stuffed animal help...

[bingo_lover]

I'm hoping someone here has run into a similiar situation and can offer me some advice...

My girlfriend has a stuffed animal with a lot of sentimental value that is in need of a cleaning. It doesn't give any info on the tag on how to clean it and I think it may be filled with beans on the inside.


Can I put it in the washer and dryer to clean it? I'm hesistant to do so because I'm scared that it will ruin the stuffed animal.

Advice would be greatly appreciated

[kenw]

my suggestion would be to try one of those DRYEL in-home dry-cleaning kits.

do not put it in the washer.

we have teddy bear that is over 50 years old. it really smells, but I can't toss it. We hit it with fabreeze every so often to knock it back. In my case, since it is so old, the stuffing is probably something organic like horsehair.

[Breezy]

Depending on how old it is. You can probably toss it in a pillowcase and tie it up. then wash on the delicate cycle.
I did that with some toys from the 80s and 90s they turned out fine and I throw my kids in the wash all the time. The only ones that have fallen apart were the ones from the Build a Bear store.

[rott]

Originally Posted by Breezy

...and I throw my kids in the wash all the time...

Is that how you do it?

[kenw]

Originally Posted by rott

Is that how you do it?

yeah, since they closed Astroworld, it's as good as it gets.....

[Breezy]

Originally Posted by rott

Is that how you do it?

Yeah but don't call CPS on me

[Breezy]

Originally Posted by kenw

yeah, since they closed Astroworld, it's as good as it gets.....

[OTRphoto]

a quick google for "cleaning old stuffed animals" came up with lots of pages of suggestions.

http://www.stretcher.com/stories/980813b.cfm

http://www.essortment.com/home/stuffedanimals_sdew.htm

Every house with children (and even some without) has at least one stuffed animal. They sit on beds and bookshelves, they hide under furniture and behind couches and they get dragged around on the floor by their ears. They also get dirty and dusty. Every now and then, we have to give our stuffed animals a bath, but some people are hesitant. How does one wash a stuffed animal without causing damage? Here are some tips for keeping your plush toys clean.

If the animal is dusty, sometimes, all it needs is a little wiping. Take a slightly damp cloth and rub the animal all over until the dust is removed. After the animal is “dusted,” brush with an old hairbrush. You can also use the hose attachment on your vacuum to rid the animal of dust. A sticky lint roller works for this task as well.

In most cases, stuffed animals can be laundered in the washing machine. It’s always a good idea to check the label to see if there are any recommendations for laundering. Before throwing a plush toy in the wash, examine the animal for any rips or tears at the seams. If you see any, it would be in your best interest to perform a little emergency surgery and sew up the tears so they don’t get worse in the washing machine. You might also check the stuffed animal for stains. If it’s stained, pretreat by dabbing on a bit of laundry detergent and letting it sit for a short while before tossing it in.

When you’re ready to give the stuffed animal a bath, place it in a pillowcase and wash with the rest of your laundry. It’s best to use a delicate cycle and a gentle detergent. It’s also a good idea to use a bit of fabric softener to keep the toys soft and cuddly. When the stuffed animal is removed from the washing machine, you can give it a good brushing.

Don’t throw a stuffed animal in the washing machine if it’s very old or very delicate. Put it in a paper bag and shake baking soda into the same bag. Shake the bag until the stuffed animal is coated in baking soda. Leave the baking soda on for about thirty minutes and then brush off with a towel. This is also a good way for cleaning and freshening animals that are too big for the washing machine.

It’s not always a good idea to dry your stuffed animals in the clothes dryer. If the animal or the stuffing is made from a material prone to shrinking or losing its shape in the dryer, you’re much better off using a clothes line (make sure it’s not too sunny though, the color can fade). There’s another option. Place your stuffed animal next to a dehumidifier if you happen to own one. It’ll take a couple of days, but you can dry your animal this way without worrying about any kind of damage. If you do use the dryer, put a pair of old sneakers into it along with the stuffed animal. This will help it to keep its shape.

Washing stuffed animals isn’t that difficult. Just be sure to follow the care instructions on the label. Our stuffed animals offer us unconditional love. The least we can do is keep them clean and dust free in return.

[haraki74]

Might be better if you hand washed it, just in case. Let it dry in the sun

[Bella]

Look for a doll hospital, most of them usually service stuffed animals too. I know there's one around Spring, but not sure about your part of town.

-Cindy

[bingo_lover]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I really appreciate it.

The stuffed animal is less than a year old, so its still pretty new. I think we're going to try our luck with the Dryel home cleaning kit, hopefully everything goes well

[crystalcarroll]

some dry cleaners cater to stuffed animals as well, my husband gave me a stuffed bear when we got married and somehow in moving it became dingy, we took it to the local dry cleaner and they were able to clean it very successfully, given they looked at me a little crazy when i took it in there but it turned out to be a great experience

[photonewb]

Originally Posted by bingo_lover

I'm hoping someone here has run into a similiar situation and can offer me some advice...

My girlfriend has a stuffed animal with a lot of sentimental value that is in need of a cleaning. It doesn't give any info on the tag on how to clean it and I think it may be filled with beans on the inside.


Can I put it in the washer and dryer to clean it? I'm hesistant to do so because I'm scared that it will ruin the stuffed animal.

Advice would be greatly appreciated

go to Build a Bear...they sell some stuff that you spray on and then you can just "scrub" off. They can also do some repairs if you're real nice.

[*Mike*]

Holly has an old stuffed animal that really needs some attention once in a while... It just goes in a pillow case and into the washer - just like Breezy suggested.

It's a lion named Artichoke in case anyone was wondering. Don't tell Holly I was here...

[HotHolly]

Originally Posted by *Mike*

Holly has an old stuffed animal that really needs some attention once in a while... It just goes in a pillow case and into the washer - just like Breezy suggested.

It's a lion named Artichoke in case anyone was wondering. Don't tell Holly I was here...

Abel - you need more smilies. There isnt one for this. Mike's in trouble.