Stuffed Toys

Soft toys remain beautiful as long as they are clean. They need to be washed not only when visible dirt appears. These products require preventive cleaning, as they collect dust and germs on their surface.

There are rules for caring for soft toys, knowing which you can avoid damage to the products during washing.

We will tell you in the article whether and how to properly wash soft toys (musical toys, large ones that cannot fit in an automatic washing machine) at home, and how to clean a furry friend who cannot be wetted with water.

Which ones are washable?

You need to take care of soft toys regularly. Even if they just stand on a shelf, a significant amount of dust accumulates in them, which causes the development of allergic reactions.

Information about whether the product can be loaded into the washing machine drum is indicated on the label. Sometimes it is sewn into the toy itself, into one of the seams, and sometimes it is removable.

If the label has not been preserved, you need to remember that machine washing is strictly contraindicated in the following cases:

1. Large size toy. Even if it fits in the drum, after it gets wet there will be an overweight.

   As a result, the washing machine will fail.In this case, hand washing comes to the rescue.

2. Toys with embedded microcircuits. They break upon contact with water.
3. Small and large parts are fixed with glue. These can be eyes, bows, buttons and other decorations. Such products can only be washed by hand.
4. Handmade toys. Such items may simply not withstand intense friction in a washing machine, but gentle hand washing is possible.
5. Toys stuffed with organic fillers: buckwheat husks, sawdust, feathers.

If the toy cannot be washed in a machine or by hand, then it is processed using a dry method, for example, using a vacuum cleaner.

How often?

You can't keep a toy off the shelf for years. During this time, it will accumulate a huge amount of dust and become a source of spread of dust mites. It is enough to move the product from its place to understand the full scale of the problem. That's why For preventive purposes, such things need to be treated once every 3-4 months..

If a thing tolerates contact with high temperatures, then it is boiled. You can also disinfect the product with an ultraviolet lamp. Most germs and viruses die when exposed to direct sunlight. Therefore, with their help, you can efficiently disinfect the product.

How to use an automatic washing machine correctly: in what mode, at what temperature?

Even if a soft toy is machine washable, do not put it in the drum right away. First, the product must be prepared.

This stage includes the following activities:

1. It is necessary to inspect the toy for integrity. All buttons, bows and other decorations must be sewn on.If defects are found, they are eliminated.
2. Check the product for electronics. It must be removed before washing.
3. Shake off the dust from the toy. It is best to knock it out on the balcony.
4. If there are stubborn stains, they must be removed in advance using a suitable product.
5. If the product is made of delicate fabrics or has parts that can come off, it is recommended to use a washing bag.

When the toy is ready, it is placed in the drum and the washing program is set. Most often, the product is processed in a gentle manner. You can also manually configure the device:

• recommended washing temperature – 40 degrees;
• spin – up to 500 rpm;
• washing duration – 1 hour 30 minutes;
• Extra rinse function is enabled.

If the manufacturer specifies a higher temperature threshold, then the degree can be increased.

Such products have good cleaning ability, quickly dissolve in cool water and are easily washed out of fabric fibers. It is not prohibited to use regular washing powders and liquid concentrates. Although in this case additional rinsing is a must.

The fact is that detergents contain:

• phosphates,
• surfactant,
• whitening ingredients,
• fragrances and other substances.

If they settle on the fabric and the child comes into regular contact with them, the likelihood of developing an allergy increases.

So that after washing the toy is soft and the lint does not roll off on it, It is recommended to use fabric softener.

When all preparatory activities are completed, you can start the washing cycle. After its completion, the product is removed from the drum and sent to dry.

Hand wash at home

If machine washing is contraindicated for the product, you can clean it by hand. The algorithm of actions is as follows:

1. Collect water in a suitable container. If the toy is large, you can wash it in the bathroom. The water should be warm - about 40 degrees.
2. Completely dissolve the detergent in the basin.
3. Lather the toy and gently rub it with a brush. Soak the product in the detergent composition. These actions are performed in the presence of difficult to remove stains and dirt.
4. Rinse the item in clean running water. You need to change it several times to thoroughly wash the powder particles.
5. Dry the product in fresh air.

If there are stains on the toy that are difficult to remove with regular washing powder, you can use safe folk remedies, including:

1. Ethanol. It perfectly removes greasy marks, food and drink stains. Simply moisten a cotton pad with it and gently wipe the contaminated area.
2. Soda. It not only removes dirt, but also deodorizes the fabric. It is diluted with water to the consistency of thick sour cream and applied to the stain. After an hour they start washing.
3. Vinegar or lemon juice. It is applied to a cotton pad, treated with it on the stain, and then washed by hand.

How to clean a product that cannot be wet?

If the toy does not tolerate contact with water, then you can resort to dry cleaning. Removing stains using soda:

• vacuum the product to remove excess dust;
• place the toy in a bag of a suitable size, pour 100 g of soda into it and tie it tightly;
• shake the bag in your hands so that the powder is evenly distributed over its entire area;
• leave the product inside for 2 hours;
• moisten a terry towel, place a toy in it, wrinkle it on all sides;
• Remove any remaining soda using a brush.

This method allows you to get rid of dust, stains, bacteria and unpleasant odors. Starch is used in a similar way.

Another way to dry clean a product is to freeze it.

Algorithm of actions:

1. Vacuum the toy from all sides.
2. Place the product in a bag, pour starch into it and tie it.
3. Shake the bag and put it in the freezer for 1-2 days.
4. After the specified time has passed, remove the toy from the bag.
5. When it is warm, brush it with a brush.

How to wash a music room?

To wash a musical toy, it is necessary to remove all microcircuits, speakers and batteries from it. These parts do not tolerate contact with water.

If they are removable, then there will be no problems. After their removal, the product is processed manually or in a washing machine.

When the chips are sewn inside, the toy is cleaned dry using soda. Not all devices can withstand freezing, so you can’t take risks.

Another option is to carefully open the product and remove the music block. This is a rather labor-intensive method, since the seams will have to be repaired twice. The first time before washing, and the second time after it.

If you put an open toy in the washing machine, all its filling will be outside.

How to process a large one?

Large toys are not only difficult to wash, but also to dry. That's why preference is given to the dry cleaning method. You can use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust, and a steam generator for disinfection.

If a full wash is necessary, but the toy does not fit in the washing machine, soak it in the bathtub. Dirt is removed with a brush or by hand.

It must be remembered that It will not be possible to thoroughly squeeze out such a product, so you should take care in advance about the place for further drying. It is important that it is well ventilated, as the inner filling may become moldy.

Read more about ways to wash large soft toys in this article.

Nuances of cleaning anti-stress toys

Inside the anti-stress toy there are polystyrene foam granules. They can have different diameters.

This product must be processed manually. This will allow you to control the friction force and not damage the delicate matter.

If you load a toy into the drum of a washing machine, there is a risk of damaging its integrity. Granules spilled out can lead to equipment failure.

Provided that automatic processing cannot be avoided, You must use a washing bag with a very fine meshso that the balls cannot slip through its holes.

You can learn how to properly wash anti-stress toys from this publications.

How to dry?

It is best to dry items in the fresh air. They can be hung on a rope, secured with clothespins. Knitted items should not be dried in a vertical position to prevent them from becoming deformed.

Another drying option in the cold season is a windowsill. The sun's rays will hit the toy from the outside, and warm air from the battery will hit the toy from the inside.

Important Tips

To improve washing efficiency and make it safe, The following recommendations must be followed:

1. To destroy dust mites, the item must be washed at 60 degrees.
2. Boiling helps disinfect a product, but not all fabrics can withstand such treatment.
3. You need to rinse the toy thoroughly so that no detergent remains in it.
4. If a child suffers from allergies, then there is no need to use any special laundry detergents. Substances are used to wash his bed linen and clothes.

You will find maximum useful information about washing clothes and various fabric products Here.

Conclusion

It is necessary to monitor the cleanliness of toys for hygienic reasons. A dirty thing is not only ugly, but also dangerous.

Such a product becomes a source of germs and dust mites, so it should be washed regularly, choosing the appropriate cleaning method.