Stuffed animals can be stain and dirt magnets when in the hands of a child. But you also must keep the toys clean. Lets see how to remove stains from stuffed animals the easy way.
There are some stains that are very difficult to remove with conventional methods. For example popping them in the washing machine won’t remove some stains even with the best of detergents. And sometimes you must act quickly.
Now lets remove stains from stuffed animals
It is pretty much a given that at some point your child is going to fall or hit something. Getting a little blood on the stuffed animal is a normal consequence. Blood stains are one of the most difficult to clean, but it is possible.
Leslie Reichert, who knows a thing or two about cleaning (being an expert in the field) says you can remove a blood stain with hydrogen peroxide. First you have to scrape the died bits and then pour a few drops of the peroxide. Then do a normal washing cycle. If needed you can repeat but also add a drop of dish soap to the peroxide and rub it into the stain with a brush.
If your kids get a hold of your make up, you know the results. Usually stuffed animals are one of the favorite “test subjects” for the kids. A mix of rubbing alcohol and castile soap can help you out. Blot the stain with a damp cloth and then do a washing cycle.
Ketchup is another popular stain causer. A sponge and cool water might do the trick if the stain is fresh. For older stains try a mixture of a tablespoon of dishwashing soap with cool water. Blot the stain with a damp cloth. Do that a few times until you see the results. Reichert says to only blot the stained area and work from outside to the center of the stain to prevent it growing out.
Red wine is rare to find on a stuffed animal. But what if you were having a bad day and were relaxing with a glass of wine while cuddling your favorite stuffie? Now for a surprise. Use white wine to remove the stain from the red wine. Another option is club soda with borax. Either way blot the stain with a cloth and don’t pour the white wine or the mixture directly onto the stain.
Crayons are one of the favorite weapons of choice for kids that want to improve the look of a stuffed animal. One option is to spray some WD-40 onto the stains and then rub in some liquid dishwashing soap and then give the toy a trip in the washing machine. This bear on the left was actually entirely drawn out with crayons. After a few washing cycles though, you can’t really tell that was the case.
Chocolate is another often found stain on stuffed animals. Scrape off the excess and then use hot water and soap as soon as possible. If you can’t remove the chocolate you may risk it with a couple of drops of color-safe bleach. Bill Begal says to Mom.me to never put the fabric in the dryer until you are sure the stain is out otherwise you will set it in for good.
If your kids love to take the stuffed animals outside, they can easily get dirty. Removing grass stains us to use heavy-duty laundry soap. Rub it into the stain and then do a normal washing cycle.
Finally, removing dirt and mud stains from a stuffed animal. Counterintuitive, wait for the mud to dry. Otherwise you’re simply asking for a whole lot more trouble than you need. After the mud is try, it is basically dirt. Scrape it off gently with a plastic knife or a spoon. Then gently brush the excess off with a soft brush.
Next put a few drops of liquid dish soap onto the stain and rub it in with a finger. Then add a few drops of water and brush it nicely with a brush. Repeat if needed.
Other options for remove older stains are to use a generic hand cleaner and rub it into the stain with a brush. Then wait for an hour or so and put the toy into the washing machine as normal. But leave the agitation part for longer, about 30 minutes. Then continue the wash cycle as normal.
