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  • How do you clean small stuffed animals

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    Old 07-17-2016, 03:49 AM
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    Default How do you clean small stuffed animals

    I want to make a few quilts with tiny stuffed animals for children in need (for rescue, red cross, etc I don't have a lot of money so was thinking of recycling lawn sale items for the animals. I got several yesterday and want to sanitize them before I use them. how do you wash etc. them so you don't damage them? Enclosed are several examples I got yesterday at a lawn sale. Thanks.
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    Old 07-17-2016, 03:58 AM
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    Put them in lingerie bags and throw them in the washer and dryer. I just did that with a bunch of donated ones we pass out at the food shelf where I volunteer.

    BTW, in my area at least, you can buy bell peppers in a mesh bag (save on plastic I guess) - those make great lingerie bags as well.
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    Old 07-17-2016, 04:01 AM
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    What does their label say on them?? I think you are doing a great service for your community.
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    Old 07-17-2016, 04:37 AM
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    I've always tossed stuffed animals (maybe 10 at a time) in the washer with two bath towels and a SMALL amount of detergent (too much make it hard for the soap to rinse out). Hot water to kill germs.

    The towels serve to help agitate the dirt. Throw all in the dryer on permanent press with the towels.
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    Old 07-17-2016, 07:31 AM
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    Unless you have boiling water in your washer, it is not going to kill germs. The soap will do that.
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    Old 07-17-2016, 07:45 AM
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    I have two DDs who always had lots of "stuffies", so I had to learn to wash them. I have always had very good luck putting them in individual pillow cases closed with non-metal ponytail holders. When they are washed, I stuff them through the middle of plastic hangers or pin them to them, and hang them either outside during nice weather, or in the bath during colder weather. Most take about 24 hours to dry inside, much quicker outside. The one "cheaply made" stuffy that fell apart, was kept contained in the pillow case and easy to empty into the trash. Since you don't know the origin of your "critters" I would use this method.
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    Old 07-17-2016, 09:46 AM
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    Originally Posted by madamekelly
    I have two DDs who always had lots of "stuffies", so I had to learn to wash them. I have always had very good luck putting them in individual pillow cases closed with non-metal ponytail holders. When they are washed, I stuff them through the middle of plastic hangers or pin them to them, and hang them either outside during nice weather, or in the bath during colder weather. Most take about 24 hours to dry inside, much quicker outside. The one "cheaply made" stuffy that fell apart, was kept contained in the pillow case and easy to empty into the trash. Since you don't know the origin of your "critters" I would use this method.
    This seems like the most workable for me....I don't have a dryer. Thanks to you and everyone.
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    Old 07-17-2016, 10:03 AM
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    I've always just chucked stuffed toys in washer, hung out to dry n 10 minutes in dryer to fluff them up. My kids are 33 and 24. Never failed yet lol, now starting on my granddaughters lol.
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    Old 07-18-2016, 03:50 AM
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    I put them in an old pillow case and wash as usual in the washing machine. You can either knot the pillow case to keep everything in the bag, put snap closures on the case or put a zipper in the case. Works Great. Dries the same way!!
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    Old 07-18-2016, 06:08 AM
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    Throw them in the washer and dryer. Perhaps with a Color Catcher if there is a possibility of issues. But if it won't survive the washer and dry, it won't survive a child. Dry for a few minutes to fluff, hang or lay out to finish drying.
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