Home >> Toys >> Stuffed Animals

How to Recycle Stuffed Animals

Most children have at least a few stuffed animals, if not several more. But what about when your children throw the stuffed animals to the back of the closet and stop using them? Throwing stuffed animals away isn't environmentally friendly, but reusing them is. Reusing stuffed animals is one way to recycle them. By finding a new purpose for the stuffed animals in your home or a new home for them, the life span of the stuffed animal is expanded.

Things You'll Need

Stuffed animals
Washing machine
Laundry detergent
Dryer

Instructions

- 1
  Clean the stuffed animals. Sterilize in a washing machine, using hot water and detergent. Dry in a laundry dryer.
- 2
  Separate the new or lightly used stuffed animals from ones in worse shape. Some charities will accept new and lightly used stuffed animals, while others don't accept stuffed animals because of the fear of spreading allergens.
- 3
  Donate the stuffed animals in the best condition. Call local charities like children's hospitals and thrift stores to see if they accept the animals and drop them off. Find other charities online and mail the stuffed animals. Check with the charity before showing up in case they don't accept stuffed animals.
- 4
  Make something from the stuffed animals like a puppet by removing the stuffing and leaving an opening. Older children might enjoy playing with old stuffed animals in a new way. Create bookends by replacing stuffing with sand.

Stuffed Animals