Baby play mats are great ways to provide a soft and engaging play surface, but they can get dirty – and fast! Here’s how to clean baby play mats.
Different types of play mats will require different cleaning methods. Hard surface mats can usually be cleaned with vinegar and water. Or, the washing machine is a great choice for fabric mats and some vinyl ones.
Taking care of your baby’s play mat is important because it comes in direct contact with your baby’s skin, and caring for the mat will prolong its life through multiple children. Let’s take a look at the different options for each type of mat.
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How to clean baby play mats
Cleaning your baby’s playmat properly is an important task. Your baby’s skin will frequently come into contact with his/her playmat so you want to be sure that you are using baby-friendly materials to keep his/her playmat clean.
Playmats can get a lot of traffic, and not just from your baby. Older siblings, pets, and even adults in the household will be on the mat to varying extents.
Not only does this increase wear on the mat, but it also introduces additional germs and bacteria. There’s a certain ick factor about tracking stuff in the house, especially when your baby puts their hands (and everything else) in their mouths.
Unfortunately, there are some gnarly things that can live on play mats that you or your pets track in from outside or transfer to the mat if you don’t properly wash your hands after using the bathroom.
Bacteria, including E. coli, is found on the majority of your shoes. If you then step on tile or carpet, more than 90 percent of that bacteria get transferred.
Let’s check out all of the different materials that your playmat might be made from to see the best method for cleaning each one.
How to clean foam baby play mats
Foam is an extremely popular material for play mats for babies and young children. It is soft, relatively durable, and it is inexpensive. Foam mats are soft enough that parents and childcare centers can be assured that toddling babies can safely fall or roll around without sustaining injuries.
If you are interested in foam playmats, particular EVA foam mats, then I have a resource all about those right here along with recommendations on the safest mat for your baby. Don’t forget that not all foam is created equally and some kinds might not be the best for your baby!
However, foam mats require special consideration when it comes time to clean them. They tend to soak up most cleaning materials and hold onto them for a long period of time, making it especially important to choose your cleaner carefully.
Remember, your child’s skin will come into direct contact with whatever you choose to use on their playmats. There are tons of all-natural recipes that do a wonderful job as cleaning agents.
One of the best things about cleaning large foam mats is that they can be mopped like any regular floor. You can use disposable wet mopping cloths that go on Swiffer-type sweepers.
Alternatively, you can use reusable microfiber cloths on a Bona mop. For those that prefer to buy a ready-made solution, I always recommend the Puracy brand because of their amazing ingredients list and solid performance. You can pick up a bottle of their concentrated surface cleaner here which will last a LONG TIME!
You can also use a homemade solution of vinegar and water.
Step-by-step guide to clean foam play mats
Step 1 – Read the Instructions. Follow any care instructions specific to your mat to avoid damage or color fading
Step 2 – Dry sweep to remove debris. Use a non-abrasive cloth or a microfiber mop head to remove large particles and wipe clean baby floor mats.
Step 3 – Wet clean to remove stains. Use a disposable mop pad or a cleaning solution and a soft cloth to clean the entire surface of the mat.
Step 4 – Spot clean stubborn stains. Pay extra attention to challenging stains with a paste of baking soda and water or dishwashing soap. Using a toothbrush can help you get in the crevices without damaging the mat.
Step 5 – Rinse. Use a clean wet cloth to rinse the cleaners and any remaining dirt from the mat. Avoid soaking the mat, and allow it to air dry.
How to clean interlocking foam mats
When my babies first started crawling, we covered our living room floor with large interlocking foam puzzle mats. These are usually made from foam, but they are a nightmare to keep clean, or at least they were in my case.
I found that I needed to spot-clean them daily and give them a good scrub once a week. While I used the same cleaning solution and methods mentioned above (water, vinegar, essential oil) I chose not to use a mop on the puzzle mat flooring. Using a mop on these floors will allow water to seep through the seams of each puzzle piece.
How to clean rubber play mats
Rubber play mats are really similar to foam mats, but easier because you don’t have to worry about rubber mats absorbing too much water.
If you get a stain on a rubber mat that you want to treat, avoid using chemicals to get it out. A simple paste made from baking soda and water will allow you to scrub a stain off of a rubber playmat. Spread the paste over the stain and let it sit for about ten minutes. Scrub the stain off with a damp wet rag and your play mat will look as good as new.
Step-by-step guide to clean rubber play mats
Step 1 – Read the Instructions. Follow any care instructions specific to your mat to avoid damage or color fading
Step 2 – Dry sweep to remove debris. Use a non-abrasive cloth or a microfiber mop head to remove large particles or simply shake it outside. You may still need to wipe it with a cloth to remove clinging hairs or dust.
Step 3 – Wet clean to remove stains. Use a disposable mop pad or a cleaning solution and a soft cloth to clean the entire surface of the mat. You can even hose these off with your garden hose or shower sprayer.
Step 4 – Spot clean stubborn stains. Pay extra attention to challenging stains with a paste of baking soda and water or dishwashing soap. You can typically scrub these mats assertively with a bristle brush or scrubber.
Step 5 – Rinse. Use a clean wet cloth to rinse the cleaners and any remaining dirt from the mat and allow it to air dry.
How to clean fabric play mats
My babies loved to play on the fabric floor time playmats when they were very young. They are great because they can often double as carpets and can help make a room with hard floors safer for your baby to play in. However, those fabric play mats really took a beating between blowouts and spit up while my babies were playing on them.
Luckily, most fabric playmats are safe to wash in the washing machine with a mild (safe for babies) detergent. Follow the washing instructions for your particular brand, but you probably want to use cold water and wash on gentle. In some cases, you may be asked to hand wash your fabric playmats. This can be done in the sink.
Like foam, fabric mats are going to absorb everything and stains can easily set in if you aren’t paying attention.
Step-by-step guide to clean fabric play mats
Step 1 – Read the Instructions. Follow any care instructions specific to your mat to avoid damage or color fading
Step 2 – Remove debris and crumbs. Shake your mat outside to remove the big stuff. Some mats can be suitable for vacuuming but use your judgment here.
Step 3 – Wash in a washing machine. Pretreat any stains (I swear by Grandma’s Secret Spot Remover) and wash on your preferred cycle. Cold is easier on fabric, but hot water is better for removing stains and sanitizing.
Step 5 – Air or machine dry. Tumbling dry is the fastest way to wear out your play mat, but some hold up much better than others. If you want to air dry, simply drape them over a chair back.
How to clean plastic water mats
Water mats are typically made of plastic and are therefore pretty easy to clean. My youngest baby adored her inflatable water mat designed for tummy time. This was an excellent tool for developing fine and gross motor skills, and it was super easy to keep clean.
Whenever she was done using it, I simply wiped it down with a natural cleaning wipe or scrubbed it gently with a solution of water and vinegar. This may have been one of the easiest toys to keep clean that we have ever owned.
How to clean tummy time mats with fabric and padding
These tummy time mats with fabric and padding are extremely popular. For the most part, they are designed to be thrown into the washing machine and washed on delicate. Most of these mats have Velcro pieces that will need to be removed before washing. Also, be sure that any electronic pieces are removed as well.
You can spot clean fabric tummy time mats with a solution of baking soda and water if you don’t have time to wash the whole thing in the laundry. Simply let the solution soak on a stain for about ten minutes and then scrub away with a clean, damp washcloth.
How to clean Baby Care mats
Baby Care brand playmats are a natural brand that is safe for babies and an extremely popular choice for eco-friendly families. Cleaning a Baby Care mat is made super easy and all you need is water and a clean washcloth. Simply wipe away any spills or messes with water and a washcloth. Vinegar can be added if a disinfectant is required.
How often should you clean baby play mats
Baby playmats ideally should be spot cleaned after every use. Unless my children are some kind of anomaly, then playmats can get extremely messy extremely quickly. Be sure to wipe away dirt and debris before each use. Spot clean after each use.
For more thorough cleaning, I prefer to mop/wash frequently used baby items once per week to keep the germs away. However, you should use your own discretion for this. You may notice that your baby’s items need to be cleaned more often or less often.
This will also depend on how often your baby uses each item and which type of carpet, rug, or mat you have in the home!
Once you are done cleaning up your playmat, you might be interested in cleaning up other toys in the playroom. I’ve created a resource that covers all kinds of cleaning methods that you can use on baby toys. You can find it right here!
Conclusion
Cleaning your baby’s play mat is an important part of your home-cleaning routine. Some mats are much easier than others to clean, so you may want to consider this when choosing your mat!
