Stuffed animals are not only cute companions but also great collectors of germs and dust. If you have kids or pets, your fluffy friends are more likely to be used as chew toys or thrown around in the dirt. As a result, cleaning them can become quite challenging.
Cleaning stuffed animals might sound easy-peasy at first. But if you don't do it correctly, your furry pals may lose their fluffiness or worse - get ruined altogether.
So how can you make sure that they stay clean without sacrificing their charm? Worry not! In this article, we've got some handy tips on how to disinfect stuffed animals like a pro!
Go Easy with Water
The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about washing anything is water, right? However, using too much water on stuffed animals can cause damage to the fibers and also take ages for them to dry completely.
Hence it's always best to avoid dowsing them with excess water while cleaning. Instead opt for spot-cleaning where required by dipping cotton wool into warm soapy water and gently rubbing over the dirty spots.
Sort According To The Fabric Type
Stuffed toys come in different shapes and sizes. They're also made from varied fabrics such as polyester blends, cotton batting/plush combinations or wool stuffing among others.
Sorting out these toys according to fabric type makes selecting suitable cleaning methods easier reducing chances of shrinkage/ color fading etc . For instance; Toys mostly made of synthetic materials could be machine washed whereas those sporting fur should hands-only cleaned for best results. Soft brushes/vacuum cleaners would work especially well here .
Don’t Forget About The Eyes And Other Embellishments
Most toy makers understand that embellishing stuffed playthings adds character hence why almost all contain threading , buttons , beads , ribbons excessively sewn onto them.
However, these embellishments are usually not water-friendly; a delicate set up that may be destroyed by even the slightest of exposure to moisture (even accidental sprays from spot-treatment).
As such it's often recommended to remove decorations like eyes , ribbons etc before cleaning in order to keep them pristine and fully attached.
Use A Pillowcase To Wash
If you're opting for machine washing your stuffed toys, using a pillowcase is highly recommendable. It helps prevent damage caused by tumbling machines as well helps hold any small parts like thread or clothing materials during the wash cycle.
Once all items have been placed into one standard size pillow case string tied closed tightly with rubber bands at each end - this can then go straight into the washing machine allowing an ample circulation of soapy water around catchments whilst also keeping elements together!
Choose The Right Detergent & Products
Your fluffy friends might seem durable but every fabric has its limits. Some detergents or harsh chemicals used for other surfaces could cause mildew formation / discolouration on some fabrics.
Therefore choose mild detergents meant specifically aimed towards sensitive fibers meant strictly to eliminate grime and germs while safeguarding the quality of product being handled in addition here'e list {table} top dog decontaminants:-
| Name | Uses | Active Ingredients |
|---|---|---|
| Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner + Bleach Power | Ideal with hard toy stains and urine odours removals. | hydrogen peroxide acid |
| Mr Clean Magic Erasers Extra Durable Sponges All-Purpose Cleaner pad sponges Medium duty grime erasure walls-,floors- carpet stain remover Countertops/Cabinets prepping Savvy fill jar larger areas | melamine foam technology | |
| Vinegar/Baking Soda solution . Combination works especially great for lightweight toys which cannot take harsh strong chemicals. | acetic acid | |
| Oxyclean Versatile Stain Remover Powder | Excellent for no bleach washdays involving heavy types of fabric (e.g denim, blends of sheer cotton etc) and not too suitable for fur toys | . sodium percarbonate |
Go Slow With The Drying Process
It's important to remember that stuffed animals aren't as absorbent as traditional laundry hence when its wet it can get extremely weighed down by water.
Air drying on the other hand is recommended(put in a dry area and out of direct sunlight). But creating an environment where there is proper air-circulation is key - this ensures equal distribution of airflow – reducing chances off musty/odorific growths even molds taking hold.
You could also place them in front of fans or heaters while monitoring consistently along with periodic fluffing movements thus speeding up process without damaging its fluffiness.
Choosing Between Spot-Cleaning And Machine-Washing
Often people may find themselves wondering whether their stuffed animal requires delicate human intervention or lead-footed machine washing. To determine figure out best line cleaning technique take a closer look at the following checklist:
-
Does your toy contain wired ‘eyebrows' whiskers ? then spot clean only .
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Want to protect any glued parts? Then shampoo/wash costume parts before starting with more intense cleansers
-Looking for added disinfectant effect? chemical remedies are sometimes necessary instead {(refer table from previous heading)}.
Interested readers should note this article is help guide tool only; having said so recommendations here are industry standard methods meant either individually/in combination depending on factors like material choice , climate, area : chosen detergents /products
Stuffed animals can be beyond amusing so it's important one finds ways to properly maintain them long term. Knowing how to disinfect these little guys will not only enhance the longevity of play-buddies but also convey a message that you responsible and love-giving guardian.
With a few tips, tricks and effective disinfectants proper toy maintenance is more easily attainable saving you time , possibly tears-considering children often form quite significant emotional attachments them.