Washing old stuffed toys

[onlything]

There is an old teddy bear at home that could really use a soak. It's dusty, a bit dirty and who knows how many germs are in the fur.

The thing is, it's also quite old (more than 20 years I think) and holds a great sentimental value to the family, so I wouldn't want to damage it by accident.

Anyone here knows how to carefully but thoroughly wash an old stuffed toy? I found some methods through googling but, frankly, I'm not sure about them.

 

[Misery]

If you're going to look it up on the internet at all, use Youtube instead. You can watch the process yourself and see how it works and if it might work in your specific situation.

Not to mention that Google itself is.... questionable, at times, as search engines go.

 

[Gracey]

I'd be inclined to put the teddy inside a pillowcase and use the corners of the pillowcase to tie it shut,
before putting it in a washing machine on a wool wash, or similar gentle/delicate cycle with other items.

I believe it's the action of forces applied, ie, the clothes/items tumbling and rubbing against each other repeatedly during a wash cycle that may stress more delicate fabrics.

The pillowcase may prevent ted's arm being pulled in one direction and its body and legs in others.

Alternatively, hand wash and allow to drip dry?

 

[Mia]

First a few questions,

I: What is the fur or fabric on the toy? Rexine, nylon plush, silk plush, sheepskin, cotton, or a later synthetic fabric?

II: What material is the the toy stuffed with? Synthetic, wood wool, kapok, cotton, lint, plastic foam?

III: Does it have leather, buttons, felt, glass or plastic adornments? And if so can you easily remove them? And reattach them after cleaning?

IV: Is the ornamentation glued on or sewed on?

V: Is there a maker's tag or a logo or name on the toy somewhere to identify who made it?

If you know some of the answers, it will help identify how to clean the toy.

 

[Bolletje]

I recently washed some of my old (30 years) stuffed animals in a tied off pillowcase on a low spin cycle.

 

[onlything]

First a few questions,

I: What is the fur or fabric on the toy? Rexine, nylon plush, silk plush, sheepskin, cotton, or a later synthetic fabric?

II: What material is the the toy stuffed with? Synthetic, wood wool, kapok, cotton, lint, plastic foam?

III: Does it have leather, buttons, felt, glass or plastic adornments? And if so can you easily remove them? And reattach them after cleaning?

IV: Is the ornamentation glued on or sewed on?

V: Is there a maker's tag or a logo or name on the toy somewhere to identify who made it?

If you know some of the answers, it will help identify how to clean the toy.

1. Frankly, no idea. It seems to be some kind of a fur-like material with longish individual hairs attached to some kind of a net (similar to a cheaper wig I suppose?).

2. Inside seems to be some kind of soft plush and some little tough (plastic? synthetic?) balls in its paws.

3. No adornments other than two plastic eyes that can't be easily removed or reattached.

4. Eyes seem to be glued into a little 'platform' and sewed in together with it.

5. No maker's tag or logo.

 

[Mia]

It seems to be some kind of a fur-like material with longish individual hairs attached to some kind of a net

It sounds like it's synthetic fur. Which should not be difficult to clean.

Apply a small amount of either castile soap or a gentle laundry detergent to a microfiber cloth. Test on a small area of the toy first before cleaning the whole bear.

Wipe and rinse the area thoroughly. Use a little vinegar in the rinse water to remove any remaining soap and then rinse again.

If there is no colour dye change do the same to the entire bear a little at a time.

Rinse the area by using a clean, damp cloth.

Let the clean teddy bear air dry.

 

[Streetwise]

For allergy sufferers to clean soft toys put them in the freezer for a few hours to kill anything on them,restorers at the V&A museum in London place them in a shallow bath of water ,if it's very old animal hair or cotton ,if it says machine washable do that ,if not sponge it ,deionised water is used if it's very old, don't use anything extremely acidic to clean as it will damage it and only!!!!! air!!! dry it never!!!!!the tumble dryer.

 

[Rectify]

If you're planning on submerging it completely in water then I would do as someone suggested - tying inside a bag or pillowcase - then I would hand wash. Putting it in a washing machine sounds dicey. Checking other experiences on the internet and looking at youtube vids also sounds like a good idea before you decide and to help you decide how to proceed. Good luck.

 

[Au Naturel]

Machine washing your beloved bear runs the chance of destroying it, particulary if it is very old. Stitching and fabric lose their strength and flexibility over time. Glues will dissolve in the wash. Bounce a really old teddy around in a dryer and it could disintegrate.

Unless somebody sick hugged it recently, there won't be germs. There could be dust and dirt and surface stains. My stuffed dog Lullabye is over 60 years old. When I was very young we were inseperable. Except for having the windup mechanism inside it repaired 45 years ago (It plays Brahms' Lullabye.) I haven't done anything but dust it off. Accept and love the stains on it. They, too, are part of its life. Just like white hair and wrinkles are part of mine.

If you really want to clean it, try a gentle application of Woolite with a soft brush or rag to surface clean it. Woolite is extremely gentle. Air dry in front of a fan or use a hair dryer on the no heat setting. Don't soak the inside. Drying a waterlogged bear is not guarenteed to return it to the original condition. Stuffing clumps and there's no easy way to return it to the original consistancy.

 

[paloftoon]

Something like this needs to be manually cleaned/hand washed and gently.

 

[SusanLR]

If you don't want to risk getting it wet, tumble on gentle with a dryel sheet on hot setting.
There really shouldn't be germs if it hasn't recently been hugged by someone ill.
The heat kills dust mites in the fur, the dryel sheet freshens it without getting it wet.

Stains can be carefully spot cleaned by hand with a soft microfibre cloth that is wet with a little
woolite and blot area dry.

Freezing is also another waterless way of killing dust mites and germs.
I would hand wipe the whole thing with a damp cloth then a dry cloth to smooth the fur into place.

Several gentle options.

 

[Au Naturel]

If you don't want to risk getting it wet, tumble on gentle with a dryel sheet on hot setting.
There really shouldn't be germs if it hasn't recently been hugged by someone ill.
The heat kills dust mites in the fur, the dryel sheet freshens it without getting it wet.

Stains can be carefully spot cleaned by hand with a soft microfibre cloth that is wet with a little
woolite and blot area dry.

Freezing is also another waterless way of killing dust mites and germs.
I would hand wipe the whole thing with a damp cloth then a dry cloth to smooth the fur into place.

Several gentle options.

I'd much rather freeze it than risk it in the dryer. An older teddy bear might not stand the beating. I still wouldn't worry about germs and mites unless it has seen regular recent use.

 

[SusanLR]

@Au Naturel I wouldn't worry about germs either unless it had recent use. But, for me,
I am allergic to dust mites. Just regular household cleaning can be a sneezing fit.

The hot dryer method works well for items like throw pillows, throws, things that have been in
storage closet for a while but doesn't need washing.

Freezing would probably be best for an older object ok.

Professional freezing of the whole room is the latest safe way to get rid of bed bugs!
I've never had any personally, but, they say they are on the rise.