WFMW: Coralling the Tub Toys

I mentioned in this post that I have a cheap, home-made, but totally functional bath toy keeper.

Today I'm going to share with you my super secret, totally complicated device, and instructions on how you can make one of your own.

Here are the materials you'll need:

1 small mesh garment bag
1 small plastic waste basket
   (both are available at Target, Walmart, even the dollar store!)

Be sure that the opening of your mesh bag will fit over the opening of your waste basket.

Okay, here are the really complicated assembly instructions:
1) put the mesh bag into the waste basket.
2) Turn the top edge of the bag over the rim of the wastebasket.
3) Secure with a binder clip or big rubberband if needed.

I always pull down on the edge of the bag so that the bottom of the bag is not sitting on the bottom of the waste basket. This allows space for everything to drip dry without the toys at the bottom sitting in stagnant water.

It cost me a only a few dollars, took about 45 seconds to assemble, and not only keeps the tub toys coralled in one place, but also allows for drying and super easy washing.

 And the washing? Well, I don't know about you, but we have hard water in these parts. This means that everything in the tub gets a buildup of soap scum (tasty!) and mineral deposits (exfoliant!) after a while. So, I try to wash the tub toys every so often.

When it's time for a wash, I zip the bag shut:

And then lift the whole thing out:

I then carry it to my washing machine and toss it in with my load of towels. I wash those on the hot setting to kill all the little germies, and I guess the agitation of the washer gets the film off because they always come out clean. (Of course, I do not run them through my dryer. I just put the whole thing back in the waste basket t drip dry.)

Oh, and let me say this:

I am absolutely not a domestic diva. (Seriously! I don't even know how to work our coffee maker!) I do not know if this is harmful to my washing machine. All of our tub toys are soft-ish plastic, and none contain small parts. And so far I haven't had any problems, although it does sometimes sound like someone put a bowling ball in the washer... I am not responsible for damage done to anyone else's washing machine if they run their tub toys through it. I'm just sharing with you the way that I  do it. It's not my fault if you're crazy enough to take me seriously...