Learn How to Wash and Care for Your Stuffed Toys to Keep Them Like New.

A stuffed toy is not just another one of the many toys you used to play with when you were little. It is that adventure companion that lived fantastic moments with you, becoming a loyal, unforgettable silent witness. Keeping it in good condition can be quite tricky, because almost nobody really knows how to wash them properly, let alone the steps to stop their plush fur from turning stiff and crispy like a piece of fried chicken.

Some people make the terrible mistake of putting them in the dryer or plunging them abruptly into water, forgetting the care they deserve. Is that your case? Don’t worry! Caring for your stuffed toys to keep them like new is easier than you think.

You just need to follow the instructions in this article, where we will teach you how to wash stuffed toys without getting frustrated in the attempt or hurting the toys we all love the most.

Want to find out? Let’s get started!

 

1.- Dust it off without stress:

 

Take a soft-bristled brush and gently go over the surface of the stuffed toy, removing all the accumulated dust and any other residue. Remember that they are exposed to external contaminants, which are responsible for a host of diseases and infections with serious consequences.

Don’t scrub frantically, because you could tear the fabric of your stuffed toy and leave an unsightly gap in its look. Treat it the way you would like to be treated.

On the other hand, some stuffed toys come with an outer cover shaped like the character, while their filling is inside a canvas bag. In this case, take it out and shake it vigorously. Under no circumstances should you pour water into the filling bag, and don’t even think about washing it with soap, because you will end up deforming its original look after squeezing it to remove everything that tends to stay trapped inside, which can also cause bad odours.

Now, the outer cover, on the other hand, can definitely be washed by hand or put in the washing machine without any problem.

 

2.- Wash it with love:

 

Stuffed toys should be washed according to what is specified on the label. If it is a small one, you can machine-wash it inside a pillowcase together with the rest of the laundry. It is advisable to use the delicate wash cycle, together with a gentle detergent and a fabric softener that helps keep the fibres silky.

If you are going to wash it by hand because it is very large or simply to avoid switching on the washing machine, do not submerge it in a bucket of hot or cold water; instead, make sure the water is at room temperature. Pour in a mixture of baking soda, liquid soap and fabric softener, and place it in a plastic or paper bag.

Close it, shake it vigorously and leave it to work overnight. Finally, rinse it with room-temperature water and that’s it.

3.- Let it air-dry naturally:

 

The heat generated by these machines tends to affect the plush or foam filling of the stuffed toys negatively, shrinking them and taking away their original shape. Therefore, lay them sideways on the clothesline, in the spot where the breeze blows most and the sun hits least.

The sun can leave unsightly stains on them and even fade their colours, taking away from the aesthetic appeal of their appearance.

 

Recommendations for washing stuffed toys.

 

• Wear gloves throughout this whole stuffed toy washing job. This way you will avoid coming into contact with strong chemicals that could have a negative impact on your skin and damage your hands.

 

• If it is hard for you to shake them due to physical limitations, use a handheld vacuum cleaner and a lint roller. They are not invasive at all and usually work at a moderate power.

 

• Disinfect your stuffed toy beforehand with isopropyl alcohol.

 

• Make sure they have no tears or rips in their seams. If you find any, repair them before washing your stuffed toys.

 

• Don’t even think about washing stuffed toys that are old or worn out in the machine, because they will not be able to withstand all the force of the automated process and will break into pieces; some remnants may even get stuck in the washing machine drum or end up in the pump.

 

 

There is no doubt that washing stuffed toys is quite simple and even fun, becoming a fantastic leisure activity to share with your children while you teach them values such as discipline and effort.

Now you have no excuse to neglect your stuffed toys, because this article explains in detail how to do it during those free moments when you have nothing else to do.

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