, how to clear it step by step, and how to keep the space fresh afterward, with the full the MBur beeswax candle collection here as you read.
Why bath toys grow mold inside
Squeeze toys suck in bath water through the hole, and it sits inside the warm, dark, damp interior between baths. Mold grows on the inner walls where you cannot see or reach it.
Squeezing the toy then sprays that moldy water, which is a real concern for kids' toys. Because the inside cannot be scrubbed, cleaning only goes so far, as the EPA's household mold guide stresses controlling the moisture that lets mold grow.
How to handle it, step by step
- Check for mold. Squeeze each toy over the sink. Cloudy or black-flecked water means mold inside.
- Clean what you can. Soak the toys in a vinegar-and-water or diluted bleach solution, squeezing it in and out to flush the inside, then rinse thoroughly.
- Dry them out. Squeeze out all the water and set them to dry fully. A bulb syringe can push air through to speed it.
- Seal or replace bad ones. For toys with heavy interior mold you cannot clear, glue the hole shut so no water gets in, or replace them.
- Store them dry. Keep them in a mesh bag or ventilated bin rather than sitting in the tub.
Solid toys without holes are the easy answer. With no interior to trap water, they cannot grow mold inside and are simple to keep clean.
Keep it from coming back
Squeeze the water out after every bath and let the toys dry fully, and seal the holes on squeeze toys you want to keep.
Replace any toy with mold you cannot clear, since the interior cannot be truly cleaned.
Freshen the whole room once the source is gone
With moldy bath toys handled, the air itself is the last step. A clean candle is the finishing touch here, best lit once the space is already clean. From there it is the fastest way to make the room read fresh rather than merely neutral.
For your bathroom, Do Not Disturb fits well. It is soft and warm, with pear, bergamot, jasmine, and sandalwood, and like every MBur candle it is poured from 100% beeswax with a wooden wick and phthalate-free non-toxic fragrance oils, so freshening the air never means adding soot on top.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a bath toy has mold?
Squeeze it over the sink. Cloudy water or black flecks mean mold is growing inside.
Can I get mold out of a squeeze toy?
You can flush the inside with a vinegar or bleach solution, but heavy interior mold is hard to fully remove, so sealing the hole or replacing the toy is often better.
How do I stop bath toys from molding?
Squeeze out the water after each bath, dry them fully, and store them somewhere airy. Sealing the holes prevents water getting in at all.
Are moldy bath toys dangerous?
They spray moldy water when squeezed, which is worth avoiding, especially for young children. Clean, seal, or replace them.
Ready to keep your space smelling clean once the source is handled? Explore the MBur beeswax candle collection and find the scent that fits the room.
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