There are many reasons you need to wash stuffed animals: the attack of the stomach bug, they can be dusty from sitting on a shelf, a little too much love from the owner or frequent washing for kiddos with allergies and asthma.
Stuffed animals are like clothes – the less you wash them, the longer they will look new. After an animal has been washed that crisp, new look probably won’t be there. But at least they’ll look clean!
- They have a music box sewn inside
- They are extremely old and fragile
- They have items glued on – sequins, etc. Glued-on eyes probably will survive a washing.
- They have delicate ‘clothing’ items on that can’t be removed (think glittery, net-type dresses or delicate little crowns or the like)
- They have small foam balls inside (like Beanie Babies) not batting.
1. Before washing a stuffed animal, examine it carefully. Are there parts that need to be removed first? Any strings that need to be secured?
Stuffed animals are similar to pillows in that they wash much better if laundered in a machine that does not have an agitator. Washing with an agitator tends to make the animal ball up due to the agitator displacing the batting.
After determining your stuffed animal can be washed, place it in a mesh laundry bag. The mesh bag gives it an extra level of protection from snagging or being pummeled too much in the machine.
Always wash stuffed animals on the gentle/delicate cycle. They just can’t tolerate a more aggressive washing that a ‘normal’ cycle would give. You can use a warm or cool wash but steer clear of hot. If items are glued on, the hot water might dissolve some of the glue.
After washing, remove from the bag and hang dry or use LOW/Gentle heat on dryer. – even on low – could potentially melt glued on or plastic parts. So PLEASE be careful and check within a couple of minutes and often.
All this great advice from:
http://www.mamaslaundrytalk.com
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