CLEANING and care TIPS
Many people ask us how best to clean and store their treasured toys. We offer a surface cleaning service, and have experience tackling even the grimiest of teddies! Read our cleaning tips below to find out what you can do at home to care for your toys. Proper cleaning and storage will greatly prolong the life of your precious antique or child’s favourite toy!
SURFACE CLEANING SOFT TOYS
For most teddy bear cleaning, we recommend a surface clean.
The best way to do this is with carpet foam or a mild shampoo and warm water solution.
Do not get your toy very wet – just enough water to loosen the dirt. A steam cleaner is helpful if you have one.
Apply the foam or suds with a toothbrush and wipe down with a clean cloth to remove dirt. You may need to do this for several hours if the toy is very dirty.
Starting with a soft, wide brush, gently brush out your toy’s fur. You can gradually build up to finer wire brushes to fluff up the fur. Make sure to brush very gently to avoid pulling out any fur.
If you don’t fancy surface cleaning yourself, contact us – we can certainly do this for you. There are some pricing guidelines here.
MACHINE WASHING MODERN SOFT TOYS
Modern stuffed toys won’t be destroyed if you put them in the washing machine, but the stuffing will all clump together. It’s best to remove the stuffing first and replace it when the toy is dry.
The toy should be placed in a pillowcase to protect it and washed on a gentle cycle.
You can also soak it in warm water with some gentle soap instead.
If you don’t want to restuff it yourself after washing, we can do this for you – give us a shout! There are some pricing guidelines here.
MOTH AND INSECT INFESTATION IN TEDDIES
Keep your toys in a dry and well ventilated area. Moths love warm, dark and musty places, such as attics and the back of cupboards.
Learn to spot moths around your house: Look out for the brown house moth (8mm long with bronze, black-flecked wings) and the common clothes moth (6-7mm long with paler, beige wings).
If your toy has had any moth damage or you spot moth eggs on it, the toy should be placed in a plastic bag and frozen for two weeks before being thoroughly cleaned. We can help if you do not have space to freeze your teddy, just get in touch.
Use a natural moth repellent such as cedar wood balls.
Learn to spot moth eggs on your toy. They look a bit like sand.
If your teddy has moth holes and you would like them repaired, get in touch.
