Well-Meaning Coworker Gave Me Dirty Toys!!

I shop at consignment sales all the time, and always wash everything meticulously that I buy used. (probably too meticulously). I wash everything in the washer or dishwasher on hot. If it doesn't make it, oh well, I wouldn't have used it anyway. I don't buy things that look like they could be safety issues, so I wouldn't keep those things.

But never throw things out, always donate to goodwill or a shelter. If something is not sell-able, let them decide to toss it. (Again, unless you know it isn't safe.) With the economy the way it is, it is such a shame to throw out things that you don't want or like, because there is always someone who might. Even dirty stained stuff. My husband needs jeans for his job that get absolutely ruined in the first day. I always buy the most ruined jeans off the goodwill rack. I can't afford to buy him new just to get ruined, and if people donate the stained, ripped ones, I dont have to buy the ones in decent shape and can leave those for someone else who needs them.

Hi S S I put all toys through my dish washer, and all cloth toys i was in hot water in my machine, My daycare kids play with my kids old toys and my kids are 26, 23, and 20 and everything is in good condition and is sterilized weekly on a cycle in my dishwasher. J. L.

S.
I would throw the soft stuff in a hot wash and wash them. There is no loss if they fall apart as you won't use them if they're not clean, right? The hard stuff, put them in a mild clorox bath and let them soak. Thoroughly rinse and let dry. Your baby won't notice they're old, so just make sure you're not being overly picky because the stuff isn't new. Also, make sure to thank your co-worker and if you decide to toss, don't tell him. If he asks, just say that your child is enjoying the variety of toys.
S.

I am reading a lot of great responses. I would wash them, see how that goes in either a washer or deep soap bath. Toss the ones you won't use and let your lil one play with the ones you do keep- If you really feel that strongly about not having them, just take them to the Goodwill where all their items are used.. and unfortunate buy those all the time!
Make sure you thank that wonderful person though. They had very good intentions, lots of people I know would never have had the courage to do that.

Keep the ones you want and clean them. Any ones you will not use, give to goodwill.

Do you really think your coworker will check to see if your child is using it? If you do not think that someone at Goodwill would want them, just throw them out. She will not come to your house to look for them. (this is assuming that she/he has not asked for the toys back).

A lot of soft toys can be washed in a lingerie bag or pillowcase. I would send a nice thank you card with a picture of your baby playing with a few of your favorite and donate the rest to goodwill, someone will appreciate them!

Any bacteria on these toys would be long dead (they usually live only a few hours on most surfaces), but you want to watch out for other potential irritants like dust mites or moldy smells.

But chlorine bleach is terribly overused and harmful to the environment, plus plastics are known for absorbing and holding traces of chemicals. Putting through a hot dishwasher or laundry cycle and then drying them in the sun would be more than enough to sterilize them. And I find that a cup of vinegar followed by a rinse with baking soda, or vice versa, work as well as anything else, and are completely non-toxic.

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Put the hard plastic stuff in the dishwasher.
I agree--keep what you want and toss the rest.
It was sweet of your coworker to do that. He had good intentions.
Take a few pix of your child playing with some of the kept items & include in a nice thank you note.

As many moms already recommended, I would wash the hard toys in the dish washer and the soft ones in a pillow case in the washing machine.
Check them after this treatment (especially for hazards such as loose buttons/eyes on soft toys, unsewn cloth books, broken parts...) and keep the best.
I have a box at home where I collects parts of broken/incomplete toys (puzzle pieces, playing cards...) for art projects. I began filling this box with hand-me down used toys well before my son was ready for art projects and I'm so glad to have this resource now!

Do as you feel comfortable.

In any way, as many other posts suggested, take a picture of your baby playing with one toy and send a thank-you note.

The washing machine and dryer--anything that doesn't make it can be tossed...I was all of our plush toys and rattles, etc. that has fabric weekly...I would recomment setting the drier to warm and not hot.

Clean what you can. Those that are not needed send to Goodwill or a crisis nursery. But anything plush or fabric....Just toss it.

The cloth items can be washed with Tide Stainblasters because they are the most awesome product ever created for moms.

I would thank the coworker very much, this was a very thoughtful thing to do. I would not use them though. I do not like using used toys for babies. The clothe books and stuffed toys could have mites in them. The hard plastic toys could have lead in the paint. But it was a very nice gesture. i would not say anything to the other coworkers as you know people talk and feelings may get hurt.

Keep what you want and can clean. Take the rest to Goodwill.

Try putting the plushies and soft books into a pillow case and throwing them into the washing machine. Let them sit out in the sun to dry. If that doesn't work, just toss them. Send the co-worker a nice thank you card.

I love to receive "help-outs" like this. Thank them very kindly for their "gift". (Remember to take the time to send a handwritten note - so few people do that these days!) Keep what you want, toss what you want. These become your property once they are given to you and because they are your property, you may do with them as you please.

I'm a little creeped out by older, well-used toys too.

The act of giving is a very selfless thing, and there shouldn't be any strings. It's great that she was so generous - one thing we've done in the past when someone gave us something that we didn't want to use, we asked them what they'd like us to do with them when we're finished using them (e.g. outgrown clothes, etc).

In most cases, people will say to please hand them onto the next person or to give them to a worthy charity/Goodwill.

You can always stick them in a box "just in case" and in a few months say you've gotten your use out of them if she asks.

I received old toys also and I wound up throwing them away because just thinking about the bacteria on them being in my baby's mouth well it grossed me out. It was sweet of him but unless he is a regular at your house, I would toss them. If he ever asks you about them just tell him about the ones that you did decide to keep. Believe me people have short memories. My kids great grandmother gives them stuffed animals for holidays and stuff but they never play with them so I gave them away. She never comes over so I don't feel bad about it. It is just there is no tactful way to tell her to save her money so at least I give them away to someone who will play with them. Also my niece had a ton of stuffed animals at one time and when my sister finally got rid of them all(they were in storage), she noticed bugs had built nest inside of them. So go with your gut.

I wouldn't let the baby play with used stuffed animals or cloth books, anything that you can't clean with antibacterial soap or wipes. It was nice of her to give you these things, but if I had a baby, I wouldn't take the risk of whatever germs or bacteria could be on them.

Personally, I would discretely get rid of them. Perhaps you can wash the soft toys in a pillow case to preserve them as best as possible, then donate them to a shelter, or Goodwill.

I never accept used toys. They could have been recalled, have lead in the paint, etc.

Will she know if you just toss them? I would! Someone gave me an old, used teddy bear for my baby shower (it was one of my mother's wealthy friends). Can you imagine doing that? I just tossed it after she left.
L.