Here's some handy hints & tips about how

you can keep your stuffed animal clean and looking great

Do you have a stuffed animal and are wondering how to
keep it clean?

Stuffed animals are a lot of fun to have around and
great for kids, but sometimes even they need a bath.

With the proper care, your stuffed animal can provide
you and your children with many years of joy and happiness.


Here's some tips and pointers on how you can clean your
stuffed animals and keep them in great shape.


Most stuffed animals have an outer covering of fake fur,
usually synthetic materials (polyester, acrylic or modacrylic)
or natural materials (wool, wool/cotton, mohair, or alpaca).
And, most stuffed animals come from the manufacturer with
instructions on how to clean them, follow those first.


* Toys stuffed with styrene foam, foam beads or excelsior
must Not be washed. Things stuffed with synthetic fiber
(usually polyester fiber) or plastic beads can be put
in a washing machine.


* If the animal is stuffed very firmly and you put it in
a washing machine, it may never dry out, or the stuffing
may shift and cause the stuffed animal to lose it's shape.


* If the stuffed animal has cardboard or hardboard stiffeners
or joints, these can be destroyed in a washing machine.


* If the stuffed animal has a sound box: Do Not put it
in a washer or dryer.


* To keep your stuffed animal fresh, give it a dry bath
on occasion with baking soda. Just sprinkle the baking
soda on the stuffed animal and let it sit for about
15 minutes. Then simply brush it off.


* To keep dust off your stuffed animal, once a week
use your vacuum cleaner. Most home vacuum cleaners have
a hose and brush attachment. Just go lightly over the
stuffed animal with the brush. Make sure that items
like eyes on the stuffed animal are secure before
doing this.


* You can wash most stuffed animals in your washing machine,
however this should be used as a last resort. Before doing
this, make sure that there are no loose seams
where the stuffing can float out.

Put the stuffed animal in a pillowcase and close with a
safety pin or two. Then wash as you would any delicate
item.

Fabric softener can be added to bring out a fluffy
and softer stuffed animal.

Bleeding can occur from other clothes in the washing
machine, so be careful what you wash the animal with.
Bleeding can also happen from the fur onto the animals
clothes. If this is a possibility, then remove clothing
from the animal before washing.


* If the stuffed animal is not badly soiled, you can
clean it using a mild, all purpose cleaner and sponge.
Spray the cleaner on the area to be cleaned and sponge
off.


* Use a soft scrub brush for badly soiled or stained
areas along with the all purpose cleaner.


* Use rubbing alcohol to remove spots or stains from
plastic parts.


* An upholstery cleaner can be used for stuffed animals
that cannot be put in a washing machine.


* To get mats out, use an old hairbrush.


* To remove dust mites put the stuffed animal in a
plastic bag and then place in the freezer overnight, or
outside if the temperature is below freezing. The next
day use the vacuum cleaner to go over the animal.



Drying a Stuffed Animal

If you have put your stuffed animal in a washing machine,
or it has gotten very wet....it is Not recommended to
use a clothes dryer.

Hair dryers can be used for quick surface drying being
careful not to get too close to the surface.

However the best thing is to let the stuffed animal air dry.
While this may take several days to dry the stuffing, it is
the safest method.


If liquid is spilled on the stuffed animal, then shake
as much liquid off as possible, just like a real dog
that gets wet shakes off the water. Then use a dry
sponge or paper towels to dab off the remaining liquid.

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