How to Wash Stuffed Animals?
by Sandesh Vikhare

Does your child have a favorite stuffed animal? Most children do and they go absolutely everywhere with their furry critters. Because of this, it doesn't take long for the "lovey" to need at bath. Sometimes as much as the child!
So what is the best way to wash a stuffed animal? Here are some tips to help keep your child's favorite stuffed animal looking clean.

Read the Care Instructions
Probably the most important thing you can do is to read the instructions for care that come with the toy. If there are no separate instructions, then read the tag or the label. Make note of what types of material were used to make the stuffed animal. Most retailers do not recommend washing a stuffed animal in the washing machine or putting them in the dryer. What is normally recommended is to use a mild cleaner or a damp, soapy sponge. Let the stuffed animal dry in the sun.
However, most parents would prefer to wash a stuffed animal in the washing machine to be sure they are really clean. If this is what you would rather do, here are some tips to keep the stuffed animal in one piece:
Do Not Put These Materials in the Washing Machine
If your stuffed animal is made from or even contains styrene foam, excelsior, or foam beads, you must not put them in the washer. Also, many stuffed animals have cardboard stiffeners. Washing these can ruin the stiffeners.
If the stuffed animal has a sound box, be sure you don't place this animal in the washer either. Some stuffed animals have removable sound boxes, but the major do not. Avoid the washer and any type of water near the box.

Cleaning Large Stuffed Animals
If you have a very large stuffed animal or one that contains a lot of stuffing, you may want to remove the stuffing. This can be done by cutting a five or six inch hole in the bottom. This is really important. If you don't, the stuffed animal will lose its shape as the stuffing sifts. It will also take a very long time for the stuffing to dry if you wash it. Once you have cleaned the animal, just re-stuff it and sew up the cut. Make sure none of the stuffing will fall out.

Cleaning Other Types of Stuffed Animals
If your stuffed animal doesn't really fit into the above categories, you can wash it in a washing machine. There are some things you will need to do first. Make sure you don't' have any loose decorations on the toy, such as eyes or button noses. Also, if there is an area where the stuffing may come out, sew that up first. The best way to wash a stuffed animal is to find a large pillow. Using safety pins, string, or rubber bands, attach the animal to the pillow. Keep the ends secure so as to protect the stuffed animal's fur. It will help keep the animal's shape as well.

Use only the most delicate of wash cycles on your stuffed animals. You can add some fabric softener, which will make the toy soft and cuddly. You may want to avoid washing other items with a stuffed animal that has not been washed before. This will help keep the dye from running onto a piece of clothing. If you can, remove the clothes to avoid the fur coloring from bleeding onto the stuffed animal's clothing.
Drying Tips
Once the wash cycle is complete, you may want to place the stuffed animal in the dryer, but only on a no or lowest heat setting. Depending on how hot your dryer gets, you may want to place the stuffed animal in the sun to dry completely.

Sandesh Vikhare is the webmaster of washing machine ratings website offering advise on different brands like Bosch,GE, LG, Maytag washing machines and other leading names.