We're crazy about babies – we can't help it. From teeny tiny newborns with their delicate little faces and delicious smelling skin to boisterous toddlers exploring their surroundings with curiosity and joy, we just can't get enough of them.
Encouraging young ones to explore their environments safely is one of the reasons we created Ludere's range of play mats. Our high-quality products are beautiful and functional, designed to enhance your baby's play experience.
We know how important it is for your baby to spend time on the ground playing, which is why we are so passionate about our play mats.
But babies can be messy - they spit up, dribble and drop crumbs and chunks of food as they learn how to feed themselves. So how do you keep your play mats clean and ready for playtime?
We've got you – read on to learn more about tips and tricks for keeping your mats clean.
Why do you need to clean your playmat?
Well, we all know how quickly our little ones can go from being pristine in their outfits to being covered in spit-up, dribble, and crumbs. Keeping your baby's play mat clean protects them from dust, germs, and bacteria.
What kind of play mat do you have?
Baby play mats come in various sizes and materials, each with specific cleaning instructions. Some you can wipe down with a damp cloth; others you can pop in the washing machine.
Typically, care instructions are included on the product page, but we thought we'd run you through the top options.
Cleaning your foam play mat
We recommend using a microfibre cloth with water to wipe over the surface for everyday use. A spray bottle is ideal as it allows you to control how much liquid goes into your foam play mat.
Vinegar and Water
If you have a foam playmat, one of the easiest ways of keeping them clean is by spraying them with a solution of vinegar diluted with water. This old-fashioned technique is convenient, cheap, environmentally friendly, and, best of all, effective.
This method is excellent for disinfecting and cleaning household materials that contain mould, stains, bacteria, and germs. Vinegar's acid-base chemically reacts with stains to gently break them down and release them from the material.
Directions:
- Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle
- Spray the stain with the vinegar solution and allow to sit for 1-2 minutes
- Use an absorbent cloth to blot the stain gently and wipe clean.
We recommend using natural cleaners like this as they often prevent allergic reactions to chemical cleaning solutions.
Gentle Soap and Water
For a variation on vinegar and water, choose a gentle, low-allergenic soap mixed with warm water in a spray bottle and follow the instructions above.
Washing Up Liquid and Water
Dish soap works as a good cleaner for TPU play mats. It suds up and loosens the dirt from the material. Just ensure you wipe off any residue and allow it to dry before placing your little one back on the mat.
Do not use cleaners with bleach, alcohol or citrus oils in them as they can cause discolouration over time. We also recommend against using baby wipes to clean our mats.
Cleaning your linen play mat
Our 100% French linen play mats are designed to become softer over time with use and washing. Wash these separately in the machine on a gentle cycle, using a mild detergent and at temperatures cooler than 40C. Do not use bleach or optical brightening agents as these can damage the natural linen fibres.
We recommend line drying if possible as this will prolong the life of your mat and is better for the environment. However, if you prefer, these mats can be tumble dried on a cool setting.
Remember to always check your play mat’s label for care instructions and follow them.
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