Content
The temperature for washing soft toys should be calculated so that the product does not lose its visual appeal, and the materials are not exposed to undesirable thermal effects. There are soft toys in almost every home. They have long become the favorites of children and collectibles, interior decoration for adults. But these things require periodic washing, because artificial materials easily absorb dirt and odors.
Can soft toys be washed
Several cleaning methods are used to care for soft toys:
- handwash;
- machine wash;
- dry cleaning;
- wet cleaning;
- freezing.
Laundry is most often used, considering this method to be the simplest, less troublesome and effective. You can wash children's toys, but you should make sure of the following:
- there are no glued parts that can come off during washing;
- the weight is insignificant, this must be taken into account, since very large and heavy samples absorb a lot of water;
- no blocks for batteries and other electromechanical parts;
- the thing is made of synthetic materials, products made from natural fibers are quite rare, they shrink and deform when washed;
- stuffing with the use of artificial fibers is applied; animals stuffed with sawdust, down, cotton wool, feathers cannot be washed.
Thus, machine wash can be used to clean medium-sized plush toys made of synthetic materials without glued parts and electromechanical blocks.
On the label of each product, the manufacturer indicates the composition of the materials used for the manufacture and recommendations for care. Felt bunnies and bears can only be washed by hand.
But large toys, which are problematic to place in the drum of the washing machine, are best dry-cleaned. They can be hand washed. But in this case, giant toys are difficult to squeeze and dry.
A long drying process does not give a guaranteed result. There is a great risk that the filler will rot, getting rid of the smell of dampness and mold will be quite difficult.
At what temperature to wash soft toys
The label sewn by the manufacturer contains information about the composition of the material and the method of care. If it is lost over time or the information cannot be read, they usually wash the product at a temperature of 30 - 40 degrees.
Washing at higher temperatures can cause warping and sometimes shrinkage. It is worth considering the method of dyeing materials. Some of them may shed during washing. Bright toys will need to be checked for dye resistance first.
This is not difficult to do: you can slightly wet a small area and rub it with a piece of dry cloth (gauze).If a trace of dye remains on it, then the toy should be washed by hand and very carefully.
If the toy sheds during washing, it means that poor quality materials were used for its production. It is better not to give such a thing to children after washing.
For colorful bright toys, you need to use water at room temperature, and gels and special liquid compositions for washing should be used as a detergent. The same recommendations apply for fine delicate items.
Features of washing soft toys
Artificial materials and fillers used in manufacturing quickly accumulate dust, dirt and absorb all odors. In addition, dust mites quickly multiply in toys, which cause allergic reactions.
Children are especially sensitive to dirt. They do not let their pets out of their hands, becoming dirty, they pose a health hazard.
Washing should be done once every 2 - 3 weeks. No need to wait for visible dirt.
The selection of detergents, powders or washing liquids is carried out taking into account the age of the child. The smaller it is, the more often it is susceptible to the development of allergies, because babies often bring toys to their faces, take them into their mouths.
Hypoallergenic products should be chosen for children prone to skin rashes. You can wash a soft toy at home with household, baby soap, shampoo. To keep hares, bears and tigers fluffy, you can use hypoallergenic fabric softeners.
It is important to inspect the garment before washing for the integrity of the seams. If you do not notice a small hole in the seam, then the filler may be partially lost. The resulting holes must be sewn up before washing.
Toys with long pile should be washed very carefully, but it is better to use dry cleaning for them so that the pile does not lose its shine and silkiness.
You need to dry the washed toys in a straightened form, hanging them with clothespins. You can dry the products near heating appliances. This will speed up the drying process.
How to machine wash soft toys
To wash soft toys in the washing machine, you will need a mesh bag in which each is placed separately. The washing mode is delicate.
Choose hypoallergenic gels, shampoos or liquids as a detergent for baby clothes. You can use baby powder or soap.
Rinsing is an obligatory washing step. To ensure that no chemical components remain in the product, additional rinsing in a basin of water is required. In order to maintain softness, fabric softeners are used.
Do not wring out soft toys in the car, they may lose their shape. Spinning is done manually. The intensity depends on the materials.
This will be followed by drying, which is best done outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
How to hand wash stuffed animals
Washing plush animals by hand is more troublesome. The washing algorithm is as follows:
- soaking the toy in soapy water, the time depends on the degree of pollution, 30 - 40 minutes is enough;
- lathering the surface with a cleaning solution or shampoo using a sponge or soft brush (you can use an old toothbrush) in the direction of the pile;
- rinsing and gentle spinning;
- drying.
After the product is dry, brush it. The resulting pellets are cut or removed with a special device.
If there are stains on the soft toy, you can treat them during the wash process with a stain remover or lather with laundry soap. Leave for a while, then rinse off contaminated areas.
Greasy stains are easily removed by using dishwashing detergents or rubbing the stains with a sponge dampened with rubbing alcohol. These procedures are carried out before washing.
How to wash soft toys correctly
Before washing, inspect toys, read the care instructions on the label, remove electromechanical elements and place the product in a laundry bag.
To wash them in an automatic machine, you need to set the temperature and mode. It is recommended to choose "wool" or "delicate", and the water temperature is up to 40 degrees. The maximum number of revolutions is 800.
Soft toys that are not suitable for machine washing must be hand-treated. Some samples cannot be washed by any method. They require cleaning with special products, which are not recommended for use at home.
How to wash musical stuffed animals
The musical toys are equipped with special blocks for sound recording and playback, which are powered by batteries. Cannot be washed with these elements. They must first be removed.
Manufacturers of expensive toys will fit the music blocks into special Velcro pockets that can be easily removed before washing. If compartments for batteries and other hard parts of the structure must be removed by ripping open the seams, then it is better to refuse washing.
In some cases, you can gently open the seam, remove the mechanism, and put it back in place after washing. The seam will have to be sewn by hand twice: before washing due to the removal of the music unit and after returning.
How to wash large stuffed toys
It is inconvenient to wash very large soft toys not only in the machine, but also by hand. They take on a lot of water and become heavy. It is almost impossible to rinse them well at home and dry them.
If it is not possible to take the toy to dry cleaning, in such cases, a surface wet treatment can be applied. It is carried out with a sponge soaped with detergent. Then carefully wash off the composition from the surface, dry in the open air.
Wet cleaning can only improve the appearance. Therefore, this measure is short-term. It's better to do a professional cleaning after all.
How to wash plush toys
Teddy bears and hares tolerate delicate wash well. You can wash them by hand or in the machine. To keep the pile soft and shiny, you need to use special detergents for washing cashmere and wool.
There is no need to comb dried toys. A dry sponge or cosmetic sponge will help smooth out the wrinkled pile.
How to wash knitted toys
Washing knitted animals does not differ from the methods applicable to woven fabrics. Homemade toys are best hand washed.
Knitted items cannot be twisted and hung, they are laid out on a towel and left to dry completely. To speed up the process, you can use a fan heater or hairdryer.
How to wash anti-stress toys
Feature of anti-stress toys in filler. They are stuffed with polystyrene balls and padding polyester. Such funny animals are very popular among children and adults.
Recently, some manufacturers have replaced the polystyrene balls with buckwheat hulls, bamboo fiber, or flax seeds. Fillers of natural origin cannot be washed, this will ruin the appearance and condition of the filler itself.
Alternatively, you can wash only the fabric shell, after removing the filler. But this procedure requires patience and painstaking work.
They wash antistress toys with polystyrene in the same way as everyone else. Before being sent to the drum of the machine, they are placed in a net or pillowcase, which is fastened.
Liquid and gel detergents are used for washing. Squeezed by hand so as not to damage the integrity and dried in the usual way. Hand wash is also the same as for other products.
How to wash toys with balls inside
Toys with balls inside are anti-stress. They are washed according to the general rules, choosing a mode for washing pillows and blankets (or delicate) and a speed of 400 revolutions.
It is worth remembering that all care information is on the product label. Antistress toys can be washed in the washing machine and manually by placing them in a mesh bag. Synthetic fillers (polystyrene) do not absorb moisture and do not deform.
If there is a risk of damage to the seams, washing can be replaced by damp cleaning with a foamy detergent solution.
How to dry soft toys properly
For each soft toy, the drying mode should be selected individually. It depends on the size and materials from which the product is made.
Large samples can be laid out on the wire rack to dry, and smaller ones can be hung on the clothesline. To dry as quickly and efficiently as possible, it should be carried out in the open air with access to sunlight.
When it is not possible to dry outside or on the balcony, toys should be placed near heating appliances in a well-ventilated room.
Prevention of contamination of soft toys
Preventive measures against pollution include the methods of their operation. It is difficult for children to explain that a bear or a bunny does not want to lie on the floor, and even in an embrace with a pet.
Simple hygiene rules will not save you from dirt, in any case, you will have to clean or wash at least 1 time every 3 months. Do not wait for spots to appear, dust accumulates. A child's health is more valuable than the hassle of caring for his favorite toys.
The child should be taught to wash their hands regularly and be careful with soft toys. The rest depends on the adults.
Conclusion
The washing temperature for soft toys is important in order to maintain their softness and shape. You can wash clothes made of synthetic materials for children in the washing machine or by hand. Simple rules for washing and choosing detergents will help you take the necessary care and keep your baby healthy.
