Squishy toys are fun and pleasant to touch; even research suggests they are therapeutic. If you have ever bought your child a squishy toy, you know how frustrating it can be when they are dirty, especially if they are sticky. Dust, hair, and dirt can accumulate on the toy as quickly as it hits the ground. In this article, we will discuss how to make squishy toys not sticky so that unwanted particles don’t stick to them, which can be a hazard to our children.
What Is A Squishy Toy?
Because squishy toys are so nice to touch, we often have our infants play with them. If the toy was sticky, this could be troublesome because infants put anything in their mouths. Before we discuss how to make squishy toys not sticky, let’s talk about what squishy toys are made.
Squishy toys are soft foam toys and sometimes rubber that are designed to be held in the hands. Almost anything foamy and soft can be considered squishy. These things are specifically designed to be toys or for stress relief. Squishy toys come in different shapes and sizes, from looking like fruits and vegetables to animals and emoji.
Some squishes also come with a scent as an added feature to decrease anxiety through aromatherapy. The scents are usually sweet and fruity, which promotes calmness. They are perfect for adults who prefer relieving stress in the office. You can also have it as home decor. But squishy toys are more common in a child’s playroom.
The texture and rising quality of a squishy is its most important feature. To check what kind of rising quality the squishy has, simply squeeze it hard and let go. It will start to re-inflate itself back to the original form and pop-back up. It is always enjoyable to check a squishy toy for its rising quality and have different squishy toys at your disposal.
The Rising Quality Of Different Squishy Toys
Slow-rising squishy toys
These are squishy toys that re-inflate slowly after being squeezed. Re-inflation can take several seconds to a full minute.
Fast-rising squishy toys
These are squishy toys that pop back up after you squeeze them. They can even work the muscle of your wrist if you squeeze them multiple times in succession.
Scented squishy toys
These squishy toys are infused with scents that are sweet and are usually related to the shape they are made from. Like a mango squishy can have a fruity scent of a mango, and a flower can have a floral fragrance.
Soft squishy toys
These squishy toys are extra smooth and soft to play with. Softer than regular squishy toys, they are perfect for squishing until all the air is out and you are left with only the foam.
Dense squishy toys
These squishy toys are hard to squeeze to a plum. They usually take more force out of the squeeze. These are perfect toys to relieve stress and calm anger.
Now that we know what squishy toys are made from, let’s take a look at the different benefits squishy toys can bring.
Benefits Of A Squishy Toy
Squishy toys have amazing benefits, and for children as well as for adults. That is why squishy toys have become more popular now than ever. Research has shown that this simple can help also help children with disability. Kids who suffer from ADHD and ADD can benefit from the squishy toy because it calms their anxiety. It also helps them focus on what they’re doing and manage the stress of everyday tasks.
Kids that also have anger issues can benefit from the squishy toy. Having them exposed to the toy at a young age will help them better manage their feeling when they grow up. The squishy toy helps children to calm down when in a difficult situation. This is because it stimulates the senses, which are keys to calming nerves.
Because the squishy toy is soft, cute, and addicting to play with, children with autism can handle nervousness better and improve emotional management. The squishy toy also makes them focus on the present, which usually holds them back to moving around too much.
Because a squishy toy’s texture is soft, smooth, and sometimes sticky, this can be a hazard for children who taste things. That is why it is important to know how to make squishy toys not sticky, so you do not have unwanted particles sticking to it.
What Makes A Squishy Toy Sticky?
There are a lot of factors that make a squishy toy sticky. One factor is the accumulation of oils from the hands of those who squeeze. Another one can be because of wetness or being damped from water and other liquids. If the squishy is meant for the baby, chances are drool, milk, and other liquids get to the squishy toy when the baby is playing or eating snacks. Knowing how to make squishy toys not sticky can be beneficial in these situations, and the first thing to do is give the toy a good cleaning. These are five ways to clean a sticky, squishy toy and prevent it from coming back.
How To Clean Squishy Toy
- Use water and a little soap to wash silicone squishy toys and get rid of the sticky texture.
- You can use the adhesive part of scotch tape to eliminate particles that get on the toy. Use paper and wipe the stickiness away.
- Adding cornstarch to squishy toys after drying them can decrease sticky build-up. Cornstarch will also be safe to put in the mouth if the baby is fond of tasting.
- Always schedule a regular clean-up for the baby’s sticky toys, especially the ones your baby plays with on a regular basis.
- Have a designated corner for all the dirty squishy toys to lessen the chances of your baby’s exposure to bacteria and other harmful particles a sticky, dirty squishy toy may accumulate.
Conclusion
The squishy toy was created to be a simple ordinary toy that kids enjoy. But recent studies show that it has more benefits than being a play accessory. Because it is prone to get touched and squeezed a lot, knowing how to make squishy toys not sticky is essential. Cleaning them regularly should be a practice. Properly sanitizing the squishy toy eliminates bacteria, oil-build up, and the accumulation of unwanted particles that can be hazardous to infants. Get more tips on toys.