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Wooden Toys
We wholeheartedly believe that children's toys should be made of natural materials. Many people choose plastic toys because they mistakenly believe that wooden toys cannot be cleaned.
Young children, especially infants, often put their toys (and other children's toys!) in their mouths, and are very hands-on in their exploration, so we suggest you clean all of your child's wooden toys regularly and thoroughly to help prevent the spread of germs by following these simple instructions:
Unfinished Wooden Toys:
Regular care: Clean with a damp sponge, but do not soak unfinished wooden toys as they will absorb water. Alternatively, wipe gently with a cotton ball moistened with rubbing alcohol. Periodically rubbing with salad oil will help refresh the wood and provide some protection.
Stains/Discolorations: Fine-grade sandpaper may be used to remove any discolorations/stains (from food, crayons, markers, etc.).
Water Damage: Fine-grade sandpaper may be used to restore the toy to its desired smoothness if the toy has been exposed to water and become rough.
Finished/Painted Wooden Toys:
Regular Care: Wash gently and quickly with soap and water. Please do not soak them.
Stains/Discolorations: Spray and wipe with a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water.
What do I do if a wooden toy is broken, or missing a piece?
Our wooden toys are durable and can withstand plenty of active play. However, if a toy should become broken, or if a piece is lost, just contact us and we'll be happy to obtain a replacement part and/or have your toy repaired.
What is a unit block?
Unit blocks, also known as "school blocks", are made from solid maple wood to precise measurements. The basic unit is 1 3/8" x 2 3/4" x 5 1/2", and all other shapes and sizes (triangles, arches, ramps, planks, columns, etc.) are an exact fraction or multiplication of this size. This is the generally accepted scale for schools and preschools. Wooden unit blocks are a wonderful, open-ended toy that will last forever.
Why do you include mesh produce bags with your block sets?
Our wooden unit block kits come with mesh produce bags for storage (smaller kits come with 1 bag, larger kits come with 2). Kids seem to have an easier time putting their blocks away in a bag than in a wagon or box--both of which they would rather use for something else! Children like to be able to see the blocks inside the bag, so our mesh bags are a perfect fit. The produce bags are misprints that are precycled (also known as pre-consumer recycling) directly from the bag manufacturer. They may say "onyons" or "cabage" or some other slightly misprinted word, so don't rely on them to teach your child to spell! You could find a fancier form of block storage, but we have found these mesh produce bags to work very well.
I am really interested in your wooden unit blocks and want to read all the fine details.
Great! We have so much to say about them! Our wooden unit blocks are made from carefully-selected hard rock maple wood (grown in MI and IN) that is knot-free and kiln dried. They are carefully checked during the manufacturing process and any defective blocks are eliminated. Maple is a hardwood that varies greatly in color, from almost white to a reddish brown. Because of its fine grain, it is virtually splinter-free and is very hard, which prevents dents and damage from rough play (from all those towers falling down!).
Our unit blocks are rounded on the long edges and sanded and smoothed on the corners and ends. Tolerances are within 0.1". Our unit blocks are guaranteed for life against cracking or checking, and we will replace defective blocks free of charge.
One of the most satisfying aspects of playing with unit blocks is the wonderful crashing noise they make when towers fall down. This rough treatment would destroy blocks made of pine or other economy woods, but our hard maple blocks will survive beautifully through this abuse. Also, children play with unit blocks for many years, and a good set has to last through both time and siblings. Our unit blocks are almost indestructible and will make a wonderful gift for your children to hand down to their own children one day.
