How do you clean stuffed animals?

[livinlovinlaughin]

Stuffed animals seem to multiply by themselves So how do you dust them and/or clean them? I just wonder how well vaccumming or wiping with a wet cloth removes all the junk they collect from sitting around or being tossed on the floor?

So what are your methods or tricks? What about spaying with a tea tree or lavender and water solution or even vinegar after vaccumming?????? Just a thought.

[CrazyCatLady]

If it's really bad I throw them in the wash on gentle and then let them dry in the sun. Otherwise I just let them be gross.

[ollyoxenfree]

I've put them in a lingerie bag and washed them on the delicate cycle. For some, the nice plush finish didn't survive the washing machine, but they weren't doing so well with the dirt, food spills, and sundry other sticky/tacky things that were rubbed into them either.

[doubledutch]

washer, dryer, normal settings. if they can't survive normal washing and drying, then they can't survive my kids.

[odenata]

Originally Posted by doubledutch

washer, dryer, normal settings. if they can't survive normal washing and drying, then they can't survive my kids.

I've kind of adapted this method, too. It did, unfortunately, give one of dd's lions, who used to have a gorgeous, soft mane, something more akin to an afro. DH and I nicknamed him Shaft.

[busymama77]

Definitely the washing machine on the delicate/gentle cycle and hang dry in the sun. I did that with all of the ones that I found at garage sales or Goodwill before DS was born. I wash them now maybe once a month?

[Magelet]

no munchkins yet, but I have one stuffed animal DP gave me when we were long distance that has needed a few baths. I generally get some slightly soapy water, and dunk and squeeze out until the water runs pretty clean then rubnk in rinse water and squeeze a few times (squeeze really hard to get all the water out). If it's sunny out, I'll dry it outside in the sun, if not, in the dryer.

It definitely affects it's fur (not so fluffy, more matted), and if I had a lot, I'd just machine wash, but honestly, the stuffed animal was years old when DP sent it to me, and so I expect it to be a bit worn by now.

[MammaG]

I stick them into a king-sized pillow case and knot it, then toss in the washer and dryer. Works very well.

[nola79]

Originally Posted by MammaG

I stick them into a king-sized pillow case and knot it, then toss in the washer and dryer. Works very well.

yep, this is what I do, too. Works well.

[Nicole730]

Originally Posted by doubledutch

washer, dryer, normal settings. if they can't survive normal washing and drying, then they can't survive my kids.

This is what we do. I wash them before we even play with them. If they die, it's not meant to be.

[ASusan]

DS rarely plays with his stuffies, so they don't get dirty. But, they do get dusty, I feel. So I run them through a hot dryer, with a wet towel, to get the dust off them. About once every 6 mos?

[lookatreestar]

i only have a few from when i was little that they play with. and they go into the washer with no issues.

[rhianna813]

Originally Posted by doubledutch

washer, dryer, normal settings. if they can't survive normal washing and drying, then they can't survive my kids.

This!

Rhianna

[ssh]

Originally Posted by doubledutch

washer, dryer, normal settings. if they can't survive normal washing and drying, then they can't survive my kids.

This. Some things I let air dry.

[CherryBomb]

It depends, usually I put them in a pillowcase but sometimes if it's just one that needs washed i just toss it in with whatever else I'm washing.

[muldey]

I just throw them in the wash and let them air dry.

[number572]

I had a friend with dust allergies who put them one by one into a plastic garbage bag and stick the hose directly on a part of the stuffed animal, hold the garbage bag closed around the vac hose and turn it on... it sucks all of the air out of the toy and sucks the dust out of it too. She said thats what their doctor told them to do.

[~Boudicca~]

Originally Posted by doubledutch

washer, dryer, normal settings. if they can't survive normal washing and drying, then they can't survive my kids.

yup.

[livinlovinlaughin]

Originally Posted by ASusan

DS rarely plays with his stuffies, so they don't get dirty. But, they do get dusty, I feel. So I run them through a hot dryer, with a wet towel, to get the dust off them. About once every 6 mos?

We are mostly dealing with dust also. Has the dryer affected any of the ones you have done this with?

Originally Posted by number572

I had a friend with dust allergies who put them one by one into a plastic garbage bag and stick the hose directly on a part of the stuffed animal, hold the garbage bag closed around the vac hose and turn it on... it sucks all of the air out of the toy and sucks the dust out of it too. She said thats what their doctor told them to do.

Very interesting!

[ComaWhite]

Originally Posted by doubledutch

washer, dryer, normal settings. if they can't survive normal washing and drying, then they can't survive my kids.

Works for dishes too, if it can't survive the dishwasher, its not meant to be in the cupboards.