toycare4

Lavicka says: rebecca was having trouble getting smoke out of a flogger she bought recently

Lavicka says: the only article i found that might help her with this one said to spray with lysol and let it hang

Lavicka says: i haven't heard back from her as to if this worked yet, but she did say she would try it.

Beethoven says: ohh smell of smoke

Lavicka says: so if this is a problem you may have, ask her if this worked :)

Lavicka nods, 'yes... they bought a flogger from a smoker and she can't stand the smell'

Beethoven says: oh my

Beethoven exclaims: shame!

Lavicka says: electrical toys should always be unplugged before you attempt to clean them, and again must not be submerged in water.

Lavicka says: obviously, you don't want to run them through the dishwasher, either :)

Lavicka says: submersion can damage the motor and make it very dangerous to run the next time you use it, assuming it lived through the submersion.

Lavicka says: instead, you should wipe electrical toys down with soap and water, using a soft cloth and a soft bristled brush.

Lavicka says: any removable parts can be cleaned according to their directions already given for the specific material they are made from.

Lavicka says: once cleaned, wipe with a dry cloth or towel and air dry for as long as possible.

Lavicka says: battery operated toys should never be cleaned with the batteries in place (which i never thought of before i read this).

Lavicka says: always remove the batteries first, then wipe down just as you would for electrical toys. and again, dry with a soft, dry cloth and air dry as long as possible.

Lavicka says: also, you should store batteries separately, never in your toys.

Beethoven says: ut oh..

Beethoven smiles

Lavicka says: leaving the batteries in leaves you open to finding a toy that's been 'bumped' on and holding dead batteries when you want to use it next, leading to a last minute battery hunt.

Lavicka says: not much fun when you're wanting to play NOW.

Lavicka says: and this kind of accidental and endless running can also wear down your motor faster.

Lavicka says: wooden toys (paddles, canes, etc.) should be treated much as you would leather items, unless they are sealed.

Lavicka says: an unsealed finish is a porous finish.

xaveria whispers: always keep a few packs of batteries with your toys

Lavicka says: bacteria can easily sit in the wood and spread infection.

Lavicka grins at xav

Lavicka says: for this reason, you may want to use unfinished toys on one specific person.

Lavicka says: or you could buy only finished products.

Lavicka says: and as with leather, unfinished items are easy to over-clean or ruin.

Lavicka says: sealed items (varnished, painted or lacquered) should be wiped down with a damp cloth and soap, as you would other items. never soak wooden toys in water as this will warp the wood. (bad!)

Lavicka says: dry wooden items with a dry towel and air-dry for as long as possible. once the item is dry, you can buff it with a soft cloth to help resore the finish.

Lavicka says: this is also the time you should check for cracks and splinters.