My stuffed teddy bear is dirty how can I clean it?

Question

I asked my sister if I should put it in the washing machine and drier, however she said it would mess up the bear. Is that true, if so, how can I clean it?

Answer 1

Washing
All cautions aside, it is possible to wash many plush toys. But it's much safer to stick to surface cleaning. Washing should be a last resort because there is risk of damage. We have washed quite a few stuffed animals and have mostly had good results, but we have also thrown out a few items. One large sheep took on a most un-natural shape; after washing it was not at all sheepshape and had to be sent off to the rendering plant.

Check a few things first to see if the plush is a reasonable candidate for washing. Read the tag on the item for possible information on construction and materials.

Is it stuffed with fiberfill? Toys stuffed with styrene foam, foam beads or excelsior must not be washed. Things stuffed with synthetic fiber (usually polyester fiber) or plastic beads are candidates for washing.
Is it stuffed really firmly? Does it feel like a pillow or like a log when you squeeze it? Even if the toy is stuffed with synthetic fiber, if it's stuffed very firmly it may never dry out after washing, and shifts in the stuffing may ruin the shape.
Does it have stiffeners in it? Plastic stiffeners can shift out of place. Cardboard or hardboard stiffeners can collapse or disintegrate. Metal stiffeners can corrode. Washing anything with stiffeners or shapers in it is risky.
Does it have joints? Joints are another risk area for washing. Plastic joints are not affected by water, but are not very strong and can fall apart. Hardboard joints use hardboard that can soften or warp when wet, and metal fasteners that can rust after getting wet.
Is it made of synthetic fibers? Or is it made of fancy mohair/wool/alpaca stuff? It is not a good idea to try to wash mohair/wool/alpaca.
Does it have clothing or accessories? If so, can they be removed? Any clothing or other accessories will need to be removed before washing, or you run a terrible chance of some very interesting "bleeding". (You know, like when not separating out your red shirt from the rest of the wash gives you pink underwear.)
Is it just too darned big? A stuffed animal less than about 18 inches in its largest dimension can probably be judged "small". As the stuffed animal gets larger you run into greater chance of problems during washing, as the parts of the animal get pushed around inside the washing machine. Drying also poses more of a challenge for larger animals. That said, we have washed an Avanti snow leopard that's about 5 feet from nose to tail-tip and it came out fine.
As a general rule, the more expensive the plush, the less likely it is safe to wash. If you've got a soiled item that looks like a washing candidate, put it in a cloth bag -- a pillowcase is excellent -- tie the bag closed and toss it in for washing. The plush (and the bag) must fit loosely inside the washing machine. Use a bag of some reasonably sturdy woven fabric, not a mesh bag like those intended for washing hosiery. The goal here is to protect the surface of the fake fur so you don't get any split ends or felting or other physical damage from the washing process. You can put more than one plush per bag, as long as they all fit loosely in the bag.

By "wash" we mean cold water wash and cold water rinse with mild detergent on a gentle cycle. If you don't have access to a good washing machine with a gentle cycle, stick to surface cleaning. Laundromat washers seldom have a "gentle" cycle, even if they do have a button labelled that way. If at all possible use a front-loading machine, especially for large plush. For detergent, we've had good results with Woolite. Don't even think about bleach, nor fabric softener.

After washing, take the still-tied bag out of the washer. If the toy was safe to wash, it's usually safe to dry, too. Air drying is OK, but puts you at risk of getting mildew started inside the stuffing. Still in its protective bag, put it in a clothes dryer for a cycle on a gentle, low-temperature setting. Two cycles may be necessary to dry larger plushes thoroughly, or when you are washing more than one item at a time.

Answer 2

I was wondering the same thing and then I read an article in a Parenting magazine. It states that you should NEVER put a plushie in a washing machine. The reason is that even if you put it in a dryer afterwards or set it out to air dry, it will NEVER completely dry down to it's core. Therefore, the inside (now moist and dark) will be an ideal environment for mold, mildew and bacteria to colonize and make you sick or get allergies, etc. The best solution is to surface wash any stains or dirty with a mild soap and warm water. ONLY the surface, do not let it soak!!! Afterwards, take a sock and cover any plastic parts like the eyes (so they don-t crack or get filmy), and pop the plush in the dryer on a medium setting for delicate plushes and take out to re-fluff and then put it in again. On less fancy ones you can try the hot setting but take it out periodically to let the fur cool down before doing it again. Popping a plush in the dryer is a great way to kill off bacteria or mold that you didn't know was even there. Good Luck!!!

Answer 3

You can either take it to the dry cleaners and they will do a fine job. The cost should be way under $10.

If it was me, I would stick the bear in a pillow case, tie the pillow case shut, a string or shoe lace will work to tie it, place it in the washer on the gentle cycle in cold water and just a little bit of laundry soap, and wash away.

DO NOT put it in the dryer though, that might be a bad thing. Remove it from the pillow case an hang it to dry.

Teddy will stay together and look good as new!

Answer 4

Your sis is right. You have to kind of give it a sponge bath. Resolve has a new spray, all fabric cleaner. Ask your mom to look for that for you. Then follow the directions. What I THINK you will do is spray Teddy lightly, then take a wet cloth and wipe, wipe, wipe, rinse the cloth, wipe, wipe wipe and keep on going until Teddy get freshened up. Then you can put him in the dryer for about 15 on fluff dry and a fabric softener sheet. He should be sweet and fresh if you do that.

Answer 5

I have a stuffed bunny ive had for 20+ years, my mom always threw her in the washer. and i like how ratty it is, it shows its aged just like me. But the eyes do get scratched up, if its a nice bear, you should probably hand wash it in the sink with mild detergent, and let it air dry, make sure you read the label first.

Answer 6

Just try to wipe him off with a damp washcloth with just a little bit of water on it and let him sit and dry for a couple hours. See if that will work first.

Answer 7

Febreeze

Answer 8

you could try a dry,spray on cleaner or the kits for dry cleaning at home. i've always put them in the washer though. it kind of depends on what they're made of.

Answer 9

take a washcloth then wet it then take soap and rub it into the washcloth, wash it then blow dry it. thats what i did once, it worked for me.