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Improperly cleaned aquarium ornaments--keep or toss?

23 11:14:17

Question
We were given a used aquarium that needed cleaning, along with still good cleaning tools (algae sponge, etc.) As I worked on it, I explained to my child that nothing could be cleaned with soap or with tools that had ever had any cleaning products on them. But kids don't always absorb the message right away.

When I took a break, she asked if she could help with the ornaments (plastic plants and a cave thing w/ fake coral on it). I told her to use the toothbrush in the bag the previous owner had used for them. She didn't see it (it was there) and went ahead and scrubbed them with one of her old, used-but-saved-for-cleaning-other-stuff toothbrushes.

My question: should I trash these items, or is there a way to be sure they will not contaminate our future pets?

Thank you.

Answer
Hi,
I have actually intentionally used soap and bleach in very diluted quantities to clean ornaments and buckets. I doubt a used tooth brush would have a large effect even if you dropped it in the aquarium.

If you are worried about it, rinse everything very well with warm water.