Hand wash soft toys - how to do it right? How to properly wash and clean soft toys Can musical toys be washed.

Toys with melodies like any other Stuffed Toys children like it very much. They are ready not to part with them for days, they sleep with a toy, eat, have fun, and from such activity it naturally quickly becomes dirty. All toys that the child comes into contact with need care, and especially soft ones. Indeed, they accumulate a large amount of dust, dirt and, what is most dangerous, dust mites. Read about how to wash singing soft toys in our article.

The child's favorite singing toy must be carefully “removed” from him under some plausible pretext so as not to injure his psyche. It is better to do this in advance, 20 minutes before washing, in order to have time to do some manipulations with it. The fact is that if you put your favorite talking teddy dog or bear cub into a washing machine or a basin of water, then she will never be able to "speak" after that. That is why you need to do the following.

Note! When removing the playing element from the singing toy, be careful with its stuffing.

Automatic washing of singing toys

Modern mums and dads prefer to wash most of the clothes in the automatic mode, because this way you can save a lot of time and effort. In this regard, the question arises of how to wash singing toys in washing machine? After the above preparatory steps, the toy with music is no different from ordinary soft toys. However, there is a special way to wash it in automatic mode.

First of all, you need to study the label with conventions that is sewn to the toy. It is possible that it cannot be washed at all, but if possible, the manufacturer will indicate what are the features of caring for such a toy. Experts have formulated the general rules for washing such toys in automatic mode in a washing machine, let's briefly outline them.

If the legend tag is not preserved, carefully inspect the soft singing dog for stickers and other easily detachable items. If present, these toys must not be machine washed.
Explore the filler of the toy as well. If the toy is filled with several types of filler, then it should only be washed by hand.
Only wash these toys on a delicate cycle.
When washing toys in the automatic mode, use only baby powder.
Do not wash such toys at high speeds or activate the spin. You cannot wring them out in a typewriter!

Important! If toys can only be washed at low temperatures, and there is a need to rid them of dust mites, expose all toys to frost, for about 6-8 hours. Then wash.

We wash singing toys by hand

How to wash musical stuffed animals if they cannot be washed in the automatic mode? The answer to this question is obvious - manually. It is impossible to wash such toys by hand somehow, you must adhere to the following order.

Pour some lukewarm water into the container.
Then we dissolve a small amount of shampoo in this water.
We lather the shampoo, and then, taking a sponge, carefully, not allowing the toy to get too wet, we begin to clean it.
It is important to remove all dirt without ripping off the glued elements.
We remove the shampoo remnants from the thing, and then dry it.

Note! If you can't dry your toys properly, you can put them out in the cold. In this case, the remaining moisture will simply freeze out.

Summing up, we note that singing toys can be washed only after the reproductive elements have been removed from them. To remove them, you will have to rip up the seams, but for a good housewife this is not a problem. The main thing is not to neglect the care of soft toys, because we are talking about the health of your children.

It is safe to say that in every home where a baby grows up, there are a certain number of toys. Stuffed bears, hares or other animals can make up a large part of the toy “household”. However, any textile items require regular washing or other treatment, as they accumulate dirt and attract dust. How to properly wash and clean soft toys so as not to damage them, we will consider in our article.

Why and how often do you need to clean stuffed toys?

Textile materials are capable of accumulating harmful and hazardous substances and microorganisms. According to experts, toys should be cleaned (washed) at least once every six months. If the child took his beloved bear on a visit, in Kindergarten or to the site - it should be cleaned unscheduled. Stuffed toys can accumulate:

Viruses and bacteria. It is known that the influenza virus lives in tissue fibers for a rather long time - from 24 to 48 hours. If the toy was picked up by a child who is already a carrier of the virus, within 2 days after contact, the thing can become a source of infection. Bacteria - staphylococci, Escherichia coli, etc. live on plush toys even longer. Such microorganisms can cause conjunctivitis, runny nose, pustular skin diseases, and indigestion.
Dust mites. These tiny arthropods feed on exfoliated fragments of the epidermis that regularly enter the air from the skin. It is these particles that form the basis of room dust, in which ticks live freely. If you shake the toy a little, the dust mites will end up in a cloud of slowly settling dust. However, it is not so much the microorganisms themselves that are dangerous, but the products of their vital activity. Mite excrement is very light and does not settle on surfaces, sometimes within 2 hours, being in suspension.
Molds. Fungal spores can also invade the soft hare, especially if it has been kept in a damp room for some time. In addition, molds are very fond of natural materials, therefore, they can often be found on high-quality expensive toys. These microorganisms can cause allergic diseases - onychomycosis, pneumonia, otitis media or aspergillosis.

If the child has a favorite toy with which he does not part either at home or on the street, it should be washed as often as possible.

Washing methods for soft toys

The easiest way to wash toys, because they are based on a textile material. However, it is worth remembering that before putting any items in the washing machine, you need to study the label indicating the possible cleaning options. Some products cannot be washed at temperatures above 30 degrees, others - it is generally not recommended to wet them. You should also be careful to use the spin mode - at this moment the inner frame of the toy (ears, paws, tail) may be deformed. Poorly fixed eyes, nose, tongue, and other small parts can fall off.

In the washing machine

Before putting toys in the drum of the washing machine, it is advisable to soak them for several hours in warm water with the addition of not a large number detergent. This will help reduce the aggressiveness of the wash - choose a delicate mode and not compromise on the quality of the result. A few tips for a good machine wash:

It is better to choose a detergent with a natural composition, especially if the child is allergic. Phosphate-free baby powder or crushed laundry soap will do.
To reduce friction and the likelihood of losing any elements of the product before washing in an automatic machine, it is advisable to pack the toy in a special bag.
Knitted and fur, as well as ball-filled items, it is better not to wash in a machine, but to use dry cleaning.

For some toys (fur and with musical inserts) it is better to dry clean

Manually

If the toy is valuable and there is no desire to risk its appearance, or the filler can spoil the fabric (balls), it is better to wash it by hand. To do this, place it in a bowl of warm water, lather it with shampoo or liquid soap and wash it using a soft sponge. Squeeze carefully and place on the wire rack until no more water flows out of the product. The toy can then be hung with clothespins.

What toys cannot be washed, how to clean them?

Some toys cannot be washed. These include products filled with sawdust, things self made as well as containing an electronic unit or musical mechanism inside. There are also toys in which some elements are not sewn, but glued. Such specimens are cleaned and disinfected with high quality without washing. Let's consider several methods of cleaning - using water and "dry" options.

Water cleaning

You can wash off the dirt from the surface of the toy without wetting its "filling". To do this, take a sponge or foam sponge, moisten and apply detergent, then wipe the most dirty parts of the product.

Greasy stains can be removed with dishwashing gel, dirt - laundry soap... In this case, it is better not to use shampoo or washing powder, as it will be difficult to remove the resulting foam. This method will not get rid of bacteria and microorganisms, it will only provide an opportunity to slightly refresh the toy.

Dry cleaning methods

If the toy cannot be washed, it is best to use dry cleaning methods at home. First, you need to perform mechanical cleaning - remove dust. This can be done with a vacuum cleaner. Large toys can be placed on the floor and vacuumed by holding with your hand, while small toys can be placed in a tight plastic bag with the handles tied. Then insert the vacuum cleaner tube into the opening of the bag and thus process it.

Another method of mechanical cleaning, which is suitable for small specimens. 1-2 toys can be placed in a plastic bag and add a few tablespoons of baking soda to them, then close well. Shake the "bag" for 2-3 minutes, take out the products and shake out the rest of the powder.

Bacteria and viruses are constant inhabitants of toys. Staphylococcus aureus tolerates low temperatures well, therefore, you can get rid of such microorganisms using heat treatment. For example, placing the teddy bear in a strainer, colander, or steaming net over a saucepan of boiling water. To enhance the effect, several clove flowers are added to the liquid - a spice with bactericidal properties. Steam treatment should not be long - just 5 minutes is enough. However, it is worth remembering that such manipulations can disrupt the mechanism of a musical toy, damage the batteries.
The previous method is good for small items, but what to do with large toys, the length of which is more than 1-1.5 meters? Large specimens can be treated with a special compound by spraying it from a spray bottle. Take 2 tbsp for 500 ml of water. vinegar and 10-15 drops essential oil(eucalyptus, tea tree). Then the toy must be packed in a plastic bag and hermetically closed. Leave the product on the balcony or in another room for a day, after which it can be used. This method will kill many bacteria, but most importantly, it will destroy the mold.

Professional dry cleaning

Dry cleaning is the simplest, but not the cheapest method of removing dirt and microorganisms from children's toys. Modern dry cleaners offer a lot of additional services, in addition to direct cleaning of toys - glossing fittings and decorative elements, processing with a silver solution, which destroys microorganisms and allows you not to worry about subsequent contamination.

Sometimes dry cleaning spoils the product, and the consumer is warned about it in advance.

It is unpleasant to face the fact that plush pets are covered with dust, become dirty and greasy. They need to be cleaned more thoroughly than clothes, because small children are in direct contact with them. In this article, we will talk about how to wash children's toys in the washing machine and by hand.

Can soft toys be washed

A lot of dust accumulates on them every day, which leads to the multiplication of microbes, including dust mites. Cleaning and washing is very important to prevent your child from getting sick. How to wash Plush Toys, usually indicated on the tag: in a typewriter, by hand, or dry clean only. If there is no tag or packaging, inspect the soft product, and you yourself will understand whether washing is allowed in the CMA. But it is not recommended to machine wash large items, woolen and linen, as well as with glued parts.

Important! Use a special laundry bag if you want to wash toys with glued fittings!

Handwash

Many soft animals are forbidden to be machine washed. Let's take a look at how to hand wash stuffed animals to avoid ruining them. This process will not take much time and effort. Fill a basin with warm water and add 50 g of baby detergent, lather. Put a plush toy in the soapy water, lather thoroughly and leave for half an hour. If it is heavily stained, you can use a brush. Then rinse off any dirt and thoroughly discard the powder. Rinse the product until the water runs clear. This way is excellent option to wash a large stuffed animal. Spread the plush pet out in a dry place, or so that it dries in the sun, and wait until it dries completely.

Hand washing is not easy work, but you will be able to efficiently and effectively remove not only dirt from the product, but also thoroughly rinse off the remaining powder. We have already figured out how to wash a soft toy at home by hand. It is now necessary to analyze in detail the question of how to do this in an automatic machine.

Washing in a washing machine

There are some nuances to consider when machine washing. Below are some of the recommendations of the experts:

If grease gets on the toy, then before washing the product, the stain must be degreased using special tool... A dish detergent is suitable.
Development products are often filled with various cereals or small balls. It is possible that when scrolling in the drum it will burst, and the contents will get inside the washing machine - the filter will clog. Therefore, it is better to give preference to dry washing.
The same applies to musical products. We will talk about how to wash musical soft toys a little later.
It is forbidden to wash toys with any organic filler. Such products can only be cleaned.

If you have studied the tag and see that washing is allowed, then it's time to start. Use the instructions, which detail how to wash soft toys in the washing machine. Everything is quite simple, follow a few rules:

We set the delicate wash mode.
When choosing at what temperature to wash soft toys, give preference to a mode of 30 degrees. This will prevent staining of the fabric.

Add powder, set the additional rinse mode. This will completely wash the powder out of the fabric.
Dry it.

The washing machine will help you cope with washing your plush pets. Your child will be happy to carry an "old" friend with him.

Carefully remove the electronic chip or box from it: using small scissors, make an incision along the hidden seam. Before sending it to the drum, sweep the open place 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 takes place at a low temperature and low speed.

The question of whether how to wash stuffed toys, you need to pay special attention when buying another soft bear... After all, your small miracle not only sits down the "beloved friend" next to him to watch cartoons, but also tastes it, plays with him on the street, and then goes to bed together, in a word, does not part with his plush friend for a minute. Therefore, you should not be surprised why toys become dirty so quickly and collect various microorganisms.

You can wash children's toys in the washing machine or by hand.

Hand wash toys that have various parts, for example, eyes and a mouth, or those that have organic fillers such as sawdust inside.

On the tag of any toy with a filler, various designations must be indicated, among which there is information regarding washing in a typewriter. If it is allowed, then be sure to wash the stuffed toy. on delicate mode.

For washing children's toys use a powder that is free of phosphates and zeolites, take only the one that is intended for children's things, so as not to call out an allergic reaction, since babies often like to take their favorite animals in their mouths.

You need to wash toys at a water temperature not higher than 35 degrees. But remember that dust mites will not die in this way: it is possible to suppress their vital activity only at very high or, conversely, low temperatures. Set the Extra Rinse Mode and add some softener to the powder container. This will give the soft toy a pleasant smell and allow any powder residue to be thoroughly rinsed out.

Our caring mothers, do not forget that some toys may slightly change color and shape after washing.

If one of the children's toys has significantly faded, this means that it contains a lot of low quality dyes, so hide such an animal from your baby as far as possible.

Dry big toys best in a warm and well-ventilated area, always suspended. But you cannot hang "knitted animals", because the thread can stretch, as a result of which your baby's favorite bunny is deformed and loses its former shape. Therefore, such animals must be dried on a laid out towel, periodically changing it to a dry one.

Not any stuffed animal can be put into the washing machine, especially if it is larger than your child, so it is better to clean such "huge friends" with a vacuum cleaner, and this should be done regularly.

Hand wash rules

Most soft toys cannot be machine washed, but you shouldn't be upset about this, because now I will tell you about the basic rules for hand washing soft toys. And believe me, dear hostesses, that they are not inferior to machine washing, but on the contrary, they can most effectively and delicately remove any dirt from your baby's closest "friends".

Stuffed toys are not large sizes that can be easily wrung out by hand and do not have a large number of small elements, can be washed perfectly by hand using the following recommendations:

pour enough warm water into a bowl that will completely cover the soft toy;
well soap the toy with baby soap or powder and leave it to take "bath procedures" for 20 minutes;
if the material of the toy allows, you can rub it with a soft brush (it makes sense to do this, provided that the contamination is significant);
after washing, rinse the "soft pet" thoroughly with plenty of water, so that no powder or soap remains;
after that, squeeze out the excess water well from the toy and put it to dry on a battery, towel, or under the sun.

Well, now, having figured out how to properly clean the "soft friends" of your miracle, let's consider the basic recommendations that should be followed when washing soft toys with your hands:

Well, and finally, dear mothers, I want to tell you that hand washing is certainly good, but do not forget to treat your child's "soft favorites" with a special quartz lamp every few days, because your little one spends time with his so often " best friend. "

Washing in a washing machine

Each owner of the countless collection of "soft zoo" sooner or later puzzles over how to properly wash soft toys in the washing machine. In fact, this type of washing does not require much trouble, but you need to remember the basic rules and safety measures, so as not to damage the machine and ruin your nice soft "favorites".

Dear hostesses, now we will consider the basic rules and recommendations for washing toys in a washing machine, adhering to which your irreplaceable assistant in washing will be in order, and your child's beloved friends will remain safe and sound after water procedures.

Here we go:

Before putting the toy into the drum of the machine, be sure to study the tag that is on it. Not every soft toy is machine washable.
Carefully check the presence of batteries and filler in the toy, if any, remove. If in some places the seams of the toy are parted, then be sure to sew them up before washing.
Place the teddy bear or bunny in the netting you normally use for delicate items.
To machine wash children's toys, use only delicate treatment.
To wash children's toys, use only the soap or shampoo you are bathing your child with, or a special powder.
To get rid of any powder or soap residue, expose additional rinse mode.
The temperature for washing in the machine should not exceed 30 degrees. If you want to destroy dust mites, then choose a temperature above 60 degrees, but first carefully study what temperature is allowed for washing this or that soft toy.
Do not set the spin mode in the washing machine, so as not to damage the shape and integrity of the toy. You can get rid of moisture with the power of a terry towel. So the beloved bunny will retain the shape of a hare, and will not turn into an unknown creature with long ears and arms.
We dry the soft toy exclusively in a suspended state in the sun or over a hot battery. But remember that knitted toys it is worth drying only in a horizontal position, carefully laying them on terry towel in a room that is well ventilated.

How do I clean non-washable toys?

There are many stuffed toys that do not lend themselves to wet cleaning due to their large size or organic fillers, so in this article we will share with you valuable advice to help you clean non-washable toys.

Dear hostesses, let's first look at a method that will help you clean small plush toys. So, let's begin:

take a large plastic bag;
put a toy in it so that there is still free space in the bag;
For each small soft toy, add half a glass of baking soda or starch.
tie the bag tightly and shake all its contents well for several minutes;
after that, you can take out the toy and remove the soda residue along with dirt with a soft brush.

Big toys in plastic bag do not clean with soda, so we use a vacuum cleaner for this, choosing a wide brush that you usually use for upholstery.

If you can adjust the power level on your vacuum cleaner, then set it to the minimum, so as not to accidentally "swallow" the eyes or mouth of your child's favorite bear.

Now let's look at a few more methods that will effectively help you clean soft toys with foam.

Type of stuffed toys	Description of cleaning
Felt toys	thoroughly lather a soft sponge with baby soap; squeeze out all excess moisture from it as much as possible and thoroughly wipe all specks and dirty areas of the toy; then take a new rag or sponge and moisten it clean water, gently wipe the toy, then rinse well with a cloth and repeat processing a few more times to completely wash away soap residues; place the stuffed toy in the sun or place it on a dryer, sometimes turn it over to dry completely.
Toys filled with balls or glued elements	collect warm water in a small container; add a little baby shampoo to it and beat until a dense foam is formed; put enough foam on a sponge or soft brush and gently clean the toy from dirt, but try not to saturate it with excessive moisture; after that, remove excess foam with a rag or sponge soaked in clean water, and, if necessary, repeat this procedure several times until the soap deposit has completely disappeared; blot the soft toy well with a terry towel, let it absorb excess moisture; place the toy in direct sunlight, or place it over a hot battery, or lay it out on a terry towel in a well-ventilated room, sometimes turning the wet bunny over; after complete drying, carefully comb the fur of the soft toy.

If on the soft toy of your miracle appeared yellow spots that may appear from old age, then before using your chosen cleaning method, carefully saturate such stains lemon juice and dry in direct sunlight or with a hair dryer. After the stain has disappeared, you can start basic cleaning of the stuffed animals that should not be washed.

Destroying dust mites

Believe that many saprophytic microorganisms live in almost every soft toy, and your child sleeps and eats with them, so let's rather figure out how to destroy dust mites in your children's soft toys.

But do not panic and immediately throw toys out the window, because you can perfectly destroy ticks, knowing several options for dealing with them at home:

at a temperature of 70 degrees and above, small toys can be washed in a typewriter or by hand;
if soft toys cannot be washed with such high temperature then put them in a bag and place them in the freezer overnight. Low temperatures, like high ones, perfectly suppress the vital activity of ticks;
large toys should be vacuumed and taken out to the balcony and left in the cold for several nights. If winter is still far away, then it is better to hide such a toy. It is strictly forbidden for young children to play with a bear in which dust mites are teeming!

So that is all. These are the main ways to kill saprophytic mites in your children's soft toys. But I would like to recommend that you regularly clean and wash baby toys in order to maintain a clean and well-groomed appearance of "soft animals", and most importantly - the health of your treasure!

A lot of dust and dangerous dust mites that can harm the baby's health are always collected on the baby's plush pets. How to wash stuffed animals so that they don't have to be thrown away afterwards? All the secrets of caring for delicate products can be found in this article.

How to properly wash soft toys and should you do it?

Both children and some adults love soft toys, therefore, in almost every family, the army of "dust collectors" is replenished after the New Year or other significant event. But finding a suitable place in the house for the next gift so that it does not get in the way is half the task of a good housewife, because fluffy animals must be regularly looked after.

Few know that in the absence of regular (at least once every 3 months) cleaning, dust mites begin to grow in the layers of dust deposited on plush products, causing allergic rhinitis, dermatitis and other unpleasant diseases. In order not to endanger the inhabitants of the house, you need to take a more serious approach to hygiene issues, namely, to monitor the cleanliness of dust sources - toys.

Preparatory stage before cleaning

Can soft toys be machine washed? Even if the manufacturer does not recommend doing this, it is still worth a try. In addition, hand washing and wet and dry cleaning methods without washing will help to deal with dirt on fluffy items. But before you do something, you should spend preparatory activities that will save appearance the child's favorites.

Correlate the size of the product and the size of the washing machine. Housewives are often interested in how to wash a soft toy in the washing machine if the drum is too small. Unfortunately, there is no answer to this question - you can only tidy up a plush animal by hand, using a vacuum cleaner or wet cleaning methods. If you have to deal with old and corrosive stains, then dry cleaning services are indispensable.
Pay attention to small details. On toy pets, buttons, zippers, laces are often sewn, or they are equipped with plastic eyes and other accessories. If possible, it is better to rip off, remove or unfasten the protruding parts so that during washing they do not damage the material in other places or simply do not fall off.
Determine the type of filler. Plush animals are often stuffed with padding polyester, but there are other options for fillers. In order not to spoil children's fun and choose the right mode washing machine, it is better to clarify what is inside the "patient". It should be noted that modern anti-stress toys or soft products for development fine motor skills filled with small balls that can harm the washing machine itself.
Determine the type of external material. Like the filler, the outer material may react differently to washing depending on the physical properties fabrics.
Find out if the "patient" has an electronic mechanism. If the product can imitate animal sounds or play music, then there is a battery-powered mechanism inside. The mistress's task is to remove the device from the plush animal, even if it will have to be ripped open before that.