Do your kids’ stuffed animals look a little worse for wear? Over time, dust and dirt accumulate on these plush pals. But you want to avoid putting them into the washing machine and risking damage. So how can you get those teddies fresh and clean again?
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Spot clean problem areas with a damp cloth or carpet cleaner, and use corn starch or baking soda to absorb odors and refresh the fur.
In this comprehensive guide, we provide tips and step-by-step techniques for cleaning stuffed animals by hand. Learn how to spot treat stains, fluff matted fur, sanitize using natural ingredients and low heat in the oven or dryer, remove dust, freshen up odors, and more.
You’ll have those cuddly friends looking and smelling great again in no time with these washing machine-free methods!
Identify any heavily soiled or stained areas for spot cleaning
When deciding how to clean your stuffed animals, the first step is to thoroughly inspect them for problem areas that need special attention. Heavily soiled or stained spots should be dealt with before placing the stuffed animals in the washing machine, as the heat and agitation can set some stains permanently.
Food, drink, makeup, and craft supply stains tend to be the most common on plush toys. Check seam lines, creased areas, and sections that experience a lot of handling. Also inspect toy accessories like plastic eyes and noses for sticky residues or dirt buildup.
Supplies for spot cleaning
Arm yourself with the right spot cleaning supplies before tackling stubborn stains on your stuffed pals:
- Distilled white vinegar – great for cleaning food and makeup stains
- Dish soap – helps cut through oily grime
- Hydrogen peroxide – lifts out difficult stains
- Old toothbrush – gently scrubs stained fabric
- Clean white cloths/paper towels – blot lifted stains
Spot cleaning techniques
Here are some handy techniques for spot cleaning your stuffed animals before washing:
- Mix a solution of 1 part dish soap to 1 part distilled white vinegar. Dip the toothbrush in the solution and gently scrub the stain.
- For tough stains, make a paste with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Let it sit for 30 minutes before scrubbing with a toothbrush.
- Blot lifted stains immediately with a clean white cloth or paper towels to prevent setting.
- Avoid harsh scrubbing and let toys fully air dry before washing.
By pre-treating pesky stains first, you’ll have better luck getting your stuffed pals fresh and clean in the washing machine!
Fluff matted fur with a soft bristled brush
Over time, your stuffed animal’s fur can become matted and flattened, losing its soft and fluffy texture. Luckily, you can revive that plush feel without having to throw Fido in the washing machine. Simply arm yourself with a soft-bristled brush and get ready to fluff that fur!
Carefully brush the matted clumps using gentle, circular motions. Don’t forcefully yank at tangles or you may pull out clumps of fuzz. Work slowly and patiently until the knots loosen and smooth out. Focus extra attention on high-traffic petting zones where matting occurs frequently, like Fido’s ears, head, arms, and belly.
As you brush, use your free hand to gently shake and squeeze the fur, helping it stand back up. Fluff against the natural nap direction first to detangle, then smooth everything down neatly. Within a few minutes you’ll have that stuffed pup looking fluffy as new!
For severely flattened regions, take a break from brushing and use a soft terry cloth towel. Briskly rub the towel over the mats to generate warmth and static electricity that helps loosen fibers. Just don’t overheat your stuffed pal! Let Fido cool off completely before brushing again.
While brushing, check all seams and limb attachments to ensure strands aren’t catching and tearing. Carefully snip away any lone snags with small scissors to prevent larger holes.
If brushing fails to revive the fur, try washing by hand. Just remember — skip the machine dryer, always air dry!
Remove dust with a lint roller or tape
Stuffed animals attract dust easily since they have a fuzzy, fabric exterior that acts like a magnet for lint, pet hair, and other particles. Over time, dust buildup can make your plush toys look dirty and worn. Luckily, you don’t need a washing machine to get them fresh and clean again.
Simply using a lint roller, masking tape, or even pantyhose can lift dust and restore their fluffy appearance.
Use a lint roller
A lint roller (like this one from Scotch) is a super handy tool for removing fuzzy particles from fabric surfaces. To use it on a stuffed animal, simply roll it across the toy’s surface to lift dust, lint, and hair. The sticky sheets grab onto debris and pull it away with ease.
Lint rollers are inexpensive, portable, and can be used over and over until the sheets are full. Who knew such a small gadget could make such a big difference? !
Try masking tape
Here’s a clever dust removal trick: simply pat strips of masking tape over your plushie’s surface. The adhesive will grab onto and pull away dust and lint for an instant refresh. Allow the toy to sit untouched for a few minutes after applying the tape so it can do its work. Then slowly peel it away.
You may need to use a few fresh pieces of tape to tackle super dusty spots, but this affordable technique can make a world of difference. No washing machine required – yay! 👏 This is perfect for lightly soiled stuffed animals.
Use old pantyhose
Pantyhose aren’t just for wearing – they can also be handy for cleaning! Simply place your hand inside an old pair of hose and use it to gently rub the toy, lifting away dust and debris from the fibers. The material attracts lint and particles, grabbing onto them and pulling them away.
This works best for very lightly soiled toys rather than big dirt or stains. But as a regular dust removal method, it helps restore a fluffy appearance and works great in a pinch when you don’t have other tools on hand. Keep those old tights instead of throwing them out – they have cleaning power!
By regularly using lint rollers, masking tape, pantyhose, or other sticky fabrics, you can easily keep stuffed animals dust-free without having to actually wash them. Less work for you, and fresher looking plushies – win/win!
Over time, dust removal helps them maintain their charm so you can love them for years to come. 🧸😊
Freshen up odors naturally
Baking soda
Baking soda is an incredibly useful household product for absorbing foul smells in stuffed animals (and around your home!). Its odor-fighting power comes from being a natural odor neutralizer. To use it, simply sprinkle a little baking soda directly onto the toy, rubbing it gently into any fabric surfaces with stained or smelly areas.
Let it sit for a few hours to absorb embedded odors, then shake off the excess.
For extra cleaning power against tough odors, try this handy baking soda paste: Stir together 3 parts baking soda with 1 part water until it forms a thick paste. Gently rub the paste onto dirty or stinky spots, let sit 1-2 hours, then brush off. The longer it sits, the better it cleans!
Vinegar
Like baking soda, household vinegar can work wonders to naturally destroy bad smells lingering in stuffed critters and other plush items. Thanks to acetic acid, distilled white vinegar is lightly acidic and cuts through odors rather than just masking them.
To use it, mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Lightly spritz smelly areas of the stuffed animal until damp, but not totally soaked. Let the toy air dry completely before resuming playtime cuddles. The vinegar smell fades as it dries.
For super stinky toys, do 2-3 vinegar-water treatments over a few hours, allowing to fully dry in between.
Essential oils
Add a fresh, lovely scent to a formerly stinky stuffed friend using the natural power of essential oils. Known for their aroma-therapeutic benefits, essential oils also naturally neutralize odors with their potent fragrance.
Try refreshing a toy’s scent with lemon, lavender, mint, citrus or other oil blends. Use 2-3 drops of oil per cup of baking soda and mix until the powder absorbs the oil. Sprinkle the infused baking soda onto the toy, gently rubbing it around smelly spots. Allow to sit 1-2 hours before brushing off.
Essential oils can also be mixed with distilled white vinegar, using roughly 5-10 drops of oil per cup of vinegar. Use as you would regular vinegar to lightly spritz and freshen toys.
| Method | What it Does |
|---|---|
| Baking Soda | Absorbs odors as natural neutralizer |
| Vinegar | Removes odors with gentle acidity |
| Essential Oils | Masks odors with natural fragrance |
With these simple homemade tricks, you can give those well-loved stuffed pals a new lease on life and have them smelling fresh in no time. No washing machine required!
Sanitize stuffed animals using the oven
Lowest possible temperature
When sanitizing stuffed animals in the oven, it’s important to use the lowest temperature possible, ideally less than 200°F, to avoid damaging the materials. High heat can cause the fibers, stuffing, and accessories like plastic eyes or noses to melt or warp.
A low setting between 170-190°F is hot enough to kill bacteria and dust mites without compromising the toy’s integrity.
Short time spans
In addition to low heat, short cooking times are key. Most experts recommend 5-10 minutes max. Any longer and the heat will start affecting the materials, even on lower temperatures. Set a timer so you don’t forget!
Also, keep an eye on the stuffed animal through the oven door to check for any issues with melting or scorching just to be safe.
Letting stuffed animals air dry afterwards
After sanitizing in the oven, resist the urge to immediately cuddle your stuffed friend! Let them cool and air dry completely before touching or storing them. The stuffing and materials retain a lot of heat and need time to return to room temperature.
Otherwise, you risk accidentally damaging the restored stuffed animal before you can even enjoy it. Find a safe elevated spot out of reach from kids and pets and give it at least a few hours.
Sanitize stuffed animals using the dryer
No heat or air fluff setting
When sanitizing stuffed animals in the dryer, it’s important to use a no heat or air fluff setting. Exposing stuffed animals to high heat can damage or melt fabrics and stuffing. An air fluff or no heat tumble setting will gently circulate air through the dryer to freshen and fluff the stuffed animals, killing dust mites and bacteria in the process.
Tennis balls to fluff fur
Placing a couple of tennis balls in the dryer with the stuffed animals will help to separate clumped fur and stuffing, restoring a fluffy appearance. The tumbling motion of the balls will gently beat and massage the stuffed animals, breaking up knots in a furry coat.
Just 2-4 tennis balls is plenty – too many and they may be too abrasive. When the cycle finishes, the stuffed animals should emerge refreshed, sanitized, and good as new!
Repeat dryer cycles if needed
For stuffed animals that are really dirty or smelly, it may take more than one no heat tumble cycle to fully freshen them. Check the stuffed animals after the first dryer cycle. If they still seem musty or clumpy, repeat the process by putting them back in the dryer with fresh tennis balls for another no heat fluff cycle.
Most stuffed animals will only need 1 or 2 cycles. However, repeat as many times as needed until they are fully refreshed and fur is softened and separated.
| Dryer Setting | Temperature | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Air fluff/no heat | No temperature | 45-60 minutes |
Following these handy steps for how to clean stuffed animals without a washing machine will have them looking brand new in no time! It’s a quick and easy way to sanitize and freshen a beloved plush pal. 🧸😊👍
Safely hand wash small stains
Diluted soap
When hand washing stuffed animals with small stains, it is best to use a gentle, diluted soap. Choose a soap specially formulated for delicates or baby laundry, like Dreft or Seventh Generation baby detergent. These soaps are made to be gentle and non-irritating on sensitive skin.
Dilute the soap with water as directed on the packaging. Typically a ratio like 1:4 soap to water works well. The diluted solution helps lift stains while reducing the harshness of cleaning chemicals on the stuffed animal’s fabric and stuffing.
Rinsing thoroughly
Rinsing thoroughly after hand washing stuffed animals is extremely important to avoid residue buildup. Soap and detergent residue that is not rinsed away could damage the stuffed animal over time.
Use lukewarm, clean water when rinsing. Agitate and squeeze the stuffed animal to remove soap bubbles and cleaning solution from all the crevices and folds of fabric and stuffing. Repeat rinsing several times until the water runs clear.
Let air dry
After rinsing, gently squeeze excess water from the stuffed animal but be cautious not to twist or wring it forcefully. Then lay the toy flat on an absorbent towel and pat gently to remove more moisture.
Finally, allow the stuffed animal to air dry completely before use or storage. Do not machine dry even on low settings. The heat can damage fabric, stuffing, and plastic eyes or noses. Air drying preserves the softness and structure best.
Consider placing the stuffed animal outside in a shaded spot on a warm, breezy day to speed drying. Or use a fan to keep air circulating. Make sure it dries fully before giving to a child again.
Conclusion
Keeping your kids’ plush pals clean doesn’t require throwing them in the washing machine. With some mild soap, baking soda, lint rollers and your oven or dryer’s air settings, you can get stuffed furry friends clean and fresh again.
Spot treat any problem areas first, then use these all-natural refresh methods to have them cuddle-ready once more.
