Cleaning Tips For Stuffed Animals

Just about every home has a stuffed animal or two present and while they can be a cute addition to the
general decor, stuffed animals can be troublesome to clean and difficult to dry without damaging. Whether the stuffed animal is a child's snuggle buddy or an expensive stuffed animal used for decoration they can be impossible to replace, but with a good plan and due diligence most stuffed animals turn out nicely following routine cleaning. The key to cleaning stuffed animals is to inspect each item closely to find which cleaning method is appropriate for a specific condition, as not all cleaning methods are suitable for varying fabric types used in making the animal's fur.

The more pedestrian stuffed animals that are inexpensive in style can generally be spot cleaned to remove any heavy traffic areas and then 'dry cleaned" using baking soda as a cleaning agent. First, use the liquid cleaning chemical of your choice and spray the areas of the stuffed animal that have stains or excessive wear, gently agitate the stained area and then blot dry with a clean cloth. When the animal is completely dry place it into a paper bag with an ample amount of baking soda and then shake the bag vigorously for about two or three minutes. In cases of very large stuffed animals you can use the same method only using a plastic trash bag instead of the paper bag. After removing the stuffed animal from the bag brush it off using your hands and most of the dirt should be gone.

For cleaning stuffed animals that are extremely dirty your clothes washer comes into play, but there is a simple trick to clean stuffed animals that will prevent them from being damaged. The limbs of stuffed animals can get torn or caught in a washer's moving parts, so to avoid this they can be tied inside of a pillow case or t-shirt. After cleaning stuffed animals in this manner they can be dried carefully in a clothes dryer for fifteen minutes at a time, checking frequently to avoid damage or shrinking.

For expensive stuffed animals or ones that are of high quality, it is always a good idea to have them professionally cleaned by a dry cleaner. A professional cleaner has access to chemicals and processes that cannot be performed at home and the cost is minimal to make a stuffed animal look new again.