How to wash a stuffed animal without damaging it? Kids love doggies and can’t seem to get enough of them in their beds and bedrooms.
Although they are beautiful and soft, these doggies attract dirt and dust. So here are my best tips and tricks for washing stuffed animals.
1. Machine wash soft toys
I am the father of 2 boys and let me tell you that there is not enough time to do everything! So rather than complicate life, why not just do like me and wash the children’s stuffed animals in the washing machine.
To avoid damaging the stuffed animals, here is how to wash them:
- Place the stuffed animals in a pillowcase and put them inside the washing machine.
- Add liquid detergent and choose a cycle for delicate fabrics.
- Air dry stuffed animals by hanging them on the clothesline or rack.
2. Wash the doggies by hand
The other solution for cleaning doggies, stuffed animals and cuddly toys is to wash them by hand, in a basin.
Here’s how to properly wash a stuffed animal by hand:
- Fill a basin or the sink with lukewarm water and add a capful of liquid shampoo.
- Clean the pooch in soapy water and scrub the stains with a brush.
- Rinse, gently wring out (so as not to damage the plush) and hang to dry.
To wash multiple stuffed animals at once, repeat the steps above but opt for the tub rather than the kitchen sink.
3. Wash a soft toy without water using baking soda
To wash a stuffed animal or rather to deodorize it without using soap and water, the solution is baking soda!
Here is how to deodorize stuffed animals:
- Place the pooch in a large plastic (freezer) bag and sprinkle baking soda inside.
- Close the bag, hold it firmly (to prevent the baking soda from falling out of the bag) and shake it for a few seconds.
- Place the bag on the counter and let the baking soda work overnight.
- Remove the pooch and shake it (also brush it) on the outside to thoroughly remove all the baking soda in the pooch’s coat.
4. Remove dust and dirt from a plush
It is not necessary to wash doggies every week but a good dusting on occasion is always a good idea.
Here are some tips for dusting stuffed animals:
- Use a lint roller (sticky brush) to clean the pooch’s coat.
- Use a soft bristle nozzle and the vacuum cleaner to remove dirt from the lint.
- Brush the pooch’s coat with a hairbrush to remove dust.
5. Clean a doggie with batteries
If your doggie works with batteries, we forget of course the warm water bath and the washing machine!
Here’s how to wash it without risk of damaging it:
- Just use a wet, shampoo-soaked washcloth.
- Scrub the doggie’s entire coat and use that same mitt to rinse your doggie with cold water.
- Quickly dry the plush with a hair dryer set to cool.
6. Place the doggies in the freezer
If you want to be really sure that no mites or other small unwanted insects settle in the doggie’s coat, the freezer is an effective trick to test!
- Put the stuffed animals in a freezer bag and put them in the freezer for a few hours (or overnight).
- Take the stuffed animals out of the freezer and wash them as needed with one of our tips and tricks in this article.
7. Put the plush in the dryer
Some stuffed animals can be put in the dryer very well while others cannot. It is therefore important to check the dog tag before cleaning it.
Here’s how:
With a spray bottle, slightly moisten your stuffed animals and then place them in the dryer for 10 to 15 minutes. Add a fabric softener to give softness and a good smell to the stuffed animals.
8. Spray fabric freshener on doggies
Finally, to give your child’s soft toys and comforters a good smell, why not spray a fabric freshener?
The fabric freshener is ideal for:
- Eliminate bad odors trapped in textiles and stuffed animals.
- Refresh textiles that are difficult to wash such as stuffed animals.
- Deodorize textiles in the home and car.