Cleaning Your Children's Stuffed Animals

If you have any children, then your home is probably riddled with stuffed animals. Kids, especially toddlers, love stuffed animals. Kids will keep them for as long as possible, no matter how dingy and trodden they become. In fact, I still have my 'Tiger' doll from the Christmas of 1993. I can't help it. It's a permanent part of my childhood that I would rather not give up.

Considering that I have managed to hold onto my 'Tiger' for fifteen years, don't be surprised if your children are also unwilling to give up their stuffed animals. But, at the same time, you cannot allow your children to keep playing with a dirty stuffed animal. It is unsafe, unsanitary, and unhealthy. So, what can you do to clean it?

Laundry

Your first notion is probably to wash it like laundry. This is a HUGE no no. In fact, do not try to clean stuffed animals with either water or a liquid cleaning agent. The reason for this is because stuffed animals are usually very thick inside and hard to dry. If it doesn't dry well, it is likely to develop a nasty mold problem. Furthermore, washing it in water may weaken the outer layer of cotton covering up all the fluff inside, thereby causing holes to appear and fluff to leak.

Vacuum Cleaner

Using a vacuum cleaner is the best way to remove grime from a stuffed animal. If your vacuum has a detachable nozzle, attach it to the vacuum and then use it to suck out all the filth. This will remove any dirt and dust on the animal's fur, and also suck out any dirt lodged inside its belly. Just be careful that the stuffed animal, in case it is small, doesn't itself get sucked into the vacuum.

Lint Roller

Lint rollers are a terrific way to scour tiny unwanted particles off of a stuffed animal's fur. It's sort of like cleaning a dog's fur with a brush. It safely gathers up lint and dust, which you can release into a trash bin. In case you do not have a lint roller, try either a regular hairbrush or even some tape. Gently place the tape on dirty portions of the stuffed animal, and then pull it away.

Conclusion

Stuffed animals are traditional toys owned by millions of children across the globe. Just like anything else, a stuffed animal is bound to become dirty. Whatever you do, don't throw away your child's stuffed animal. Unless it accidentally falls into mud, it should still be salvageable. Just remember, never use water to clean a stuffed animal. Stick with a vacuum cleaner and lint rollers instead.