Today, we’re going to teach you how to clean a plush toy that can’t be put in the washing machine. By hand, dry or any other method, that’s what we’re going to show you. So get ready to take notes and find out the different ways you can take care of your child and his stuffed toy.
Our little one drags his stuffed toy around with him all day long. So, in a way, this toy becomes a nest for germs. Because wherever he goes, the stuffed toy follows him too: into every room in the house, to school or daycare, outdoors… And yet we can’t totally ensure the cleanliness of these places that our children visit with their little companion. So, to look after your children and their cuddly friends, we advise you to wash your cuddly toys regularly.
That’s why, in this article, we’ll show you how to wash your stuffed toy. The kind that isn’t machine-washable, like hand-washing or steam-cleaning your plush. Because, yes! there are some plushes that for a specific reason can’t be washed in the machine. Well, here we’re going to shed some light on the subject and give you the best advice. So that you can be satisfied with the result, or so that you can look after your children with less difficulty. But also, so that your child’s doudou is in tip-top shape for a new adventure.
Why clean a stuffed toy without using a washing machine?
Washing our children’s stuffed toys is becoming a real challenge for parents. There are even those who see it as a chore they have to do. Just because it’s time-consuming or because we don’t know what to do; or because we’re afraid of damaging our child’s stuffed toy. But also, because our children almost never part with it, and we don’t want to see it in crisis during the separation.
But from now on, you can rest easy and breathe easy. With the right methods and techniques, you can clean your child’s comforter quickly and effectively. Here are the advantages that will convince you not to machine-wash your stuffed toy. But why wash a stuffed toy without using the washing machine? The answer is simple: to keep the plush in good condition. When we don’t machine-wash a stuffed toy, it stays in new condition for longer. Because, if we send it to the machine, the plush won’t keep its original shape. That’s why many parents are looking for tips on how to clean a stuffed toy without putting it in the machine. Here are a few tips that will help you keep the same plush longer, and reduce the inconvenience of buying a comforter for your child sooner rather than later. In fact, the fewer times we send a plush toy to the machine, the more likely it is to retain its original condition, while remaining clean and healthy for our children.
Maybe it’s for etiquette reasons. Sometimes it’s because of the instructions not to machine wash that we can’t send our child’s plushie to the dry cleaners. Since there are materials that, depending on their very fabric, if we machine-wash these toys, they’ll get damaged immediately or become more fragile? In some cases, the plush has built-in accessories and batteries, so it can’t be exposed to water. In such cases, it’s best to hand-wash or dry-clean the plush. These methods will ensure a long life for your child’s favorite toys, and make them happier with a clean companion.
And more
It could also be because of the detergent used. When we put our child’s stuffed toy in the washing machine, we have to use the right detergent. But sometimes these products are harmful to our children’s health. This is because they contain a range of chemicals that can have harmful effects. In this case, we’re faced with a dilemma: do we wash the cuddly toy so that it’s clean and disinfected, or do we put our children’s health first? Well, with these tips you’ll be able to apply the right products, but above all wash them without a machine, so you can use natural products with no negative effects.
Most of your child’s time is spent touching, caressing and kissing his or her stuffed toy. For health reasons, it’s advisable to wash your child’s cuddly toy regularly. It’s a scientifically proven fact that when your child chews or puts this toy in his mouth, he comes into contact with more germs than usual. His mouth is a moist area where microbes like to stay. So it’s vital, even urgent, to wash your child’s comforter yourself. In this way, you’ll prevent your child from becoming a breeding ground for germs, and protect him from illness and infection. It’s also a better way of disinfecting a stuffed toy and washing it by dry-cleaning or hand-washing at the same time.
These methods save you a lot of time and money. Most of the techniques we suggest can be done in a matter of minutes, with only the more difficult to clean or long-lived stuffed animals requiring hours of cleaning. By adopting these techniques, you’ll have more time and the opportunity for you and your children to do laundry together. When it comes to saving money, let’s face it: homemade products are cheap and easy to buy.
How to wash without using a machine?
These are just a few of the easy, economical methods we recommend. They’ll help you to clean your child’s comforter and stuffed toy with ease. In fact, make a notebook and take notes, because they’ll come in very handy.
Method 1: The coarse salt method
For this coarse salt method, you need :
Coarse salt, of course
A reusable plastic or cotton bag. If you can’t get a reusable bag, a plastic one will do.
How to use the ingredients for clean plush:
Put the dirty plush toy in the bag.
Put in the appropriate amount of coarse salt. The amount depends on the size of the toy, but also on how clean it is. The dirtier it is, the more coarse salt.
Close the bag and shake hard.
After a few minutes, the toy is clean and we can see the salt turning black. It’s the salt that has absorbed the dirt from the plush.
Shake the plush one last time and brush off any remaining coarse salt.
This method not only absorbs dirt, but also kills bacteria and viruses in the plush.
Method 2: The potato method
Another method you may have heard of: a potato method. What you need is:
Several potatoes, which you’ll boil in water.
And a stiff bristle brush.
To do this:
Clean the lint by applying crushed potato pulp to the toy. This method is best suited to large stuffed toys.
Leave to dry overnight in a well-ventilated area.
The next morning, gently brush the plush with a stiff bristle brush to restore its shape.
Method 3: Cleaning plush with baking soda
You must have :
A bag big enough to hold the plush.
A brush with hard bristles.
Baking soda.
And flour.
In terms of quantity, the baking soda should be 2/3 and the flour 1/3.
To do this, you need to :
Pour the baking soda and flour into the bag. Be sure to mix well.
Then put the lint in the bag.
Wait at least 5 hours before taking it out, then brush it.
This method is preferable if your child can do without his stuffed toy during the 5-hour cleaning period, or if you have a substitute toy or game to offer him while he waits.
Method 4: Using terre de Sommières
Ingredients and tools :
Sommières earth.
A stiff-bristled brush
How to use it
Sprinkle the stuffed animal generously with Terre de Sommières. Terre de Sommières is a natural stain remover which is not harmful to humans, the environment or the plush.
Make sure you don’t use too little or too much, but just enough, depending on the size of the plush.
Leave overnight. The time it takes for the terre de Sommières to take effect depends solely on the size of the lint to be cleaned and the age of the stain.
Brush in the morning to restore the toy’s bristles.
As with the previous method, it’s important that your child doesn’t ask for his comforter at night, as it’s only in the morning that he can get it back.
Method 5: Hand-wash with water
You’ll need to prepare :
3 washcloths.
A few drops of shampoo suitable for children.
A few drops of washing-up liquid.
Warm water.
With your materials ready, you now need :
Take the first glove and dampen it by adding soapy water, then clean the lint while rubbing over the stain you want to remove.
Use the second wet glove to rinse the lint. Remember to rinse well to avoid soap remaining on the lint.
Then, using the third dry glove, gently dry the lint.
Method 6: The disinfection method
This method involves both cleaning and disinfecting a plush toy. You’ll need :
Water
A container for washing the plush
Ph-neutral or child-friendly soap or washing-up liquid
And 70°C alcohol
So, for this method you need :
Add 70°C alcohol to the soapy water.
Leave for a few minutes for the toy to absorb some of the water, then rinse and dry in the sun.
It’s a good idea to take plush toys outside. Sun exposure is the easiest and most economical way to clean plush toys. What’s more, ultraviolet rays can effectively kill certain invisible bacteria and ensure basic toy hygiene.
When you put the plush toy in the sun to dry, make sure the rays pass right through the toy. On the other hand, if the plush is light-colored, the sun can fade the color of the plush after several washes and may damage the toy.
Method 7: Cleaning plush with starch
Starch is used to clean delicate fabrics. However, it is a very strong cleaner. It is especially used to remove blood stains.
Like the other methods, you can also use starch.
Here’s how to use it:
Moisten the starch very lightly and when you get a paste, put it on the stain you want to remove.
Leave to air dry.
Once the paste is dry, all you have to do is rub or scrape it off.
Method 8: Steam method
For the latter, you’ll need a vacuum cleaner and a steam cleaner. This method is for moms who are in a hurry, but want to give their children a clean plush toy. You’ll also need a little white vinegar.
Here’s how to do it:
Get the vacuum cleaner to suck up the dust on the plush’s hairs. Once this has been done properly :
Take a steam cleaner and run it over the plush to remove any dirt clinging to it. You can repeat this action several times to be on the safe side.
For extra vigilance, spray the plush with a mixture of water and white vinegar.
How to keep plush intact when it’s not in the washing machine?
If you take great care, your child will be able to find his stuffed toy just as he was, and all clean. It also helps to keep your child happy during the cleaning process.
These few tips will help you take good care of the stuffed animals you wash:
While drying, shake the plush toy to make the surface and padding soft and fluffy, and to restore its shape before washing.
After washing, wrap the plush in a dry towel to avoid scratching the surface. This is essential for down comforters.
Daylight is the best solution for drying light-colored toys. Avoid putting them in direct sunlight.
Using a hairbrush to brush the soft toy makes it even softer and silkier to the touch.
Conclusion on how to clean a plush toy that can’t be put in the washing machine?
The methods we’ve recommended won’t harm your child’s health or his or her stuffed toy. These tips involve using natural products with mostly homemade ingredients that are suitable for children. So, even with repeated weekly cleaning, you won’t risk damaging your child’s toy.
Just to be on the safe side, test the product you’re using on a small area of the plush toy beforehand. We’re talking about cleaning products here. And we’ll say it again: it’s vital to clean your children’s stuffed toys. It’s vital to keep them safe from germs, and to ensure that they’re a pleasant toy to look at and touch. Daylight is the best way to dry a stuffed toy, rather than keeping it indoors.
If cleaning a comforter causes your child to have a fit, there’s no need to upset him or her. To avoid this hassle, plan to buy the comforter or plush in duplicate, so that you can substitute it for the dirty one. This way, you’ll have peace of mind when it comes to cleaning up, and your child will also have peace of mind with his or her other stuffed toy. You can also choose a nap time or a time when your child is playing outside to wash the stuffed toy.