Highlights
- Bleach is still widely used on toys in Canada, but it’s a leading cause of child poisoning and can irritate airways—especially in kids under three.
- While bleach kills many germs, it’s weaker on tough pathogens (e.g., spores) and loses strength with age or incorrect mixing.
- Safety gaps: fumes, residue on toys if not rinsed, and the risk of accidental swallowing mean strict handling and storage are required.
- Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) spray offers similar germ-killing power without harsh fumes or residue; it’s food-surface contact safe and gentle on skin and fabrics.
- Ideal for infant and bath toys: spray and air-dry (no rinse); for bath toys, shake out water after use, spray thoroughly, and let them dry fully to prevent mold.
- Canadian families are switching to HOCl for everyday toy care; see the Toy & Nursery Collection, Other HOCl Collection options, and the 5500ml Pure Stabilized HOCl Spray for daily use.
Canadians Still Use Bleach for Toy Cleaning
Bleach has been trusted for decades — but did you know it’s one of the top causes of child poisoning in North America? In our last article, we explored the risks of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) on children’s toys. This time, we’re turning our attention to bleach — still one of the most common disinfectants in Canadian homes. It’s cheap, easy to find, and effective against many germs, which is why many parents, daycare staff, and even hospitals have relied on it for cleaning toys for decades.
Health Canada notes that household bleach can kill a broad range of bacteria and viruses, including common culprits behind stomach bugs and colds. However, it’s less effective against certain tough pathogens like bacterial spores and may lose potency if stored too long or mixed incorrectly.
The Safety Risks of Bleach for Young Children
While bleach works as a disinfectant, it also comes with real safety hazards — especially for children under three. Peer-reviewed studies have linked regular household bleach use to higher rates of respiratory problems in young children, including asthma and chronic wheezing. Exposure can happen not just by inhaling fumes, but also by touching bleach-cleaned toys that weren’t rinsed thoroughly.
One of the most concerning risks is accidental ingestion. In Canada and the U.S., bleach is among the top household cleaning agents involved in pediatric poisoning cases. The U.S. Poison Control Center reports thousands of bleach ingestion cases each year involving children under five, many requiring emergency treatment. Even small amounts can cause mouth, throat, and stomach burns, vomiting, and other serious health problems.
For parents, this means that toy cleaning with bleach requires careful handling, thorough rinsing, and secure storage — steps that can be easy to miss in busy homes or daycare environments.
Why Hypochlorous Acid Spray is a Safer Alternative for Toy Cleaning
CleanSmart’s hypochlorous acid spray offers the same germ-killing power without the risks that come with bleach. It’s proven effective against a wide variety of bacteria, viruses, and even hard-to-kill pathogens — yet it’s food-surface contact safe. That means you can clean infant toys, plush animals, bath toys, and daycare play items without rinsing, and there’s no harmful residue left behind.
Hypochlorous acid won’t cause strong fumes, damage fabrics, or dry out skin — making it ideal for daily toy cleaning.
Our Toy & Nursery Collection is specifically designed for cleaning toys, while our Other HOCl Collection includes versatile hypochlorous acid solutions for the whole home. Many parents also rely on our 500ml Pure Stabilized HOCl Spray for everyday toy cleaning.
How to Clean Infant Toys and Clean Bath Toys Safely
For infant toys, especially those that end up in a child’s mouth, it’s essential to use a cleaning product that’s safe if residue is ingested. Hypochlorous acid spray is an excellent choice because it’s non-toxic, fast-acting, and requires no rinsing.
Bath toys deserve special attention, as they can harbor mold inside if not dried properly. After bath time, shake out excess water, spray the toys thoroughly with hypochlorous acid spray, and allow them to air-dry completely. This quick routine helps prevent both germ buildup and mold growth.
Parents who prefer a convenient toy cleaning set can pair CleanSmart spray with a designated cloth or brush for scrubbing stubborn spots, then simply spray again to disinfect.
A Canadian-Made Solution Parents Trust
Canadian families are increasingly choosing CleanSmart products as a safe, effective alternative for cleaning toys. Among our products, many parents trust the 500ml Pure Stabilized HOCl Spray as their go-to safe toy disinfectant — Health Canada–approved and non-toxic. Browse our Toy & Nursery Collection to find safe, effective disinfectants trusted by Canadian families who want a safer, smarter way to clean. Make the switch today for safer toy care.
To learn more or ask questions, visit our Contact Us page.
Sources:
- McKenzie, L.B., et al. (2010). Household cleaning product–related injuries treated in U.S. emergency departments in 1990–2006. Pediatrics, 126(3), 509–516.
PubMed - Casas, L., et al. (2015). Domestic use of bleach and infections in children: a multicentre cross-sectional study. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 72(8), 602–609. Full text (BMJ)
- Gummin, D.D., et al. (2021). 2020 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ National Poison Data System (NPDS): 38th Annual Report. Clinical Toxicology, 59(12), 1282–1501.
PubMed PubMed | Full PDF (America’s Poison Centers)