Does the thought of bacteria give you the creepy crawlies? Well, you can be harboring this hazardous element in bath toys, toothbrushes, sippy cups and other places. Believe it or not, bacteria can be hiding in places you never thought it would be. Think your bathtub is in the clear? Guess again. Those playful plastic bathtoys are actual a breeding ground for E.coli, streptococcus, staph and other germs. Play it safe by allowing toys to dry out, whether it’s out of the bathroom or out of the house. Scrub toys with rubbing alcohol, mild bleach, hydrogen peroxide or water and vinegar. For a seamless way to put a damper on the dinge, run toys through the dishwasher. After cleaning, rinse all toys with water. Toothbrushes can also be a hot spot for bacteria. In addition to germs that come out of the mouth, children are also at risk for bacteria that lingers in the bathroom. To avoid contamination, toss your toothbrush every three months. If your child is sick, get rid of the toothbrush asap. Never leave toothbrushes exposed or on the counter. Allow toothbrushes to air dry. At the same time, don’t keep them in sealed containers.

Label your child’s toothbrush so there are no mix-ups. Soak toothbrushes in water with bleach. Once it has been soaked, rinse with water for at least a minute. Hang it upside down to air dry. One place you’ve probably never considered as a source of bacteria is your child’s sippy cup. You figure it gets cleaned in the dishwasher, but that isn’t always the case. Those valves, straws and other parts often become contaminated with bacteria and mold in hard to reach places. While some parents opt for disposable sippy cups to play it safe, that can be become costly in time. Invest in a small brush that can get those areas. Some parents swear by denture tablets. They simply dissolve the tablets in the water and clean the valves and other parts. Q-tips are also ideal as they can slip into those tough spaces. For an inexpensive fix, boil a pot of water and soak the cup and cup parts in the hot water.