Disinfecting Toys

[PurpleDog]

The Rotavirus bug hit my DD's preschool and it came to our house! All three of us got sick (but I think we had a mild case, which was bad enough!!!!) but we're well now. Nevertheless, I still feel the bug's presence. I've cleaned and washed, etc. but I would like to know what you do to disinfect toys! I want to get rid of any leftover germs but not use something that will leave a residue that could make my DD sick.

Thanks for your ideas!

[missing]

I typically do 1 of 2 things.

Wash and rinse - with a bit of bleach in the wash water.

Or spray with Lysol spray and let dry completely, then wipe down with a dry cloth. Probably leaves something there, but it is the typical thing done at care centres and play centres around here with no ill effects (especially on things like wooden blocks that cannot be immersed in water).

[clover]

Many toys can be run through the dishwasher (avoid the drying cycle as it is the harshest) and some soft toys can be washed with the laundry.

DD had rotavirus twice and lost a pound each time. It is horrible stuff.

[Terrilein]

My question is do toys need to be disinfected at all? I mean a virus needs a host to survive? I would find out how long they can survive outside a host and then hide/freeze/do whatever with the toys before doing something as harsh as spraying them with Lysol or whatnot which might not kill everything and could possibly create a stronger strain. Just my 0.02€
ETA: I just found this article that states under SECTION IV - VIABILITY that rotavirus can survive for months between at 4°C and 20°C. So I guess that means you can boil or freeze what you can and disinfect the rest with ethanol alcohol. Lysol is put at only 5% effectivity.
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/msds-ftss/msds86e.html

[hunter]

Terrilein, I think those percentages are the concentration of the chemical. So where it says 2% sodium hypochlorite, it doesn't mean that substance works only 2% of the time, it means you use a 2% solution of that substance. 5% Lysol is what you buy at the supermarket; they make stronger concentrations for industrial and medical use.

ETA that I wash what I can in the laundry, I run plastics through the dishwasher, and the rest I spray down with Lysol.

[Terrilein]

Ahhhhh! See what happens when you read things from a "Terri" perspective, LOL!