How to wash anti-stress toys and pillows in the washing machine

Expert: Panteleeva Irina Vladimirovna

Children's anti-stress toys look beautiful and unusual in the interior. They not only entertain kids, but also develop their motor skills. The filler of such products is resistant to moisture, so bacteria and fungus do not appear inside, which cannot be said about the usual plush toys.

Due to the fact that such toys are often wrinkled, they quickly become dirty. However, washing anti-stress toys requires a special approach.

We have prepared a number of recommendations, following which you will quickly clean the anti-stress toy and preserve its original condition for a long time.

Features of caring for anti-stress toys

It is recommended to wash such toys every 2 months. If after a while the filler has already deteriorated, you can replace it - usually polystyrene balls are sold in stores in the linen department.

Before washing, read the information on the manufacturer's label. Perhaps a particular item cannot be washed in a machine, since it is only suitable for hand washing.

Anti-stress toys are usually filled with polystyrene balls, which are highly resistant to moisture. Such products can also be washed in a machine using gel.

Fillings for eco-toys are made from flax seeds or buckwheat hulls. In this case, before washing, you need to rip the toy open (or use a special zipper, if available), transfer the filling to another container and wash the cover itself. The filler cannot be washed directly. After the cover has dried, you can refill it with buckwheat or flaxseed.

If you don't know what type of filler you have, you can check it yourself. Thus, balls made of padding polyester or holofiber are practically not palpable, and the product itself is soft to the touch. It easily restores its shape: try squeezing the toy or pressing it with a small weight. If the toy returns to its original shape within 5 seconds, then it can be washed.

If you are unsure about the filling, make a small cut along the seam line and examine the contents of the toy.

Varieties

The rules for washing pillows depend on what filler they contain.
You can find out if you open the seam a little and look inside. If the sewn-on label has been preserved, it contains detailed information about the composition of the filler.

The following main groups can be distinguished:

• feathers;
• synthetic;
• with organic filler;
• orthopedic.

Natural down is a high-quality and popular filler. These pillows keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The feathers softly spring and easily return to shape, air is retained between them, and the pillow “breathes.” On the other hand, down products become denser over time and no longer properly support the head. They absorb moisture and therefore require daily drying. The cost of a high-quality down-feather mixture is quite high.

Nowadays feathers are increasingly being replaced by synthetics. Artificial materials have many useful properties, they:

• easy to care for;
• cheap;
• hypoallergenic.

Thin white fibers do not absorb odors and retain heat well.

But padding polyester pillows lose their elasticity relatively quickly. To eliminate this drawback, polyester fibers are twisted into balls and treated with silicone. The material consisting of such balls is called holofiber. It holds its shape better, which can be easily restored by shaking the pillow well.

Pillows with natural fillings and orthopedic ones have a healing effect during sleep. The variety of materials for them is very large, both in terms of their effect on the body, and in type and quality. Most of them cannot be washed. But if you are still ready to take a risk, carefully study the composition and properties of the materials. If possible, limit yourself to surface cleaning.

How to prepare a toy for washing

Before placing the toy in the drum, make sure that there are no holes or tears in it. Otherwise, polystyrene balls may fall out of the toy and clog the drum, and with it the filter, which will lead to the need for expensive repairs of the washing machine.

You can also put the toy in a special laundry bag or in a regular pillowcase.

If a large stain has formed on an anti-stress toy, you must manually wash off the stain before placing it in the machine.

Instead of standard powders, it is necessary to use special products for delicate washing - for example, liquid gel. Gentle powder is also suitable, as is regular shampoo.

How to wash an anti-stress toy by hand

Procedure:

1. Fill a large basin with warm water up to 40 °C;
2. Add detergent;
3. Place the toy in the basin and gently remember it with massaging, careful movements;
4. If the water quickly becomes dirty, replace it by adding detergent again;
5. Rinse the toy thoroughly under running water and lightly squeeze the product to allow the moisture to drain out.

To make the toy even more “anti-stress”, drop an aroma oil with the scent of sage or lavender onto it.

Instead of the gel, you can use regular baking soda. It is suitable not only for wet, but also for dry cleaning.

Important Tips

The anti-stress toy must be washed taking into account the following recommendations:

1. To test the product for color fastness, it must be moistened and wrapped in a clean white cloth. If after 5-10 minutes stains appear on it, then you need to wash the toy separately from other things and only at low temperatures.

2. 
   You can get rid of an unpleasant odor using baking soda.
   To do this, place the product in a plastic bag, pour this food additive into it and shake it several times. Leave the toy inside the bag for a day. It is then removed and cleaned of powder. Soda perfectly absorbs foreign odors and destroys germs.

3. White and colored toys cannot be washed in the same water, as they may fade. For dyed fabrics, do not use detergents containing bleaching particles.
4. It is prohibited to wash light-colored items using products containing chlorine or other aggressive components.
5. To disinfect a toy, you can treat it with an ultraviolet lamp. Do not boil or wash it in hot water. All fabric items must undergo mandatory disinfection after a sick person has interacted with them.

The toy is not squeezed or twisted. To make it dry faster after washing, you can wrap it in a soft, dry cloth and press down lightly. This will get rid of excess liquid.

How to wash an anti-stress toy in an automatic machine

The optimal modes for washing the product are “Manual”, “Delicate”. Limit temperature – 40 °C, speed – 400. If the washing machine does not have a low speed spin, it is better not to use this option at all.

You don't need to put too many things in the drum. If there are a lot of anti-stress toys, you will have to wash them all in several passes.

Procedure:

1. Pour gel detergent for wool into the machine compartment - it is easily washed out of fabrics. In this case, the volume should be less than indicated in the manufacturer’s instructions;
2. Set the desired mode, water temperature and number of revolutions;
3. Set the extra rinse option: it will eliminate any residual detergent that is likely to remain in the toy;
4. Disable the drying option.

Do not use bleach - otherwise the color of the anti-stress toy will deteriorate.

Attention!

To preserve the bright color of the toy when washing, add 1-2 drops of ammonia.

Synthetic pillow fillings

Comforel and holofiber

The most popular synthetic pillow fillings are made from polyester (polyester). The main ones:

• holofiber is a non-woven material consisting of spiral-shaped polyester fibers that form many air cavities;
• Comforel is a polyester treated with high temperature, antibacterial impregnation and silicone, which consists of a large number of small elastic balls with a diameter of up to 7 mm.

In fact, the properties of these fillers are identical. The different names are due to the fact that the materials were developed and patented by different companies. Advantages of holofiber and comforter:

• breathability;
• hygroscopicity;
• low allergenicity;
• heat exchange adjustment;
• elasticity and softness;
• light weight;
• easy to care for – pillows can be washed;
• strength;
• hygiene;
• do not accumulate static electricity;
• do not absorb odors;
• affordable price;
• service life – 5 years.

The only disadvantage of polyester-based fillers is that with prolonged use and improper care, they can form clumps in the pillow.

Sintepon

The predecessor of holofiber and comforter is padding polyester. It is used in the manufacture of inexpensive pillows.

Advantages of the material:

• softness;
• breathability;
• hypoallergenic;
• ease of care.

Flaws:

• quickly loses shape;
• service life – 1-2 years;
• does not provide the necessary support to the spine.

Gel

Gel pillows are the latest invention. Most often, they are based on latex or high-viscosity foam, to which inserts with a gel filler are added.

Advantages:

• hygiene;
• hypoallergenic;
• pillows adapt to the anatomical features of a person, reducing the load on the spine;
• have a memory effect;
• characterized by a cooling and massage effect;
• long service life.

The disadvantages of the product include the high price, the need to get used to it, as well as the uselessness of the cooling effect in winter.

Styrofoam balls

The clear answer to the question of which filler is best in a pillow for pregnant women is the smallest beads of polystyrene foam (antistress). They are used to fill fancy pillows in the shape of the letters U, G, C, which make life easier for expectant mothers.

Advantages:

• remove heat;
• provide support for the body;
• do not cause allergies;
• do not accumulate odors;
• support the body.

Flaws:

• rustling;
• slight smell of plastic;
• difficult to care for - cannot be washed.

Memory foam

Memory foam – highly elastic polyurethane foam with memory effect. Used for the production of orthopedic products.

Advantages:

• provides comfort by “memorizing” the shape of the human body and the best support for the spine;
• hypoallergenic;
• hygiene;
• easy to care for – you just need to wash the pillowcase periodically;
• period – 4-5 years.

Flaws:

• high price;
• peculiar aroma;
• hardness, which can increase at low temperatures;
• poor breathability.

How to dry an anti-stress toy

Drying in a machine is prohibited - otherwise it will deform the toy. After washing, shake the toy and squeeze it slightly so that most of the water comes out. Do not compress the product too much. Place the toy in a bath towel to remove excess moisture.

Next, straighten the product and place it horizontally on a balcony or in the open air, in a place protected from the sun. Shake the toy from time to time to ensure the filling remains even.

Do not leave toys directly under the sun or near heating devices. Exposure to high temperatures will cause the polystyrene balls to stick together into one large lump, and the filler will have to be changed. But you can try to restore it: try removing the filler from the product and “fluffing” it using pet brushes or combs.

At the same time, we do not recommend removing polystyrene balls from the toy without unnecessary need. Firstly, they are very light and quickly scatter throughout the room, which is unsafe for both small children and pets who can swallow them. Secondly, the pulled out filler will be difficult to put back in, preserving the toy’s original shape.

If the natural filler in an anti-stress toy accidentally gets wet, then you just need to dry it in the sun, pour it onto a horizontal surface and spread it over it in an even layer.

Drying rules

It is important not only to know how to properly carry out the washing process, but also to dry it safely. The material with which anti-stress pillows are filled does not tolerate high temperatures, so it is best to dry only naturally. It is best to do this in a well-ventilated room. It is also not recommended to expose objects to direct sunlight. The sun will negatively affect the quality of the paint.

How to dry it properly:

1. After rinsing, let the water drain a little.
2. Spread a thick terry towel on a flat surface in a well-ventilated room. It is better to choose white or close to it.
3. Place the item.
4. After 30 minutes, turn the anti-stress toy over to the other side. At the same time, place it in a dry place.

During the entire drying process, it is better to move the pillow to a dry place. This will speed up drying. If necessary, you can change the towel to a new one. Immediately after washing, you can wrap the toy in thick fabric and apply a little pressure. This way, excess water will be absorbed faster. You can take another sheet and blot the water again.

It is not prohibited to dry it in a vertical position, but then the filler will bunch down and will need to be periodically whipped. In addition, this will increase the drying time. Can be hung to dry. To do this, find a place in a draft and without direct sunlight. Turn the product over every 40-50 minutes.