With proper care, your child's wooden toys can last for generations. Wooden toys have a hardiness and natural appearance that plastic toys cannot match. As a natural material, wood has an advantage over plastic toys. Wood is not bacteria friendly and is considered an anti-bacterial surface. When this quality is combined with the wood's strength, it is easy to see why wooden toys are a superior toy product when compared to plastic toys.

Wooden toys should be treated with mild cleaners that will not dry out the toy's surface. The best way to maintain wooden toys is to avoid strong chemicals such as bleach and detergents. Both these harsh ingredients can change the appearance of the toy through whitening or drying the surface. Wooden surfaces can absorb harsh ingredients because of the wood's porous nature. Bleach, detergents and other harsh or synthetic cleaners are typical strong chemicals that should be avoided in favor of gentler cleansing ingredients.

You can use mild cleansers such as natural soap or a vinegar solution to cleanse wooden toys effectively. Natural soap will clean the wooden toy without drying out its surface or leaving a chemical residue on the toys surface. Vinegar will cleanse the surface and acts as a mild disinfectant. Depending on the amount of soil on the wooden toy, you with either use a soft brush, damp cloth, cleansing spray or a soapy bath.

A lightly soiled wooden toy is the easiest to clean. When a wooden toy is lightly soiled, you can gently brush any dirt or debris away. If necessary, you can use a soft damp cloth to clean the surface.

For a wooden toy that has a bit more dirt on it, you can add a few drops of liquid natural soap to a spray bottle full of warm water for a cleansing spray. You could also use a 50/50 water and vinegar spray to clean the toy as well. Just spray the surface and quickly wipe the surface clean.

If a toy is heavily soiled, you can wash it briefly in a bath of soapy water. You should avoid leaving the wooden toys submerged in water for any length of time. Water can misshape wooden toys and mar the surface of the grain. Avoid steam cleaning the toy for the same reasons. After cleansing the wooden toy in the soapy bath, quickly rinse the toy and wipe it dry. You can place the toy in the rack to dry. Once the toy is fully dry, it can be used again.

Wooden toys are prone to changes in temperature and humidity. Do not leave wooden toys outside overnight or for long periods. The sun and elements can change the appearance and shape of wooden toys.

When wooden toys are properly maintained, it is possible for many generations of children to enjoy the same wooden toy. Many a grandparent's wooden toy has survived time to land in the happy hands of a beloved grandchild or grandchildren. Wooden toys are valued in many households for their durability and natural beauty.