gear care: how to treat your stuffies right.

[plushprincess]

hi everyone!

 

i just looked up the whole forum for topics about gear care, particually how to wash plushies. to me at least, it's important to keep everything clean, including all my gear and accesoirs. besides washing the bed sheets, i also would like to keep my plushies clean, since they can hold lots of hair, skin particles, drool, but also dust, and all the stuff that you don't want.

 

so with this topic, i'd like to open up a thread/discussion/exchange about how to care for plushies the right way.

feel free to tell your ways!

 

[junebug0325]

Heya! This is a great topic and I definitely have some tips and tricks to share! 

 

1. Before you put it in the machine, expect your stuffie. Does it have anything that can be removed like ribbons, bows, or hats? Is there any strings hanging off of it that might be able to get caught in the washing machine and pull?

 

2. After you inspect your stuffie carefully, put it in a mesh laundry bag. The bag gives it an extra layer of protection from it getting snagged or having fur pulled out of it. 

 

3. Always wash on the gentle/delicate cycle.

 

4. Use cold or warm water. Never hot. If things are glued on, the hot water might dissolve the glue.

 

5. Hang dry. Do not tumble dry. This might lead to things melting like glue or even eye balls. Always hang dry and make sure that the entirety of the stuffie has room to breathe so it doesn't obtain a smell. 

 

 

I hope this helps you in your stuffie caretaker adventure! 

 

 

 

 

Junebug x.

[Bearly]

Hi, avid (mostly vintage) plush collector here. Unless something seems particularly delicate*, I tie my plushies into a pillowcase and wash in the washing machine on warm or cold, and then air dry.

 

*Delicate traits include but are not limited to:

-Structural wire/cardboard

-Ripped seams or holes in general

-Any stuffing besides polyester/polyfill

-Air brushed/painted details

-Loose pieces like eye or nose

-Batteries or electronics or other moving parts (i.e. windup or pullstring)

-Realistic eyelashes or hair

-Yarn or felt anywhere

 

Surface washing and touch-ups with a washcloth and some detergent or soap can really go a long way. When in doubt, hand wash. Bear Cleaner from Build-a-bear is also pretty good for surface cleaning a plush.

[Vampiress]

How do you avoid washing stuffies in the washer getting their fur ruined? You know how they're brand new and they have nice soft fur, but then they get all wet and it's just not so nice anymore... kind of clumpy, I don't know. There are stuffie restores on Etsy and I always wonder how they get it looking almost new again.

Like in the below picture you see how the fur is not like it's new anymore and then they fixed it? How do you do that or avoid the damage in the first place?

[Lollipox]

How do you avoid washing stuffies in the washer getting their fur ruined? You know how they're brand new and they have nice soft fur, but then they get all wet and it's just not so nice anymore... kind of clumpy, I don't know. There are stuffie restores on Etsy and I always wonder how they get it looking almost new again.

Like in the below picture you see how the fur is not like it's new anymore and then they fixed it? How do you do that or avoid the damage in the first place?

Probably more likely from hand washing or surface scrubbing. I remember a video years ago where they hand washed the floof with a toothbrush, and used a hairdryer on med or low when it came time to dry. Then they brushed the floofs as they dried it to keep it from clumping.

 

There’s not really a way to avoid it other than displaying the plushie and not interacting with it.

 

———

Always check the tags on your plushies before throwing them in the wash. Some require surface cleaning and can’t be submerged.

 

Side note: I have never considered plushies to be “gear”. Are you only using them as props? I’m just curious

Edited August 24, 2020 by ♥︎ＳｎｏｔＲｏｃｋｅｔ♥︎

[RainDoeSprinkles]

Hihi! Besides wanting our furry pals to be clean for hygiene reasons, I actually really like it when my plushies don't look so new anymore. That shows they are well loved and have had lots of adventures!

[Vampiress]

Yeah that's true, I just don't like what happens in the washer. It's so drastic.