Cleaning Tips - Leith Toy Hospital (2024)

FAQs

Cleaning Tips - Leith Toy Hospital? ›

For most teddy bear cleaning, we recommend a surface clean. Generally the best way to do this is with carpet foam or a mild shampoo and warm water solution. Although make sure your toy doesn't get very wet – just enough water to loosen the dirt. A steam cleaner is helpful if you have one.

Instead of using a harsh chemical like bleach, consider cleaning toys with an eco-friendly and chemical-free cleaning solution of vinegar and water. Create a mixture of one part water with one part vinegar (add an essential oil if you want to cut the smell of vinegar) and get to cleaning!

To one bowl add a capful of a washing liquid designed especially for wool, and whisk it into a foam. After gently brushing your bear with his normal brush to remove any dust , take one of the other brushes and apply a little of the foam – not the water – to his surface, using gentle circular movements.

How often you clean your baby's toys generally depends on how often your little one plays with them. While toys that get daily attention should be washed every day or two, toys like stuffed animals that only get an occasional cuddle can be washed weekly or as needed.

Use A Towel & Rub It Dry

If the stuffed animal is still damp, rubbing a towel through it is highly effective. Use a soft comb alongside the towel method until you see the plushie returning to its original shape. You can also use a hair dryer and your fingers to fluff up the fur.

If the toy isn't dishwasher safe, use a concentrated dish soap, like Dawn Free & Clear, and warm water to wash the toy in the sink (or a food-grade sanitizer would work great). Use a soft sponge or scrubber to get into all the nooks and crannies of the toy. Then let it air dry in the drying rack.

For surface cleaning

Soap: Liquid hand soap or castile soap is preferred. Antibacterial soap is fine but not necessary. Avoid using harsh soaps like dish soap. Paper towels or clean washcloths: Use these to air-dry toys after cleaning.

Chlorine evaporates off the toys so no residue remains. Mix a fresh solution each day. Use ¼ teaspoon of unscented chlorine bleach to 1 quart (½ ounce per gallon) of cool water. This assures that the sanitizing solution will have the desired concentration of 50-200 ppm of chlorine.

What is the best product to clean teddy bears with? ›

Spot-clean the toy to remove stains and dirt using a damp, soapy cloth. (Dish soap or laundry detergent both work.) Rinse the soap with another cloth, being careful not to use too much water.

If the toy is older or in a delicate condition, and you don't want to risk it in the washing machine, then you can hand-wash it with a gentle detergent and cool water. Gently squeeze the cleaning solution through the toy and then rinse by squeezing clean water through the toy with no wringing.

Lisa recommends cuddly toys should be washed roughly once every four weeks, to keep them hygienic. “Generally once a month would be a good idea,” she says, “especially if their teddy is one they got to sleep with every night and carry around with them constantly”.

Boiling Water

The boiling method is a tried and tested way of cleaning your child's teething toys and works particularly well for hard plastic or wooden toys. Simply boil the toys in water for 5-10 minutes, killing any and all germs, and allow them to dry and cool down completely before giving them back to your child.

Look for ingredients such as hydrogen peroxide or citric acid, which are effective disinfectants without posing health risks to babies. We recommend Quick Shine Disinfectant Floor Cleaner which checks all the boxes plus it is safe for use on hardwood and all hard surface floors.

To sanitize hard, non-porous baby toys that have batteries or can't be washed in the washing machine, simply wipe down with a cloth using a solution of soap and warm water. Dry, and then wipe down with a Lysol® Disinfecting Wipe.

If you do choose to machine dry a stuffed animal, use the no- or low-heat setting. A better choice, though, is to air dry plush toys, because fur can get burned in a hot dryer; place the toy near a fan or a dehumidifier to speed up drying time and ensure that the inner stuffing doesn't retain water.

Modern stuffed toys won't be destroyed if you put them in the washing machine, but the stuffing will all clump together. It's best to remove the stuffing first and replace it when the toy is dry. Furthermore place your toy in a pillowcase to protect it and wash on a gentle cycle.

Method #2 Clean stuffed animals without washing with water

We have heard that it is possible to clean stuffed animals with baking soda if you're looking for a non-water way to remove dirt. Put the stuffed animal in a medium to large plastic bag. Add a handful of baking soda to the bag (you can also use salt for this).