If you are intending to surprise your kids this Christmas with gifts from your local plush toys wholesalers, you will probably need to know how to clean them at some point. Talking teddy bears and stuffed cats that meow are great fun to play with and cuddle, but this usually means that they will end up grubby and less than hygienic. So, how do you keep your kids' plush toys pristine without damaging those all-important electric components? Read on for a helpful guide.
What you'll need
- mild washing gel or liquid
- water
- clean cloths
- baking soda
- vacuum cleaner with an upholstery hose attachment
It's important to use gel or liquid, rather than washing powder, which won't mix smoothly with the water.
How to do it
The first extremely important thing to note is that you cannot put plush toys that contain electric parts or batteries into your washing machine. The water and heat of the washing cycle will irreparably damage the components and the toy will no longer work.
- The first thing that you need to do is to take out the toy's batteries and put them somewhere safe and dry. Some toys have a removable, plastic battery compartment that you can also take out, and it's a good idea to do so if possible.
- Now, fill up a bowl with warm water and add a small quantity of mild laundry gel. Mix the gel into the water to form a soapy solution.
- Soak a clean cloth in the cleaning solution and use it to gently rub the outside of the plush toy. Rinse out the cloth and repeat the process until all the dirt and sticky stains have been removed.
- When the toy is clean, you'll need to get rid of the soap residue from the plush. To do this, use a clean cloth soaked in fresh water and wipe over the toy. You may need to repeat this step a few times to get rid of all the soap.
- Leave the toy somewhere warm to air-dry.
- To freshen up the plush and leave it odour-free, sprinkle on a small amount of baking soda. Allow the baking soda to rest on the plush for a day or so to give it a chance to soak up any odours.
- Finish off the job by shaking the toy gently to dislodge the baking soda, and then vacuum the plush with the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner hose. This will get rid of any clinging baking soda and will lift up the plush pile, leaving the toy looking and smelling as good as new. Don't forget to replace the battery compartment and batteries!
Share