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How to Clean Stuffed Animals Without Damaging the Tags

Stuffed animals are cuddly toys enjoyed by many children and collectors around the world. Small children often carry around stuffed animals constantly, making the toys a breeding ground for bacteria. Stuffed animals should be cleaned regularly to kill germs, remove dirt and keep the stuffed toys looking new. Many stuffed animal collectors prefer to keep the tags on stuffed animals, for value purposes. Certain solutions and techniques are necessary for cleaning stuffed animals to prevent damaging the tags.

Things You'll Need

Baking soda
Soft cloth
1 tbsp. liquid laundry detergent
2 cups water
Small bucket
Cotton swab
Soft sponge
Plush towel

Instructions

- 1
  Untie any ribbons or bows on the stuffed animal. Remove any accessories and lay them aside.
- 2
  Sprinkle the surface of the stuffed animal with baking soda. Allow the baking soda to absorb into the stuffed animal's fur for an hour.
- 3
  Wipe off the baking soda thoroughly from the stuffed animal with a soft cloth. The soft cloth will also remove any dust and dirt accumulated in the fur.
- 4
  Mix 1 tbsp. of liquid laundry detergent with 2 cups of water in a small bucket. Dip a cotton swab into the solution.
- 5
  Rub the cotton swab onto an inconspicuous area of the stuffed animal, to ensure the solution will not damage the toy. Once the test spot dries, examine the spot for discoloration or fur removal. If the spot is damaged, do not continue cleaning the stuffed animal with the detergent solution.
- 6
  Dampen soft sponge with the detergent solution. Gently wipe the entire surface of the stuffed animal with the solution, without soaking the toy. Do not get the solution on the tag.
- 7
  Rub a plush towel over the stuffed animal to dry the toy off. Allow the stuffed animal to air dry.

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