Have you destroyed the favorite stuffed animal of your kid while washing it in the washer? And you are looking for an outright guide to wash stuffed animals in the washer. Hurrah! You clicked the right spot. Our team has done a detailed probe to provide you with the right method to wash stuffed animals in the washer.
Just be with us. In this blog, we will get to know why a stuffed animal should be cleaned and things to consider before washing a stuffed animal, and at the end, we will talk about the right way to wash your plush toys.
Why should a stuffed animal be cleaned?
Kids are mad at stuffed animals. They are their best friends, they play with them, talk with them and learn from them. In short, these soft or plush toys are always with your kids. Normally, these cuddled toys or stuffed animals may fall on the ground and get dirty. They acquire stains, dirt, and germs. They can also get smelly.
A clumsy stuffed animal or pet is the perfect habitat for microbes. Microbes can grow there and your kids may get infected. They may get allergies or other serious diseases. If stuffed animals acquire the causative agents of any epidemic, it can be more dangerous. According to WebMD, kids playing with uncleaned stuffed animals like bears are mostly infected with diarrhea. And almost 80% of stuffed animals are the perfect habitat for microbes.
So, they must be cleaned so that the health of your kids is ensured. Cleaning stuffed animals thoroughly can prevent your kids from diarrhea, allergies, and many other diseases. Moreover, cleaning the stuffed animals can also increase their life. Because if they are not cleaned properly or dried properly and there is humidity inside them, they will be the perfect homes for microbes.
Things to consider before washing stuffed animals
Before washing stuffed animals, there are things you must consider. There is no need to be in a hurry to wash your stuffed animals. You must consider a few things before washing your cuddle toys so that they cannot get damaged. Here are those things.
Read the care tag
Normally every stuffed animal has a care tag upon which details are mentioned regarding washing the cuddle or plush toys of your kids. Most people ignore them and put their stuffed toys straight into the washer. It is not the correct way. You must find the care tag of your stuffed animal. And then read the care instructions given on it. You must find the prescribed way of washing your stuffed animal. If the care tag says that your stuffed animal can be washed in a washer, then wash it in the washer. Otherwise, just hand-wash or spot-clean your stuffed animal.
Color-test your stuffed animal
Usually, stuffed animals available in the market are resistant to detergent. Their color is not washed away while washing them with the detergent. But the color of some stuffed animals may wash away while washing them with detergent. So it is better to do a color test before washing them in the washer. For a color test, put a little mild detergent or dilute detergent on a less visible part of your stuffed animal. Now wash it. If any color comes away, then don’t use the detergent to wash your stuffed animal. Just use the water to wash your stuffed animal.
When to wash your stuffed animal?
If your kid is getting ill and he plays with the stuffed animals frequently, then immediately wash your stuffed animals. But normally you can wash your stuffed animal when it seems dirty and gets smelly. It is also better to wash your stuffed animals every week so that they cannot get dirtier.
Remove the metal straps
If your stuffed animals have metal straps on them, then remove them before washing them in the washer. Detachable metal straps should be removed and washed separately so that they cannot cause any wear and tear in the stuffed animals and washing machine.
Don't dry clean
Dry cleaning may seem like the easiest way to wash your stuffed animals. But it is a nightmare for your stuffed toys. Dry cleaning normally uses harsh chemicals to wash clothes or other things. Stuffed animals cannot bear it so don’t dry-clean them.
The right way to wash your stuffed animals
In the previous section, we get to know why a stuffed animal should be cleaned and things to consider before washing stuffed animals. But in this section, we will be exploring the right way to wash your stuffed animals in the washer. Because half-cleaning is more dangerous and a stuffed animal should be washed thoroughly in the correct way.
Check for stain
First of all, you should thoroughly see if your stuffed animal has a stain or not. You should check all sides of the stuffed toy including the top, bottom, front, and back. If you notice a stain, then spot-clean it before washing your stuffed animal in the washer.
For cleaning the stain, you can use the customized stain removers in the market. Or you can simply make a cleaning agent in the home by using baking soda, vinegar, and water. Use that cleaning solution to clean the spot with the help of an old brush.
Put it in the mesh bag
Now you have to find a mesh bag for the protection of your stuffed animal. If you cannot find the mesh bag then find a pillowcase. You must prefer a zippered pillowcase or a pillowcase with tied ends for this purpose. Put your stuffed animal into the mesh bag or pillowcase.
A Mesh bag or pillowcase will protect your stuffed animal from any wear and tear during the wash cycle. Don’t try to put more than two stuffed animals in the mesh bag. If your stuffed animal is big, then put it alone. And find the mesh bag according to its size.
Check the machine
Before washing your stuffed animals you should make sure that your washer is clean. Because if it’s dirty, it will make your stuffed animal grubby rather than cleaning it. If it’s cleaned, then it is perfect. Wondering how you can easily clean your washing machine?
The easiest way to clean your washer is by using True Fresh Washing Machine Cleaner Tablets. Just put one tablet on the drum of your washing machine and run a full wash cycle. After the wash cycle has been completed your washer will be neat and cleaned.
Set the machine
The most important thing while washing your stuffed animals in the washer is choosing the correct settings of the machine. It is preferred to choose a delicate wash cycle or hand wash cycle to wash your plush toys in the washer. Always prefer a gentle or delicate cycle to avoid any damage.
Don’t choose hot water settings while washing your stuffed animal. It may damage the color of your cuddle toy and it may destroy the outer and stuffed fabric of your stuffed animal. So you should prefer cold water settings.
Put the detergent
Now it’s time to put on the detergent. Always use a mild detergent or diluted laundry detergent to wash your stuffed animals. Because strong or concentrated detergents used in industries can damage your stuffed animals. You can put the detergent either in the detergent dispenser or you can sprinkle it over the stuffed animals.
Turn on the machine
After you have successfully chosen the machine settings and put detergent into the washer, turn on the machine. If your stuffed animal is very dirty, you can add the extra wash or rinse cycles for effective cleaning.
The right way of drying stuffed animals
Don't use dryers
You should avoid the use of dryers for drying your stuffed animals. Because dryers use heat for drying and it may damage your stuffed toys.
Air-dry stuffed animals
The best way to wash your stuffed animals is by air-drying them. Put your stuffed animals in a mesh bag and hang them or lay them to air-dry.
Conclusion
You don’t need to worry about washing your stuffed animals. Just use the methods we discussed in this blog. But you should be sure that your washing machine is clean before washing your stuffed animals in it. If you need an absolute guide to clean your washing machine, just read our blog ” How to clean a washing machine?“.
Frequenty Asked Questions
Q: Can I dry stuffed animals in the dryer?
A: No, you cannot use a dryer to dry your stuffed animals. Because the heat of the dryer can damage their fabric
Q: Can I dry-clean stuffed animals?
A: No, stuffed animals cannot be dry-cleaned. As dry-cleaning involves harsh chemicals.
Q: How to clean the washing machine?
The easiest way to clean your washing machine is by using True Fresh Washing Machine Cleaner Tablets. You just need to put a tablet in the drum of your washing machine and run a full wash cycle. After the wash cycle is completed, your washing machine will be cleaned.
