The Best Cleaning Toy Sets for Your Little Helpers

Encourage pretend play with kid-friendly vacuums, mops, dusters, and more

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Cleaning toy sets for children we recommend on a pink background

Verywell Family / Amelia Manley

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 and accessories of each pick. We also surveyed 875 parents about the toys their children love to play with, asking parents to note how kids play with their toys and why they love them. Moreover, we reviewed guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on the benefits of pretend play for children and how parents can inspire imaginative play for their kids.

Best Overall

Melissa & Doug Dust, Sweep & Mop Set

Melissa & Doug Let's Play House! Dust, Sweep & Mop Set

Amazon

Pros
  • Comes with a storage stand

  • Durable material

  • Works like actual products

Cons
  • Young kids may need help putting products onto the stand

Why We Recommend It

If you have a child who 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.

The top features of this cleaning toy set for kids include the high 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 other 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.

Key Specs:

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

Best Plastic

Learning Resources New Sprouts 6 Piece Clean It Set

Learning Resources Clean It! My Very Own Cleaning Set

Walmart

Pros
  • Easy to clean

  • Six pieces

  • Durable plastic

Cons
  • Less realistic items than other sets

Why We Recommend It

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. These plastic toys can be cleaned with a quick rinse or a soap-and-water wash.

Key Specs:

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

Best Vacuum

CASDON Little Helper Dyson Toy Vacuum

Casdon 68702 Dyson Cordless Vacuum Interactive Toy for Children Aged 3+, Purple and Orange

Amazon

Pros
  • Replica of an iconic vacuum

  • Not super loud

  • Has multiple attachments and ways to play

Cons
  • Suction is not as strong as actual product

Why We Recommend It

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 and vacuum sounds. Fortunately, the vacuum sounds are not loud enough to disrupt your everyday routine.

This toy vacuum for kids also includes various attachments, and you can use it as a handheld vacuum 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.

Key Specs:

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

Best for Dusting

Fisher-Price Clean-Up and Dust Set

Fisher-Price Clean-up and Dust Set 5-Piece Pretend Play Set for Preschoolers

Amazon

Pros
  • Usable as real broom

  • Washable parts

  • Includes items to sweep

Cons
  • Broom handles can bend easily

Why We Recommend It

This Fisher-Price dusting set for kids is super soft and includes both a small duster and a dust 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 picks 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.

Key Specs:

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

Best for Toddlers

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Vacuum

Fisher-price-laugh--learn-light-up-learning-vacuum

Amazon

Pros
  • Educational

  • Interactive

  • Suitable for young kids

Cons
  • Users found it smaller than expected

  • Doesn't actually clean

Why We Recommend It

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. 

Key Specs:

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

Best Broom

Schylling Little Helper Broom Set

Schylling Little Helper Broom Set

Amazon

Pros
  • Lightweight

  • Brooms have handles for storing

  • Actually cleans

Cons
  • Broom handles can be flimsy

Why We Recommend It

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.

Key Specs:

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

Best Mop

Rocky Mountain Goods Small Mop for Kids

Rocky Mountain Goods Small Mop for Kids and toddlers - Traditional red and white cotton yarn toy mop - Made in USA - Great for smaller areas - Solid wood...

Amazon

Pros
  • Lifetime warranty

  • Works like a real mop

  • Durable materials

Cons
  • Not machine washable

Why We Recommend It

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 a wooden handle that measures 36 inches.

We love that it's sturdy enough to handle even robust play. 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.

Key Specs:

  • Dimensions: 32 x 2 x 1 inches
  • Material: Wood
  • Recommended Age: 3 years and up

Best Laundry Set

Melissa & Doug Laundry Basket Play Set

Melissa & Doug Laundry Basket Play Set With Wooden Iron, Ironing Board, and Accessories (14 Pcs) - Pretend Play Laundry Set For Kids With Play Iron

Amazon

Pros
  • Multiple pieces for play

  • Durable materials

  • Perfect addition to a washer and dryer play set

Cons
  • Dryer sheet box can bend easily

Why We Recommend It

This Melissa & Doug 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 who want to help on laundry day, and it's also popular when paired with a washer and dryer play set.

Key Specs:

  • Dimensions: 8 x 7 x 11 inches
  • Material: Plastic, wood, and fabric
  • Recommended Age: 3 years and up

How We Selected and Tested Cleaning Toy Sets

To select the best cleaning toy sets for kids, we spoke with a pediatrician and toy expert and reviewed guidance from the AAP on the benefits of pretend play. We also surveyed 875 parents to learn more about what brands their families love to buy and why. Additionally, we wanted to know their kids' favorite toys, how they play with them, and why they love them. 

After reviewing guidance from the AAP, speaking with our experts, and surveying parents, we studied the design and features of more than 30 cleaning toy sets on the market and researched reviews from customers and competitors. Moreover, we monitored shopping trends to bring you the best and most up-to-date offerings on cleaning toys for kids. When reviewing products, we considered toy safety, age recommendations, ease of use, design, material, features, and value.

Our Experts

What to Look For in a Cleaning Toy 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 Goldman.
  • 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 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 little bit 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.

  • 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.

Why Trust Verywell Family

Erica Puisis is a freelance writer with areas of expertise in small home appliances and vacuums. She loves sharing her insights on top trending and mainstay products for the home (even for pint-sized family members).

Additional reporting by:

Julia Fields is a lifestyle writer who covers toys, gifts, and the holidays. She's previously 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:

1 Source
Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. American Academy of Pediatrics. Pretend play: ways children can exercise their imagination.

Updated by Julia Fields