When cleaning wooden toys such as blocks, special care should be taken to avoid soaking them as wood is naturally porous and can warp when it absorbs too much liquid. It is recommended to wipe clean your items with a solution of detergent and water, towel dry excess liquid, and then allow to air dry. (We love setting them in the sun to dry.) If sanitation is desired, use a health and safety approved sanitation solution such as: bleach and water, vinegar and water, or an alternative non-toxic cleaning solution.
As some of the larger natural wood products such as balance beams, benches, tree cookies, etc., become acclimated with your local environment and seasons, it is a natural possibility for mildew discoloration to appear. Fortunately, this is easily remedied by following the instructions below:
To remove the mildew, sand the area and follow-up with a bleach/water/detergent solution.
Apply the following solution liberally to the wood and allow to set for about 10-15 minutes:
- 3 quarts water
- One quart common household bleach
- ¼ cup maximum of liquid dishwasher detergent (ammonia-free)
The bleach is the key component that actually kills the mildew. Allowing this solution to set for 10-15 minutes gives the bleach time to settle into any crevices and hard to reach places to kill all the mildew present. Skipping this 10-15 minute set time may result in an inadequate job. The detergent is added in a small amount to help emulsify any mildew or dirt to aid in its removal. Liquid dishwasher detergent is the best choice as it will not foam like regular dish or laundry detergent.
