How do you clean plastic toys?

Plastic toys can be washed with dish soap and water in the sink. Some toys are also dishwasher-safe, but if you want to clean toys this way, it's a good idea to only place them in the top rack of the dishwasher to avoid the risk of melting.

How do you play with a cleaning toy with a child?

One of the most popular ways to use cleaning toys with a child is to include them in your housekeeping routine. Toddlers and young children often enjoy "helping" with tasks like dusting, sweeping, mopping, or vacuuming. As you move from room to room, make your child feel like they have a job to do along with you. And in the case of some cleaning toys with functional features, your little helper may actually be capturing dust and debris! You'll also be surprised at the fun and surprising ways your child uses his or her imagination to interact with everyday items like a broom, mop, or duster. “Although playing with a cleaning set may not seem very complicated to an observing adult, the skills a child uses during pretend play are foundational for social and emotional growth," Burgert says.

Can these toys double as real cleaning products?

While all of the options on this list are toys made for children, many of them do function as actual cleaning products. The brooms and mops can be used to gather dirt or toys and the toy vacuum does have a small but of suction for picking up dust. However, none of these toys operate as well as real cleaning products and should not be used to replace any household cleaning sets.

The 10 Best Cleaning Toy Sets for Children of 2023

The Best Cleaning Toy Sets for Children — The Spruce / Lecia Landis

While there are no guarantees that your kids will master all messes with these fun cleaning toys, cleaning sets allow for real-world play, something that'll strengthen the developmental skills used for social connectedness and critical thinking, says Natasha Burgert, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician in South Overland Park, Kansas.

We researched the top brands and products if your little helper wants to get involved in every aspect of your cleaning routine, paying attention to the recommended age, safety features, and accessories of each pick. The Melissa & Doug Let's Play House Dust! Sweep! Mop! Set is our best overall pick. The versatile set comes with a stand for easy storage and each piece is made of durable materials that work like the actual thing.

Here, the best toy cleaning sets for kids.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Melissa & Doug Dust, Sweep & Mop Set at Amazon

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Best Plastic:

Learning Resources New Sprouts 6 Piece Clean It Set at Amazon

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Best Cart :

Joyin Housekeeping Cart Cleaning Toy Set at Amazon

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Best Vacuum:

CASDON Little Helper Dyson Toy Vacuum at Amazon

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Best for Dusting:

Fisher-Price Clean-Up and Dust Set at Amazon

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Best for Toddlers:

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Vacuum at Amazon

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Best Broom:

Schylling Little Helper Broom Set at Amazon

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Best Mop:

Rocky Mountain Goods Small Mop for Kids at Amazon

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Best Set:

MaxTronic 7-Piece Kids Cleaning Set at Amazon

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Best Laundry Set:

Melissa & Doug Laundry Basket Play Set at Amazon

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In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look for
FAQ
Why Trust the Spruce

4.6

Amazon

What We Like

Comes with stand
Durable
Works like actual products

What We Don't Like

Young kids may need help putting products onto the stand

If you have a child that loves to help around the house, this cleaning toy set from Melissa & Doug is a realistic and fun option, earning our best overall spot. The set includes a mop, hand broom, duster, and dustpan along with a sturdy stand from which to hang each cleaning tool.

Top features of this cleaning toy set for kids include the quality of the components and how much they look like the real deal. Your child will really feel part of the household chore routine when using the real wood handles and realistic features like a rope mop head or broom bristles.

Parents find that kids gravitate towards these toddler-sized cleaning toys, but they’re also functional enough to use in a pinch for sweeping up small messes—a frequent occurrence in a house with children at play.

Price at time of publication: $43

Dimensions: 11 x 4 x 28 inches | Material: Wood | Recommended Age: 3 years and up

Courtesy of Wayfair

What We Like

Easy to clean
Suitable for young kids
Durable pieces

What We Don't Like

Less realistic items than other sets

A set of plastic cleaning toys makes a durable and easy-to-clean option for your child’s imagination. This six-piece set includes a plastic hand vacuum, pretend spray bottle, cleaning bottle, dustpan, hand broom, and sponge. Your toddler or young child will enjoy mimicking your every action with these easy-to-grip cleaning toys.

When your child’s cleaning session is complete, it’s easy to wash off any sticky substance or dirt, since these plastic toys can be cleaned with a quick rinse or a soap-and-water wash.

Price at time of publication: $24

Dimensions: 12.1 x 9 x 4.2 inches | Material: Plastic | Recommended Age: 2 years and up

The 10 Best Play Kitchens of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Joyin

What We Like

Multiple ways to play
Convenient storage space
Different products than other sets

What We Don't Like

Plastic can be a little flimsy

Keep all of your cleaning toys in one place with this 11-piece play set that doubles as a push toy for toddlers and new walkers. Little ones can spark their imagination with the included broom, mops, dustpan, soap, and spray bottle as they pretend to clean around the house (and maybe gather some real dust in the meantime).

The cart makes for easy storage space and makes it simple for kids to transport their toys from one part of the house to the other. This set goes beyond others with more parts, more ways to play, and more things to learn with different cleaning products.

Price at time of publication: $41

Dimensions: 16.38 x 13.07 x 6.1 inches | Material: Plastic, fabric | Recommended Age: 3 years and up

Courtesy of Amazon

What We Like

Replica of an iconic vacuum
Not super loud
Has multiple attachments and ways to play

What We Don't Like

Suction is not as strong as actual product

This vacuum is a toy replica of the iconic Dyson Cord-Free Vacuum Cleaner, but sized just right for kids to use and enjoy. The Casdon Little Helper Dyson Vacuum Toy measures about 28 inches from tip to end and features fun effects like a simulated cyclone action with brightly colored “debris” in the canister along with vacuum sounds. Fortunately, the vacuum sounds are not loud enough to be disruptive to your everyday routine.

This toy vacuum for kids also includes various attachments, and you can use it as a handheld vac as well—just like the real thing. There is real suction power, although it’s reportedly faint. Keep three AA batteries on hand so this vacuum will always be ready for hours of cleaning fun for kids. If it picks up a little stray pet hair along the way, consider it a bonus.

Price at time of publication: $30

Dimensions: 9.25 x 3.94 x 27.95 inches | Material: Plastic | Recommended Age: 3 years and up

Courtesy of Amazon

What We Like

Usable as real broom
Washable parts
Includes items to sweep

What We Don't Like

Broom handles can bend easily

This dusting set for kids is super soft and includes both a small duster and a sweep mop, so your child can be a dust buster both high and low. The dust mop includes a removable, washable cleaning pad, which comes in handy since this little dust mop does pick up dirt and dust hiding around the room.

Adding to the imagination of this cleaning toy set are the included felt cobweb and dust bunny that your child can clean up any time.

Price at time of publication: $30

Dimensions: 14 x 2.5 x 11 inches | Material: Plastic | Recommended Age: 3 years and up

What We Like

Educational
Interactive
Suitable for young kids

What We Don't Like

Users found it smaller than expected
Doesn't actually clean

Little ones will love to play with this cleaning toy for toddlers, an interactive and educational vacuum cleaner. The Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Vacuum is designed to engage children with songs and sounds that teach colors, shapes, counting skills, and opposites. It also has a vacuum-only mode that revs up typical vacuum sounds, if your tot wants to use a vacuum that sounds like the real thing.

The versatile modes of this cleaning toy for toddlers ensure that it won’t become boring any time soon. Whether your child enjoys using it in learning mode or "cleaning” mode, this vacuum for toddlers is sure to be a big hit.

Price at time of publication: $25

Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 16.3 inches | Material: Plastic | Recommended Age: 1 year and up

The Best Educational Toys for Toddlers to Combine Fun and Learning

Courtesy of Amazon

What We Like

Lightweight
Brooms have handles for storing
Actually cleans

What We Don't Like

Broom handles can be flimsy

Many kids love to grab the household broom and tackle dirt piles, real or imagined. But standard brooms feature a long handle that can become a hazard in the hands of a small child and knock over anything in sight.

A child’s broom, like the Schylling Littler Helper, is a great solution. This realistic-looking broom set includes both a soft-bristle broom for general sweeping and a smaller, handheld broom for small tasks. The dustpan makes it easy for little ones to capture any dirt they’ve swept up and dispose of it. It clips onto the handle of either broom for secure storage. The larger broom has a 30-inch handle and features long, soft bristles that are surprisingly good at handling real messes, too.

Price at time of publication: $15

Dimensions: 33 x 10 x 1.5 inches | Material: Plastic | Recommended Age: 3 years and up

Courtesy of Rocky Mountain Goods

What We Like

Lifetime warranty
Works like a real mop
Durable materials

What We Don't Like

Not machine washable

For a mop that looks just like the real deal but is sized right for little hands and shorter heights, consider this kid-size mop from Rocky Mountain Goods. It features a cotton mop head and wooden handle that measures 36 inches.

Users say it's sturdy enough to handle even robust play. Note, while you won’t be able to detach the mop head for machine washing, it’s easy enough to spot clean the mop if a section becomes dirty.

Price at time of publication: $51

Dimensions: 32 x 2 x 1 inches | Material: Plastic | Recommended Age: 3 years and up

The 31 Best Toys for Toddlers in 2023

Courtesy of Amazon

What We Like

Made of recycled plastic
Comes with storage stand
Easy to put together
Grows with child

What We Don't Like

Users found the items not as durable as expected

For a set of cleaning tools that make household tasks fun and kid-friendly, this seven-piece set includes a brush, broom, mop, dustpan, duster, glass cleaner, and dishcloth. You’ll find the included stand is very handy for keeping all the cleaning tools tidy. It also features a cute dinosaur on top for a kid-friendly touch your child will appreciate—though it can also be removed if dinos aren't your kid's thing.

One of the best features about this cleaning toy set for kids is the fact that the handles on the broom and mop extend from 21 inches to 36 inches. Even the stand, which all cleaning supplies hang from, extends to accommodate the longer handle lengths. It's a set your child can grow with and enjoy for several years as his or her abilities and chores increase.

Price at time of publication: $30

Dimensions: 11.61 x 9.57 x 4.09 inches | Material: Plastic | Recommended Age: 3 years and up

Courtesy of Amazon

What We Like

Multiple pieces for play
Durable materials
Perfect addition to a washer and dryer play set

What We Don't Like

Dryer sheet box can bend easily

This cleaning toy set for kids includes laundry essentials, like an iron and ironing board to tackle pretend wrinkles. Kids will also enjoy the other accessories, like detergent and softener bottles, that round out this toy laundry set along with a box of pretend dryer sheets. A small plastic laundry basket completes the set and is a great landing spot for freshly “ironed” doll clothes.

This cleaning toy set for kids is great for little ones that want to help on laundry day, and it's also popular when paired with a washer and dryer play set.

Price at time of publication: $24

Dimensions: 8 x 7 x 11 inches | Material: Plastic, Wood, Fabric | Recommended Age: 3 years and up

What to Look For in a Cleaning Set

Recommended Age

Check the manufacturer’s recommended age before hitting the purchase button. These guidelines are there for a reason, and they’re a great indication as to whether the item is suitable for your child—both in safety and in engagement. In general, cleaning toys that don’t have much true function will satisfy a younger child, but probably won’t keep a toddler entertained for long. For this age group, look for something with working buttons and lights, so they’ll feel more like the toy is working the way your own cleaning equipment might.

Safety

When it comes to cleaning toys, safety is important, because some are heavy or long and awkward for little ones to handle well. You’ll also want to be particularly mindful of toys labeled 3+, as these toys might have small parts which can be a choking hazard for children under three and for those who still mouth toys, says Kristin Morency Goldman, senior advisor of strategic communications for The Toy Association.

Accessories

Though there are some standalone products, many cleaning toys come in sets. In general, the sets are worth the investment, since they’ll hold your child’s attention for longer: They’ll get the opportunity to mimic more of your own actions, from sweeping to mopping and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you clean plastic toys?

Plastic toys can be washed with dish soap and water in the sink. Some toys are also dishwasher-safe, but if you want to clean toys this way, it's a good idea to only place them in the top rack of the dishwasher to avoid the risk of melting.
How do you play with a cleaning toy with a child?

One of the most popular ways to use cleaning toys with a child is to include them in your housekeeping routine. Toddlers and young children often enjoy "helping" with tasks like dusting, sweeping, mopping, or vacuuming. As you move from room to room, make your child feel like they have a job to do along with you. And in the case of some cleaning toys with functional features, your little helper may actually be capturing dust and debris! You'll also be surprised at the fun and surprising ways your child uses his or her imagination to interact with everyday items like a broom, mop, or duster.
“Although playing with a cleaning set may not seem very complicated to an observing adult, the skills a child uses during pretend play are foundational for social and emotional growth," Burgert says.
Can these toys double as real cleaning products?

While all of the options on this list are toys made for children, many of them do function as actual cleaning products. The brooms and mops can be used to gather dirt or toys and the toy vacuum does have a small but of suction for picking up dust. However, none of these toys operate as well as real cleaning products and should not be used to replace any household cleaning sets.

Why Trust the Spruce?

This article was written by Erica Puisis, a freelance writer who has contributed to The Spruce since 2017. Her areas of expertise include small home appliances and vacuums. To find the best options for the list, she considered capacity, CFM, filter type, and attachments of the most popular shop vacs on the market. Additional reporting was done by Julia Fields, a lifestyle writer for The Spruce covering all things surrounding toys, gifts, and the holidays since October 2021. Before that, she covered similar topics including toy reviews, product roundups, expert-focused articles, and more.

More Toys for Kids

When it comes to toys for kids, our team has you covered. The Verywell Family team of editors (who are parents or have nieces and nephews of their own) have tested, gifted, and personally recommend every item we feature. Find more of our top toy picks for every developmental stage and personality phase here: