How To Clean Outdoor Toys

Out of necessity， I found two methods on how to clean outdoor toys.

Method One: Power Washer

We’ve been using a *power washer to clean off our deck.  It’s amazing what water can do with just a little help!  So why not put that power to use on my kids’ toys?  

Step one is to put some old clothes on.  You will probably end up getting a little water sprayed on you & it’s not worth ruining a good outfit!

Move the outdoor toy to an open area and plug in the power washer.

Use a small towel to wipe on some cleaner on all the surfaces.  I found a recipe for a cleaning solution here that I absolutely love.  It’s half Dawn dish detergent and half vinegar.  The vinegar will kill the germs and the Dawn will help break out the grime.  Store bought cleaners will work too.

Start rinsing off the toy with the power washer and get a feel for it.  The closer the nozzle gets to the toy, the more powerful the spray will be.  In general, I keep the spray nozzle about a foot away.  If there’s a stubborn spot I need to work on, I carefully bring the spray closer; up to an inch away.

While using the power washer, be aware of two things:

The spray may be strong enough to move the toy around

The spray can also bounce back and spray you (depending on the angle at which you spray)

Method Two: Clean and Rinse

If you don’t t have a power washer, this is the next best way to clean outdoor toys.

The key is finding the right cleaning solution and using a car wash mitt.  A car wash mitt makes cleaning fast and easy.

I use a homemade cleaner that I found here.  It’s half Dawn dish detergent and half vinegar.  The vinegar will kill the germs and the Dawn will help break out the grime.  Store bought cleaners will work just fine as well.

First step: rinse off all the surfaces with water from the hose.

Spray all the surfaces with a light amount of the homemade cleaner.

Take a small towel or car wash mitt and gently scrub all the surfaces.  The wash mitt will help remove the stubborn dirt and stuck-on stuff.

Spray off the entire toy with water thoroughly.

Now the toy is clean and sanitized!  I wish everything else was that easy to clean!