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Using the dishwasher to sterilize used toys
Last night was spent doing dishes. We bid on a set of plastic dinosaurs for B's 4th birthday party (either for a pinata or to hide in the sandbox) but when they arrived all I could think about was illnesses from another part of the country. Since B currently has an ear infection and his brother may also, I thought it would be a good idea to clean the dinosaurs before letting anyone play with them. After not much thought, I decided the dishwasher would be the best way to clean them. First I carefully separated out 15 of the 100 dinosaurs that looked like they might melt. Then I started the dishwasher wondering how my experiment would turn out... Deep down I think I knew a dinosaur might melt but I didn't realize what that would mean. Not only did two dinosaurs melt, but they covered all the dinosaurs near them in a sticky goo (see the clear blob in the right side of the picture above) and all of the rest of the dishes in slime. It was very disappointing. I ended up washing each item individually and then running the dishwasher again. I'm planning to make a dilute bleach bottle this weekend for the next toy that needs to be sterilized. All trademarks and copyrights are owned by their respective companies. Comments are owned by the Poster. Everything else © 2005-2010 High Maintenance Mom.
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do you know why?
Was there something different about the ones that do melt? Softer plastics? I know people often some sterilize toys in the dishwasher and not others and I haven't come up with a "rule" of when the dishwasher is OK and not. I was thinking it had something to do with the hardness of the plastic (too soft means too susceptible to melting).
Sorry to hear about all the extra work.
Melting dinosaurs
Thank you. I assume they were a softer plastic but I really don't know. Now I wish I had a picture of the ones I washed so I could figure out what was different. Luckily, there were a lot that didn't melt.
I still sterilize all bath toys and teethers in the dishwasher but in the future I will probably be more careful about items I haven't tested yet.
Dishwasher can't sterilze toys
First, the dishwasher cannot sterilze toys.. or dishes for that matter. The water temperature just does not get hot enough to "sterilize". The term sterilze is actually a legal term used by the EPA to describe anti-microbial agents such as bleach, hyprogen peroxide, and others.
Most dishwashers heat the water to 140- 150 degrees F. At these temperatures, it is easy to clean dishes and glassware using water spray as a mechanical scrubbing mechanism and detergents as a chemical cleaner. These temperature make your dishes look nice and clean, but they are not high enough to kill a significant amount of bacteria, viruses, spores or prions.
The BEST household method of sterilizing is to use an EPA approved sterilizing agent (CLOROX Regular bleach) at the recommended concentration for disinfectant use.
I am lucky enough to have access to some of the worlds best microbiologists on this subject (Ft. Detrick) and we discuss sterilization techniques very often.
I would recommend a 1/10 dilution of bleach and water. Soak the toys for 20+ minutes. After soaking, rinse them completely. This should be effective at killing 99.99% of common bacteria and viruses. Prions are a hotly debated topic and it is not clear that they can be destroyed even in an autoclave, however if you worry about prions then you are extremely germophobic.
The second part is that you cannot judge the melting temperature of plastic or rubber substances by how hard or soft they are. Certain plastics are designed to be soft, but stand up to significant tempertures without melting. Other plastics are hard, but melt at low temperatures. It's the type of plastic or rubber that determines it's melting point. A case in point.. check how soft the rubber seal on your pressure cooker is. It's soft and pliable, but doesn't melt even at very high temperatures (245 degrees at 15 PSI).
Sterilization of glass and ceramic surfaces is a similar situation, eccept they can stand up to the increased temperatures required to kill bacteria and viruses. You can sterilize glass in a pressure cooker (Sterilze is to kill EVERYTHING, sanitize is killing MOST things).
For more information, check a lot of homebrewing websites, these guys have to pay very careful attention to this topic when they make wine or beer because those are perfect breading grounds for bacteria.
Thanks!
We use a bleach solution at preschool and I've used a bleach solution when the kids were younger and sick at home. Do you use a bleach solution regularly in your house? Now that the new school year has started with new kids bringing in different germs, I'm looking for ways to stay healthy.
sterilizing/cleaning toys
There is a new product, Lysol R, that is bleach-free, fragrance-free, and color-free. It is designed as a safe food-surface cleaner that kills 99.9% of bacteria without rinsing, in one minute. It can be used safely on toys, changing tables, etc.
From medicalnewstoday.com: "LYSOL(R) Food Surface Sanitizer is a new product specially formulated for use on food contact surfaces with no rinsing required. The new formula is safe when used as directed on surfaces to reduce cross-contamination of bacteria, such as E. coli and Salmonella. LYSOL(R) Food Surface Sanitizer kills 99.999% of bacteria in 60 seconds. It is effective on food contact surfaces, as well as other surfaces around the home where parents feel uncomfortable using products with certain chemicals, such as toys or changing tables."
I don't like using bleach, so I'm giving this a try.
sterilizing/cleaning toys
beckster,
Don't be afraid of bleach. Used properly with respect rather than fear, it is the best there is to kill bacteria, viruses and fugus plus mold in some cases. Talk about cheap AND effective.
Mix bleach 1 oz to 20 ounces water. That is perfectly safe to use in your house and around all nonporous surfaces in your house like counters, doors, most floors, sinks, baby changing stations, plastic toys of any type plastic, etc., etc.
You don't have to worry about toxic residue because bleach breaks down very easily into its component parts within 24 hours -- salt, oxygen, water and chlorine.
Spritz the dilute mixture on all the surfaces at night before bedtime and you will have a lot less on your mind the next day about keeping your family healthy.
But if you just have to have Lysol, you'll save a lot of money if you just buy a pint of alcohol (active antibacterial ingredient in Lysol spray that kills 99% of the bacteria) and save a LOT of money.
Alcohol works by disturbing the outer layer of bacteria and their replication mechanism is disrupted and they die. But not viruses.
Notice the label says "bacteria" and NOT viruses. That means flu and cold viruses will still be available to your family members after using the Lysol.
Dilute bleach, on the other hand, does kill the flu and cold viruses as well as a lot of others like Hepatitis and HIV.
Hepatitis can be located in your bathroom porcelain devices so cleaning with bleach is better, safer and healthier. I have a friend who got Hep C when his son cleaned the commode with his Dad's toothbrush to help around the house!! True story.
Hoping to have relieved some of your fear,
Ohne