How To Wash Your Stuffed Animals
There are two ways can deep clean your stuffed animal and one method to lightly clean your stuffed animal. When using these methods, make sure these methods can be used on your stuffed animal, for some stuffed toys cannot be put in the washer, while others cannot be washed with soap.
Washing Your Stuffed Animal In The Washing Machine
- Make sure that your plush is washable. Toys with any types of stiffeners should be surface washed only. Mohair, wool, rayon plush, and alpaca fur are not to be washed in a machine at all. And if the toy is too big or firmly stuffed, ix-nay on that.
- Stitch up any rips or loose parts. Your child will not quickly forgive you if you lose Teddy's arm in the wash.
- Put the toy inside a pillow case and secure with safety pins. If the animal is too large, a sheet also works well. In case something does fall off, the pillowcase or sheet will catch it before it gets sucked up.
- Gently place the toy inside the washer. A mild detergent should be used. Tide with a touch of Downy is perfect for this. Another brand that most find helpful is Woolite. Soap Nuts also have hypoallergenic properties, which are good if your child has a dust mite allergy. Fabric softener is normally unnecessary and can harm the plush.
- Set the washer on cool and use gentle cycle. This will reduce the risk of parts torn off, and hot water can discolor the animal.
- Dry. A dryer can work on some plushes, but most should be allowed to air dry outside.
- Now, use a dental pick to pick out knots in the fur. You're done!
Washing Your Stuffed Animal By Hand
- Gather supplies. See Things You'll need.
- Fill the bucket with enough water to completely submerge your stuffed animal.
- Submerge underwater and press down on your stuffed animal until water comes out clear. You'll probably see stuff coming out of your stuffed animal when you press.
- Add a capful of Woolite or a similar product to the water. Mix it in.
- Use a toothbrush and scrub all over your stuffed animal with the water.
- Press down again. You'll probably see more stuff. Continue until the water is clear.
- Rinse with the hose and squeeze.
- Put on the chair and wait until water only drips from the holes once in a while.Now you're ready to hang.
- Make a clothesline. String a piece of strong rope around 2 branches.
- Use clothespins to hang them.
- When they are dry, put them on the air dry cycle of the dryer for 5 minutes.This will help it fluff up.
Lightly Clean Your Stuffed Animal By Hand
- Use a spray bottle to lightly spray a small section of the stuffed animal with ammonia till the surface is slightly damp.
- Rub the damp section with a white or light colored cloth or towel.
- Repeat steps one and two till section is clean. Use a clean spot of the cloth each time you spray.
- Move to new section and repeat steps until the entire animal is clean.
- Let animal dry.
- Brush using a stiff bristled brush to fluff and smooth.
Washing Tips And Precautions
Tips:
- Washing animals too much can wear the fur away. So as much fun as giving your toy a bath is, don't do it unless it's really necessary.
- Don't do this unless your stuffed animal really needs it.
- Poof up the animal by using a blow dryer or boar bristle/synthetic bristle hairbrush. Go gently.
- DO NOT put your stuffed toy in a high speed washing machine. This could tear it into pieces!
- If using a washing machine, place the soft toy in a pillow case to minimize damage to the eyes, nose and other fragile features of the toy
Precautions
- Test in a small inconspicuous place for colorfastness.
- Ammonia is safe for satin, lace, fake fur and most fabrics.