Difficult Surfaces
Toys and learning materials don’t always come in easy to
clean shapes or materials.
Key Challenges
-
Many items can be damaged by water and disinfectants
-
Fabrics and rough surfaces can make germs harder to remove
-
Oddly shaped toys and tools can require extensive time and work to clean thoroughly.
Why It Matters
Many toys and learning tools are designed for fun and engagement, not for easy sanitization. Textured surfaces, fabrics, crevices, and mixed materials can make consistent cleaning more difficult and time consuming.
How ToySafe Helps
-
Consistent sanitization across varied surfaces and materials
-
No water or chemicals that might damage sensitive materials
-
Helps simplify sanitization for difficult-to-clean toys and tools
The Result
You can rely on the toys and learning materials you want to provide to children in your care without second-guessing how you can clean them easily and effectively.
Toys may not always be designed with hygiene top-of-mind, but ToySafe was built to solve these challenges—by design.
Protecting Play—Simply. Safely. Consistently.
What This Looks Like in Practice
Michael manages a busy Science Centre where children and families interact with hands-on exhibits all day long. From puzzles and sensory activities to water play and interactive learning tools, shared items move constantly between guests and require regular sanitization to keep the environment safe.
Many exhibits include textured materials, small crevices, and electronics like remotes, game controllers, and VR headsets that can be difficult to clean consistently without risking damage. Keeping everything sanitized often requires multiple cleaning methods, added staff time, and constant rotation of items throughout the day.
Michael relies on his team to maintain hygiene standards, but he also wants staff focused on creating engaging experiences for visitors—not spending excessive time managing complex cleaning routines.
The Shift
With ToySafe, Michael’s staff can batch sanitize shared exhibit items quickly and consistently without manual disinfecting or additional workflow disruption.
The Results
-
Reduced cross-contamination risk across varied surfaces and materials
-
Fewer, simpler, and easier processes for maintaining hygiene
-
Less disruption to guest experiences and learning
-
Greater confidence in the safety of shared interactive spaces
Industry Validation
Research findings suggest smooth, nonporous surfaces and finishes allow for more effective cleaning compared to porous and textured surfaces, which may trap contaminants and limit disinfectant penetration. Additionally, the disinfectant choice must consider the material's susceptibility to degradation or discoloration over time, as well as safety concerns for users.
Currently, most EPA-registered liquid-based antimicrobial products are registered for use on hard, non-porous surfaces (e.g., stainless steel, glazed porcelain, glass).
Electronic equipment poses a challenge to environmental cleaning and disinfection. High touch surfaces of shared electronic games (e.g. keyboards and joysticks) require daily cleaning and disinfection.
Liquid disinfectants may damage equipment, especially electronics, and chlorine-containing materials may corrode metals. Disinfectants can potentially harm users, and the discharge of waste biocides in the environment may encourage the development of both biocide and antibiotic resistance and have other, more general environmentally damaging effects.
