Plush toys are very popular with children of all ages, so it will be helpful for you to learn how to clean them properly. To do this, read the tag on the toy so as not to accidentally ruin it. Use only those detergents that will not harm either the material or your health. Dry the toy thoroughly both outside and inside to prevent mold growth.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Washing in the washing machine
Step 1. Make sure the plush toy is machine washable
Read the label on the toy to make sure the wash won't harm it. Plush toys should not be machine washed if:
- Inside it is a music box.
- She is very old, her fur peels off and her limbs fall off, or she was initially fragile.
- She has glued parts such as plastic eyes, legs, arms, ears, or rhinestones.
- She is dressed in delicate things that are sewn to the toy and cannot be removed, such as a shiny dress or a fragile crown.
- Instead of batting, it is stuffed with small foam balls.
Step 2. Examine the toy carefully
Do you need to remove any parts from it? Maybe there are seams that need to be taken care of somewhere. Make sure the wash does not harm the toy and the machine itself.
Step 3. Determine the type of your washing machine
A washing machine without an activator is best for washing plush toys. Activator machines tend to crumple up toys. This is due to the fact that the activator displaces the batting.
Instead of using a top-loading machine, go to the laundry and wash the plush toy along with other items
Step 4. Place the toy in a mesh bag
A mesh laundry bag can be purchased at your local Thousands of Trivia store, fabric store, or laundry. This will reduce the likelihood that the toy will catch on or crumple in the toy car.
Step 5. Turn on a gentle or gentle wash cycle
Even a normal cycle can be too intense for a plush toy, so only include a soft or delicate cycle just in case. Use warm or cool water. Do not use hot water as it can dissolve the adhesive holding the parts together.
Method 2 of 3: Hand wash
Step 1. Read the label
The plush toy may only be suitable for hand wash or delicate cycle. If the toy turns out to be too fragile even for a delicate mode, hand washing is exactly the solution that will ensure a complete cleaning of the toy without the risk of damaging it.
Do not try to remove individual stains on the surface, as the stain may have penetrated deeper. If the stain gets to the padding, germs and odors may remain. For example, if a child is just potty training and accidentally describes a toy, the padding may be completely soaked without any visual signs of a stain
Step 2. Fill your sink with cold water and add some gentle soap
Plug the drain plug to fill the sink with water, or take a large container, such as a bucket or basin, and fill it with cold water and mild soap. Make sure the soap is suitable for the material of the plush toy. Strong detergents can discolor or damage the toy.
Don't use too much soap, or it will be harder to wash off later
Step 3. Submerge the plush toy in water
Submerge the animal completely in the water to allow the soapy water to penetrate and fight the stain. Wash the toy under water. Use your hands to gently rub the outer upholstery and remove all dirt and stains.
Step 4. Rinse off the soap
Rinse off the remaining soap thoroughly. Use as much water as possible. Do not shake or twist the toy. Press it between old towels and squeeze out the water.
Depending on the condition of the toy, you can squeeze it slightly. Old toys can easily fall apart if mishandled
Step 5. Let it dry
Fluff up the toy and tidy it up. Leave it to air dry. Do not leave it near a heat source or in the sun, otherwise it may burn out or deform.
Step 6. Remove surface stains
If there is a small stain on the surface or the label says “surface cleaning”, use a mild detergent. Use an upholstery cleaner that creates foam to remove the stain. Examine the composition to make sure the cleaner does not contain any hazardous chemicals that could harm your baby.
A child can put a toy in their mouth, so be sure to use safe cleaning products. There are a variety of cleaners that are specifically designed for cleaning plush toys. Find a safe and good cleaner. Take an odorless baby detergent and a damp cloth for surface cleaning
Step 7. Use a trash bag and baking soda
If the toy is quite large, place it in a large trash bag and add 100 g of baking soda to it. Add more baking soda, depending on the size of the toy. Close the bag tightly and shake well. Keep the bag closed and leave the toy in it for 15-20 minutes. Open the bag and remove any remaining baking soda.
Vacuum the toy if it doesn't harm it. Do not shake the bag too hard if you think the toy might fall apart
Method 3 of 3: Drying the plush toy
Step 1. Use a clothesline
The more the toy is soaked, the longer it will take to dry. Make sure all excess water has drained out of the toy before hanging it on the clothesline. Use clothespins to secure the toy and leave to dry on a sunny day.
The sun is a natural stain remover and disinfectant. Removing stains does not require a lot of water, so you probably won't have to hang the toy afterwards
Step 2. Air dry the toy
If the weather isn't good, air dry the stuffed toy. Just leave it in a fenced-in area, away from animals and children.
Step 3. Use a dryer
If the label says a tumble dryer can be used, place the toy in the appliance and run a low power or dry cycle for non-crease fabrics. Or set your hair dryer to low power or cool air.
While heat can dry out a toy quickly, it can also ruin it or mess up the fur. If the dryer has a fluff mode, use it to regenerate the fur
Step 4. Avoid tumble drying
Place a couple of towels in the clipper to soften the movement of the toy. Also, be sure to use anti-static wipes to prevent your baby from getting an electric shock when picking up the toy.
Step 5. Make sure the toy is dry both inside and out
The inside of the toy will take much longer to dry than the outside. To avoid mold growth and endanger your child's health, make sure the inside is completely dry. Use a hair dryer to speed up the drying process.
Step 6. Spread and flatten the toy
While drying, the stuffing of the toy could get bunched up, so straighten the toy and fluff up the fur so that it looks like it did before.
Advice
- If you spray something on a toy, make sure the spray is completely dry before handing it over to your child.
- After applying the cleaner, you can spray the toy with air freshener.
- Even if the label indicates surface washable, the garment may still be machine washable.
Warnings
- Do not rub the upholstery of your plush toy too hard.
- Do not put a plush toy in the washing machine unless it is labeled as machine washable. Most labels have a surface wash.