Q. My daughter's teddy bear has seen better days. How can I get it clean?
A. Teddy bears are objects of unconditional love. They snuggle into beds at night. They travel in backpacks, in car seats and on airplanes. They endure sticky fingers, dusty corners, and gooey kisses. They've even been known to stand in for pacifiers and chew toys. It's no wonder that this best buddy could use a bath!
Start by vacuuming off any dust and loose grime. Then check for split seams; repair them before cleaning. If the teddy has a sound box or other mechanical or electronic device, it will need to be removed. Otherwise, washing will cause it to rust or create a corrosive residue and it won't work anymore.
If there are any obvious stains, pretreat them by rubbing a little bit of liquid detergent directly on the stain. Then, put teddy into a pillowcase and secure it shut with a knot, rubber band, or hair elastic. Although teddy won't mind being washed with other stuffed animals, don't overfill the pillowcase. Those cozy companions need room to move around. Wash in the washing machine on the gentle cycle with a small amount of detergent. Before putting teddy in the dryer, make sure all the stains are gone. Close up the pillowcase again and put teddy in the dryer on low heat.
If teddy's fur needs a bit of fluffing, brush it gently with an old, clean hairbrush.