How to wash soft toys: manually and automatically in a washing machine at home. Washing plush, large, anti-stress toys

Why wash soft toys?

In addition to the impact on people in families where asthma and allergies are present, having cute animals that haven't been washed for a significant period of time can also affect the health of the baby playing with them. To keep them clean and safe, parents are interested in the question: can they be washed in an automatic washing machine? The answer is on the product tag.

Before washing, you need to carefully examine the label on your child’s game; for some, over time, the printed elements disappear from constant games. You can look it up on the Internet or save a shortcut before handing over your velor bear or bunny to play with. Or compare with another thing similar to this. Look carefully at whether washing with disinfectants is allowed, whether dry cleaning is possible, and whether the item can be bleached.

Look carefully to see if it can be washed in hot water, can be tumble dried, or washed with disinfectants.

Selecting a detergent

Choosing a powder is a very important stage, since the child will be in constant contact with the products, possibly taking them into his mouth and pressing them against the delicate skin of his face. Firstly, the powder should not be free-flowing; it is better to be a liquid, gel product. It has a number of advantages:

Not as aggressive a composition as dry powders.
Dissolves better in cool water.
It rinses better.
Does not damage fabric fibers.

Secondly, it should ideally be hypoallergenic, environmentally friendly, made from natural ingredients, and free of phosphates and other harmful substances. The immunity of children in the first years of life, and even of preschoolers and schoolchildren, is not yet strong enough; you should not use chemicals again if this can be avoided, so as not to further weaken the body’s protective functions.

Liquid detergent made with your own hands from laundry soap and soda ash has proven itself to be a safe and at the same time quite effective means for washing soft toys and other children's (and adult) things. It is done very simply and quite quickly:

Take 90 grams of laundry soap, grind it in any way, the simplest is on a vegetable grater.
Take 90 grams of soda ash, it is sold in hardware stores, where you can buy household chemicals. This is an absolutely safe substance, which differs from ordinary baking soda only in that it has been subjected to heat treatment, that is, calcination. Heating is necessary in order to increase the cleansing properties of soda.
Place soap and baking soda in a saucepan with 3-4 liters of boiling water. Determine the amount of liquid based on how thin or thick the product should be in your opinion.
Mix thoroughly until the components are completely dissolved.
Turn off the gas, let the gel cool, pour into containers in which it will be stored. When the product has almost cooled down, you can add a few drops of essential oil to it, which does not cause allergies in the child, the smell of which the baby likes. But even without this component, things will smell absolutely normal after washing, especially if you dry them in the fresh air.

Such a liquid powder is used in the same dosages as store-bought detergents; it can be measured using the same cap or using a measuring cup.

Preparing to wash soft toys

Examine the specimen from all sides; perhaps your bear’s paw is coming off or threads are sticking out. Sew it up before washing if you don’t want to see filler all over the washing machine, which will cause damage to the device.

On music components, batteries and devices for light or movement must be removed. Also, don’t forget to remove all pins, hairpins, scarves, etc.

Dry cleaning (editorially verified)

It applies to soft toys that may become unusable due to contact with water. In them, the filling of small balls, the so-called anti-stress toys, or the mechanism is stretched along its entire length, for example, in the paws, head, and it is impossible to pull it out carefully by ripping out one seam.

Method 1

Vacuum soft toys every three weeks using a furniture attachment. This will remove dust and dust mites from the outer layers of the filler.

Method 2

Place the toy in a large plastic bag with baking soda or starch.
Tie it tightly and shake the product in it for about 5-8 minutes. Baking soda absorbs dust and dirt.
Remove the toy from the bag, brush off the soda or starch and vacuum it.

Verified by the editors:

First of all, we check the bag for strength, pour in a pack of soda. We place the toy, in our case it is a small polar bear, tie it and shake it over the bathtub or sink. It's more reliable. You don’t have to shake it, but rather rub soda into the toy.

Then we clean the bear with a brush with medium-hard bristles, shaking off the soda. This action will further fluff up the pile. Vacuumed. I didn't even need to comb it. Has the little bear become cleaner? - Yes, definitely.

Conclusion: a very convenient way to clean soft toys, simple. Visually, it seems that the “after” photo is lighter, but the effect is really noticeable.

Washing machine

After you have completed the repair and studied the label, you can start washing. For convenience, you can put your velor pet in a mesh bag. Follow the instructions on the label strictly so you don't have to throw it away later.

Precautionary measures:

Avoid large items that will not fit in the drum
Remove all batteries, music devices, and buzzers.
Stuffing made from fiber filler, foam balls and paper is a contraindication.
Always wash items separately from other items. Combining them with regular washing can spread bacteria from other items of clothing to your baby's item.
Movable limbs (usually contain wooden joints)
There are glued parts

Disinfection

When washing toys at home, you need to periodically disinfect them, since mites and bacteria do not die at a temperature of about 30 degrees. Use one of the methods:

Freezing. Small items should be placed in a bag and then placed in the freezer for 2 days. Most microbes cannot withstand low temperatures.
Steam treatment. Steam to kill bacteria. To do this, use an iron with a steam function, a steam cleaner or a clothes steamer.
Ultraviolet treatment. The treatment can be carried out using a quartz lamp or simply placing the products outside on a sunny day.

If you care about your child, wash toys regularly to prevent them from becoming a breeding ground for germs. By following simple rules, you can clean your products and maintain their attractive appearance.

How to wash teddy bears in the washing machine

Step #1:

To avoid damage to the device and deformation of Teddy, place your pet in a laundry bag or pillowcase.
This way the stuffing will definitely not end up in the washing machine.
When a teddy bear is placed in a washing machine, it goes through three stages: washing, rinsing and spinning.
In the first and last modes, the product may become deformed, which will lead to early wear.

To do this, choose a gentle mode for delicate fabrics.

Step #2:

Add some baby powder and use the machine's gentle cycle.
The rotation speed should be the lowest in the delicate mode.
Baking powder or baking soda will help get rid of the unpleasant smell of your Teddy plush.
And feel free to put it in the drum.

Step #3:

Additionally, set the rinse mode to get rid of any remaining powder, washing gel and stain remover.
To make the product soft and fluffy, add fabric conditioner.
We remove the fluffy from the drum.

How to wash a soft toy with a musical mechanism

Carefully remove the electronic chip or box from it: using small scissors, make a cut along the hidden seam. Before putting it into the drum, sweep away the torn area so that the filler does not fall out and the product is not damaged. Wash at low temperature.

Important! If you want to wash the squeaky toy, there is no need to remove the mechanism. Washing occurs at low temperature and low speed.

Hand washing soft toys

There are specimens that are contraindicated for washing in household appliances. And if your child’s beloved friend is dear to you, wash it by hand.

But there are products that should not be immersed in water:

With musical components that cannot be completely removed;
Fragile, with loose threads or wear from extreme use;
Leather;

Fill a container with water at approximately 30 °C. The product must be completely under water.

Soak for 20-30 minutes, pre-soap and add powder. Use baby natural powders. The health of your little one depends on this.
Wipe with a brush and baby soap.
Hand wash to remove dirt.
Rinse 2-3 times. Squeeze out the water

Cleaning and washing methods

In addition to radical washing methods, there are more gentle options for less severe stains. The following are manual and automated cleaning methods.

Cleaning with soda

Small stains can be easily cleaned with baking soda. One or more “bathers” are placed in a bag, a pack of soda is poured into it and shaken for several minutes. Next, the toy characters are removed and shaken so that the soda crumbles. It is advisable to use a vacuum cleaner to completely remove powder particles. Instead of soda, you can use starch.

How to wash toys with foam?

You will need a foam solution. To create it, you can use baby soap, shower gel, and shampoo. Scoop up the foam with your palm or a rag and carefully wipe away the dirt. Movements should be fast so that the fabric does not get too wet. At the end, you need to blot the product with a dry towel and leave to dry.

Hand wash

I pour warm water into the basin. When washing, use baby soap and a brush. If there is severe contamination, soak for 10 minutes, and then work with your hands and a brush. This is followed by a gentle spin without twisting. Drying - on clothespins or a laid out towel.

How to wash soft toys in an automatic washing machine?

Make sure the item is washable. Look for the corresponding icon on the label. It is advisable to pay attention to this nuance when purchasing.
Make sure there is no music module or natural filling inside. If there is, remove it or look for an alternative cleansing method - soda, for example.
Check for parts that are loose or loose. Remove everything unnecessary so as not to damage the machine.
Remove grease and other stains, if any.
Pour baby powder or other safe product into the container.
It is advisable to use special laundry bags.
Check the label to see what temperature you can wash at. Set the desired value. Typically the temperature range is 30-60 °C. If you suspect that there are dust mites in the fabric and padding, put the product in the freezer for prevention.
Set to delicate mode. Start the process.
Set rinse.
Press by hand. Drying - in a vertical position. The room should be warm so that the process does not drag on.

Drying

We do not dry it in direct light. The color may fade. This may leave the ends of the fur rough or crusty, but you can comb them out with a comb.
Don't be tempted to use the dryer - it's not worth the risk! They will lose their shape or the seams will not withstand such pressure.
We dry it by hanging it with a clothespin. But do not dry the ears; if the toy is heavy, they may come off or stretch. Can be dried in a laundry net. Avoid direct sunlight so as not to dry it out and to prevent the color of the toy from fading.
Heat from blow-drying or tumble drying can cause damage, especially to plastic parts.

How to wash and clean a plush toy

You can simply wash the plush elephants and bunnies, or you can use another method: cleaning with steam. Perhaps it is the safest and most environmentally friendly. Steam is not capable of exerting a mechanical effect on materials. This means that you simply cannot damage the toy. Only products equipped with electronics should not be cleaned in this way.

To begin with, all plush animals should be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, and then a small area of the product should be treated with steam to accurately understand whether the material will deteriorate. If all is well, you can safely continue. A powerful stream of steam will allow you to soften the dirt. After that, you can simply brush them off.

The preferred way to care for plush yarn toys is hand washing. It will be enough to wash the toy in warm water. The temperature should be no more than 30 degrees. You should use baby shampoo. No need to squeeze. Just let the moisture soak into the towel. It would be enough. Otherwise, the toy will be deformed. Wet cleaning is also suitable, which will be discussed below.

The finishing touch

We sew all the parts back, insert back the device for sound or movement. Don't forget to warn your baby to handle them carefully. Don't forget to brush it before giving your beloved Teddy back.

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:

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.
Completely dissolve the detergent in the basin.
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.
Rinse the item in clean running water. You need to change it several times to thoroughly wash the powder particles.
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:

Ethanol . It perfectly removes greasy marks, food and drink stains. Simply moisten a cotton pad with it and gently wipe the contaminated area.
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.
Vinegar or lemon juice . It is applied to a cotton pad, treated with it on the stain, and then washed by hand.

After washing, wring out the toy, but do not twist it so that it does not become deformed. To do this, wrap it in a terry towel and gently press it with your hands so that the fabric absorbs excess moisture. Then the toy is sent to dry.

Adviсe

Do not put ivy in the washing machine unless the tag indicates machine washable. Some labels indicate surface wash
Using harsh chemicals may get rid of stains, but may cause discoloration.
The freezer will perfectly rid you of parasites that live in dust particles.
Once a week and each time as it gets dirty, we wash your child’s favorite;
If your child is upset that you took the toy, tell him that you will be giving the toy a bath and ask if he wants to help you.

A teddy bear is a child’s best friend, so you need to take care of your friend’s cleanliness. Since they can pose a danger to the child's health.

Do not neglect cleaning the products, then they will be safe for your baby and will bring joy for a long time.

Preparatory stage

To find out exactly whether a toy bear, hare, doll or other character can be washed, you should study the information on the label. Most manufacturers indicate how a particular product should be cleaned, and what actions are prohibited. If washing is possible, the appropriate temperature setting will be indicated on the label.

Before washing a soft toy, it is carefully inspected. Torn seams or loose elements are repaired. If there are heavy stains, it is recommended to pre-soak the items. To do this, they are immersed for 15-10 minutes in a solution with detergent.

Toys with mechanism inside

Before you start washing, remove the mechanism. After this, the opened seams are sewn up. They must be strong so that the filler does not spread inside the machine.

Important to consider! To properly wash soft toys using a machine, you need to use a bag in which things are placed. An ordinary pillowcase is also suitable for this purpose.

Photos of the best detergents for washing soft toys

How to process a large one?

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

If there are stains, they can be removed locally by treating with a soap solution, stain remover, or dishwashing detergent. Then wipe the cleaned area with a damp cloth or rinse gently under running water.

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 is necessary to remember 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.

Preventing contamination of soft toys

Preventative measures against pollution include methods of their operation. It is difficult to explain to children that a bear or a bunny does not want to lie on the floor, and even in an embrace with a pet.

Simple hygiene rules will not save you from contamination; in any case, you will have to clean or wash it at least once every 3 months. Don't wait for stains to appear and dust to accumulate. A child’s health is more valuable than the hassle of caring for his favorite toys.

The child should be taught to wash his hands regularly and treat soft toys with care. The rest is up to the adults.