How to Clean Your Child's Favorite Stuffed Animal

Cleaning a child's favorite stuffed animal may seem like quite a challenge. At first it probably seems easier to just give it a toss, but stay encouraged. With the help of some simple tips, your child's favorite, beloved toys are sure to end up back where they belong, in your child's hands, as soon as possible

1. First: Consider these before you clean

   Before you begin, consider a few things about the stuffed animal. First, think about its age; if it is old, it may require fragile handling or, if it is too old and poses a health hazard, you might have to toss it. Secondly, check the construction of the toy; depending on whether it is stitched or glued, you may want to hand wash instead of machine wash. Next, think of the stuffing; this can determine whether it needs hand or machine washing or a simple surface washing. Also, check the label, if still attached, to see what the manufacturer recommends. Finally, remove any bows, trim or anything hanging from it that might get damaged in washing, but also consider whether there are moving parts in the stuffed animal; this would change the way it is washed. After considering each of these things, you are ready to clean the toy.

2. Second: Cleaning

   For hand washing, mix a small amount of liquid detergent in two cups of water. If you are machine washing, add just a small amount to the water and wash the toy on the lowest water level and use a delicate cycle. To surface clean, use the same mixture as you would for hand washing and lightly rub it over the animal with a clean, white cloth. Rinse with a light mist spray bottle filled with warm water. For all methods of cleaning, follow up with air-drying the animal. To fluff fur, you may need to toss it in the dryer on a low setting for five to ten minutes. When the stuffed animal is clean, you may want to consider killing as much of the bacteria and dust mites as possible.

3. Third: Making the stuffed animal a healthier toy

   If your child has drooled, spit up, chewed or vomited on the stuffed animal for a while, among other things, it is likely to collect bacteria and dust mites. To help kill the bacteria and dust mites, you can do one or both of the following options to make the animal a healthier toy for your child. The first is use the sun; it kills the bacteria and dust mites, but keeping it out too long may fade the color. Another option is to freeze the animal. Put it in a plastic, sealable bag and push as much air out as possible. Freeze overnight or at least three hours to kill as much of the bacteria and dust mites as possible. By following these steps, your child's stuffed animal is cleaner and healthier for them to hold.