Updated: 08.11.2021 15:24:11
Expert: Tatyana Hans
Soft toys are beautiful, pleasant to the touch, and children of all ages really like them. But parents are wary of them, because they know that these are real “dust collectors.” To ensure that the child’s health is not endangered by daily contact with toys, which collect not only dust and dirt, food debris, but also germs and other potentially dangerous microorganisms, they must be regularly washed or cleaned in some other way. Experts will tell you how to do this correctly in this article.
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.
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
Tools and materials
When processing soft products, the housewife may need the following tools:
- steam cleaner;
- iron;
- comb;
- hair dryer;
- plastic bag;
- vacuum cleaner;
- microfiber cloth;
- sponge;
- soft brush.
Detergents and materials:
starch;- powders intended for children's things;
- baby soap;
- soda;
- laundry soap;
- shampoo;
- fabric softener.
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.
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
Are they dirty?
Watch a child play with a teddy bear, bunny or rag doll. He not only rolls the toy on the floor, there are also hugs and kisses, and a taste test. What adds to the problem is that no matter how cleanly you tidy your apartment, the ubiquitous dust still penetrates the premises and settles on surfaces. It is not always possible to notice how gradually a toy loses its brightness of color under a layer of dust.
Children spend a lot of time with soft toys, so these products will definitely need to be washed.
In addition, children often do not let go of their favorite soft toys for literally a minute. This means that the soft playmate will probably swim in a puddle, roll around in the sandbox and smear himself on the grass. As you can see, periodic washing is simply necessary for such toys. Otherwise, the germs along with the dirt will transfer to the child.
Soft toys should be washed as they become dirty. If your child really loves such an item, then washing should be done at least every 2-3 weeks. Before you start cleaning, look at the toy label: care instructions are indicated there.
Unfortunately, dust mites are permanent residents of soft toys, and they can cause allergies in a child.
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.
Important Tips
To increase the efficiency of washing and make it safe, you must follow the following recommendations:
- To destroy dust mites, the item must be washed at 60 degrees.
- Boiling helps disinfect a product, but not all fabrics can withstand such treatment.
- You need to rinse the toy thoroughly so that no detergent remains in it.
- If a child suffers from allergies, then there is no need to use any special laundry detergents. Substances are used to wash his bed linen and clothes.
If you have to wash the toy very often, then it is better to do it manually. This cleaning option is gentle, so the item will last longer.
You will find maximum useful information about washing clothes and various fabric products here.
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.
Disinfection methods
Refreshing a toy means not only improving its appearance, but also disinfecting it. The simplest solution is exposure to sunlight in summer and frost in winter .
Low temperatures are harmful to most bacteria and viruses. To combat them, it is quite enough to simply place the toy on the balcony in winter for the whole day.
Additionally, you can treat the fur with a vinegar solution:
- Mix ½ cup vinegar with 1 cup water.
- Pour the solution into a spray bottle.
- Treat the toy from all sides.
- Set it aside to air and dry completely.
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.
If there is a music block
Surely, among the collection of soft animals there will be those that tell your child fairy tales or sing funny songs. Such a toy often becomes the most favorite, because you can talk to it, inventing new stories. This means she will need cleaning more often. But how to carry it out so that the toy does not shut down forever when water gets into the electronic device?
The musical block in many soft toys is made in the form of a small rectangular box and sewn or inserted into a pocket with Velcro
If there is very little dirt, you can easily deal with it manually. Dissolve the detergent in water (about 1 tablespoon per 1 cup or according to the instructions on the label), apply a little solution to a soft brush or sponge and wipe the product from top to bottom, removing dirt. Then change the soap solution to clean water and repeat the treatment.
More serious contamination will require more work.
- Feel the toy, find the place where the electronics are located. Open the seam closest to the device.
- Carefully remove the box containing the electronic device.
Just in case, at the same time check whether the battery can be replaced and whether this is necessary. If yes, then it is better to replace it at this stage.
- Mend the seam and wash the toy. Depending on the characteristics of the product, you can do this in an automatic washing machine or manually.
- Dry the toy thoroughly, then open the seam again. Replace the electronics box. Select threads of a suitable color and carefully mend the seam.
If you do everything right, the toy will still entertain your child as if it were new.
Oh, here, when my grandmother washed the laughing Smesharik Krosh, after that he could neigh in the middle of the night for no apparent reason! It was quite scary in the complete silence!
Alena Ivanchenko (Kuts)
https://deti.mail.ru/forum/obsuzhdaem_tovary_dlja_detej/igrushki/kak_stirat_govorjashhie_igrushki/
