Sometimes stuffed animals can smell pretty bad. Especially if they have been played with a lot. Or you have forgotten them for years in the basement. So lets find out how to get bad smells out of stuffed animals.
There can be many reasons for bad musty smells that come out of stuffed animals. For example it is a really old teddy bear that has spent quite a few years in a box in a moist basement or a garage. To top it off the teddy bear is made out of mohair or is stuffed with cotton or other more natural material (not synthetic polyfoam used now). This will almost certainly make the toy smell pretty bad.
But stuffies can develop a bad smell even when they are played with often. They can absorb smells from the kitchen, from cigar smoke and even just from dust. If you don’t wash them often, in time all of these factors will accumulate and the stuffie will develop quite a stench.
But worry not. All of these issues are relatively easy to tackle. First up is to evaluate the issue. For example mildew. You have to start with removing the mildew. Wear gloves and a mask just in case. Take the stuffie out and use an old toothbrush to brush the mildew off. If the toy has a tag, read it as it will have useful information on what materials are used and how to best clean them without damaging it. If you use the wrong detergent or setting in the washing machine, you can indeed damage it, so take note. Also, some toys are only surface washable and that will be noted on the tag.
If possible, wash the toy in the washing machine. If not, use baking soda as stage one. Then leave the toy to air dry.
The nex stage is to mix an equal amount of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray the solution over the toy. You can also do that before the wash if the smell is really strong and bad. Spray the solution over the toy, but not too much, you don’t want the fur to be soaked.
Next, sprinkle some baking soda on the toy and leave it overnight. On the next morning use a vacuum cleaner to clean the toy from the baking soda. You can also wash it one final time and it should be smelling all clean and fresh.
And while you’re at it, you can restore the sent of a scented stuffed animal, or you can even make a scented stuffie yourself. They are safe.
