I'm a cleaning expert & your child's teddy is dirtier than a toilet – here's how to fix it

The Sun

15-05-2025

MOST children love snuggling into a teddy bear - it gives them comfort, security, and even emotional support.
But now parents have been warned that they could actually be harbouring hundreds of bacteria.
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And they could even be twice as dirty as a toilet seat and 6.5 times dirtier than your bin.
Experts at MattressNextDay carried out an ATP bioluminescence test on teddies to test how clean they are.
This test measures the amount of adenosine triphosphate — a molecule found in and around living cells — on a particular item, and the levels can indicate how dirty it is.
They also swabbed the inside of a bin lid and a toilet seat to provide a comparison.
The team found that 29 per cent of teddies swabbed came up with readings of over 1,910 units.
While a toilet seat came in at 836 units, and a bin lid had an average of 294 units.
But it's not just teddies that could be harbouring hundreds of bacteria - blankets are also high on the list.
Two-fifths, or around 43 per cent, of the blankets swabbed had readings of an average of 1,629 units.
This makes blankets almost twice as dirty as the average toilet seat, and almost four times dirtier than the average bin.
Luckily, cleaning experts have shared their top tips on how parents can keep their child's teddies clean and free of harmful bacteria.
Doctor issues urgent warning about 2 things you should NEVER do at home - as you transfer millions of harmful bacteria
Katy Roberts, washing machine expert at AO.com, revealed how to properly clean blankets and teddies to prevent germ spreading.
She explained: 'If your furry companion is looking a bit worse for wear, there's nothing finer for it than popping your teddy bear into your washing machine.
"To clean them properly, check your care label and if this has worn away over the years, then put on a gentle, cold wash with a mild detergent to be on the safe side.
"If your teddy has seen better days and is more on the delicate side, then use a soft cloth or sponge with shampoo and dab away at any dirty areas.
"Leave this to air dry naturally, and you can even give this a quick fluff with a soft brush for a magic touch to finish."
Katy also revealed exactly how parents should be washing blankets to keep them as clean as possible.
She said: 'If you're cleaning your blankets, then first prep your washing machine with a gentle cycle with warm water and your everyday detergent.
"Pop this on and be mindful to avoid any bleach as this can break down your blanket's fibres and even drain its colour.
"If your blanket is made of wool or hand-knitted material, then these should always be hand-washed as your first port of call.
"Similarly, do not put these into the tumble dryer and instead allow them to air dry for the safest way to clean your delicate blankets."
The experts also revealed how often parents should be washing their kids' teddies and blankets.
Katy explained: 'As a rule of thumb, try to wash your teddy bear every month – particularly if they're regularly handled.
Your teddies and blankets can easily harbour dust mites and allergens so err on the side of caution and stick them in your washing machine when they're dirty!
Katy Robertswashing machine expert at AO.com
"Blankets, you should pop them in the washing machine once every fortnight to help keep them fresh.
"Your teddies and blankets can easily harbour dust mites and allergens so err on the side of caution and stick them in your washing machine when they're dirty!"
If you have teddies and blankets that aren't suitable for the washing, there's no need to panic!
Katy says: "Some teddies and blankets will not be suitable for your washing machine, so instead, there's a simple solution to this woe.
"You can either spot clean these items with a cloth and a gentle soap solution or use a handheld steam cleaner to help lift dirt and freshen your teddy up.
"Another little-known hack is to sprinkle bicarbonate of soda over the teddy or blanket and leave it for around half an hour.
'IMPACTING OUR HEALTH'
MARTIN Seeley, Senior Sleep Expert at MattressNextDay, also weighs in on the impact that unwashed blankets and teddies can have on sleep hygiene and getting a good night's rest.
He said: "Our research has shown that areas we typically consider 'dirty,' such as toilet seats and bins, can actually be cleaner than expected because we clean them frequently.
"However, home comforts like stuffed animals and blankets may be harbouring more bacteria than we realise.
'This build-up of bacteria can have a significant impact not only on our overall health but also on our sleep hygiene.
"As it can lead to dust mites and trigger allergies, potentially disrupting our ability to get a good night's rest.
"A general rule of thumb is to wash stuffed toys and blankets at least once a month at a minimum temperature of 60C to kill bacteria and mites.
"However, always check the care label before washing.
"If you take your blanket to bed every night, you should wash it more frequently.
"On average, we sweat around 25 millilitres per hour of sleep, meaning our bedding can quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria."
"Return with your vacuum cleaner using the soft brush attachment to brush and hoover this off.
"This will do wonders for its freshness and help to remove any lingering odours.
'If your teddy is fraying at the seams or perhaps has holes that refuse to be mended, then perhaps getting a new one is for the best.
"Similarly, if your teddy has an odour you cannot get rid of or perhaps it's losing its stuffing or beginning to become discoloured from years of use – these are the telltale signs that you should be replacing your teddy.'
'If you're worried about your teddy or blanket losing its softness then adding a fabric softener to your washing load can do the trick.
"This will help to loosen its fibres and stop your blanket becoming crunchy or teddy becoming stiff!
"You can also add vinegar to your washing machine's rinse cycle as this naturally softens fabrics and removes any soap residue.
"When air drying these items, give them a good shake or even brush them to help restore softness.'