How to Repair Sock Monkeys

Get rid of any foul smells by airing out your sock monkeys in sunlight for no more than two hours at a time to prevent fading. Most stains can be removed with a stuffed animal cleaning solution, which you can purchase from a store such as Build a Bear.

As a last resort, you can wash your sock monkeys in cold water and a gentle cleanser such as Woolite. Let them completely air dry as opposed to putting them in the dryer.

Sew up holes that are small or that are along the seams of the sock monkey. You can use any needle and thread, although many people prefer to use a thread color that matches the rest of the sock monkey's stitching.

Patch holes with the fabric of your choice--using mismatched fabric can make your sock monkey look even more charming. Patching is best when you have to fix large holes and is also the best recourse to fix holes if the sock monkey is made of wool.

Add extra stuffing to return fullness to your sock monkeys that are worn or sunken in--batting can be bought from most craft supply and fabric stores. Open a seam in a discreet area, such as under the arm or near the tail, and add stuffing until the fullness of the sock monkey is uniform. Nylon stockings can also also be used for re-stuffing, especially if that's what the sock monkey was originally stuffed with.

Replace the beans inside your sock monkeys if that is what they were originally filled with. Some sock monkeys, especially those from the 50s and 60s, were stuffed with actual beans. Unless soybeans were used, there is a decent chance that the beans may be infested with insects, so make sure you open the sock monkey outside. You can re-fill it with plastic beads to make it more sanitary--buy these from a craft or hobby supply store.