Though the first line of defense for dust trapping is either a good wipe down, or a nice vacuuming, neither option works especially well when it comes to our children's furry friends — the stuffed animal. If they're on the smelly side you can try baking soda, but if they just need a dusting, try this quick tip!
If your clothes dryer has an "air fluff" cycle, one without heat, toss in the toys with a dryer sheet. The dryer sheet will help calm the static that keeps the dust bunnies sticking tight (and make them smell like a summer meadow).
Toys with hard eyes or other bits, might need to be accompanied in the dryer by a towel or blanket to help cushion the blow to avoid scratching.
It's a quick way to clean what's inevitable without having to bust out the vacuum or spend 30 minutes outside beating the tar out of them (which somehow seems more cruel visually than a tumble in the dryer).
(via: HGTV)
(Image: Flickr member valentinapowers licensed for use under Creative Commons)
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I work for a company that makes plush toys (and shall remain anonymous) but we recommend washing our things tied into a pillowcase to prevent the eyes, or any other hard bits, from being scratched.
Also, it's VERY important that you do not use any heat cycle - nearly all toys will have their plush melt if there is any heat! Not only will it ruin the toy, it'll do a doozy on the inside of your dryer.
Great suggestion! However, in order to kill dust mites that might have settled in (terrible to think about, but they're definitely there!), put your stuffies in a trash bag into the freezer- the low temp there will kill the mites.
I don't have children, but my pooch has a lot of stuffed chew toys that get pretty gross.
I wouldn't feel comfortable using a scented dryer sheet on anything that children or animals would put in their mouths.
Can you just wash the stuffed animals in the machine with unscented laundry detergent and airdry them?
heather77: You can use a microfiber cloth, that can often times help without having any chemicals that might go into small mouths, though it tends to stick to the toys.
You can wash toys in the washer and hang to dry, though there's never any guarantee all the soap was able to be removed from the fiberfill inside.
Thanks, sarahrae, that's a great tip about the microfiber cloths.
Yep, I got with the pillowcase method too. No problems.
Why are you recommending dryer sheets? They have lots of nasty chemicals like phthalates to make those scents - all things kids shouldn't be exposed to.
You also missed another great way to get rid of dust mites - the sun! Baking toys in the sun is also much more enviro-friendly than the dryer as no electricity is waster.
No heat cycle? Just air dry?
How about method dryer sheets? They are plant-derived:
http://www.methodhome.com/product.aspx?page=607
I wash our stuffed toys in the washer. If I only have a few they go in a net bag that zips up. I have been known to wash an entire load of stuffed animals at once though. I let the animals air dry. If it's nice out, they go outside in the sun.
If they "just need a dusting" I use an old toothbrush - works really well to get rid of dust thats settled on them if thye've been sitting around on a shelf and keeps the pile/plush looking good too
i wash stuffed toys in the washer. i also dry them in the dryer because i am consirned with mold meldew growing in them. we live in an extreamly humid climet even hang drying them i wouldnt trust they were completly dried out. we used a spray for baby toys that had noise makers inside.
Puts me in mind of the Truffaut film L'ARGENT DU POCHE: The sequence with the little girl wanting to wash her stuffed-animal elephant to take to brunch is hilarious, when she washes it with water from the fish tank (then is left at home and ends up with neighbors sending over food via pulley systems and baskets).
i put our stuffed animals in the freezer for 24 hours once a month to kill the dust mites
Elizabeth II: "J'ai faim! J'ai faim!" That is the funniest french movie ever. Thanks for reminding me of it, I have to go rent it now.