Stuffed Animal Fun
Buying GuideBuying Stuffed Animal Gifts for Someone you don't KnowStuffed Animal Storage: Where can you keep all those stuffed animals?Stuffed animals and teenage girlsThe Best Stuffed Animals for PetsHere are some of the top stuffed animals of 2007!Stuffed Animals and KidsTop Ten Reasons that Stuffed Animals make great giftsStuffed Animals: Happy or sad? Ugly or pretty?Stuffed Animals for Your ValentineThese aren't your grandmother's stuffed animals!Should you buy a Giant Stuffed Animal?Stuffed Animals Versus DollsReligion, Christmas Gifts and Stuffed Animals
Stuffed Animal Dos and Don'ts- Q&AStuffed animal and teddy bear triviaHistory of Teddy BearsQuick Tips to Keep those Stuffed Animals in Good ShapeHow to plan a Teddy Bear Picnic (all types of stuffed animals invited!)Teddy Bear Picnic SongStuffed Animal Cleaning MethodsEncouraging Creative Stuffed Animal PlayStuffed Animal GlossaryStuffed Animal Halloween CostumesMulti-generational Stuffed Animal Heirlooms can bring a Family CloserStuffed Animal Icebreaker ActivitiesStuffed Animals instead of (or as training for) PetsHow to convince a child to switch from an old beloved stuffed animal to a new (cleaner!) oneWhat can I do with my old stuffed animals?
Quick Tips to Keep those Stuffed Animals in Good Shape
Individual stuffed animals often become sentimentally, emotionally, or even financially (in the case of collectibles) important to people. Not only kids, but adults and pets can become very attached to their favorite stuffed animals. As such, it's extremely important to keep those stuffed animals in good shape. If you need to clean the stuffed animals, read up on how best to do it. Otherwise, check out the following stuffed animal care tips.
- Air out: Once or twice a year, or more often if the stuffed animals begin to smell musty, take those stuffed animals out and lay them out in the sun for an afternoon. This will help prevent that musty smell from taking over your stuffed animals.
- Beware of sun: At the same time, try to store your stuffed animals so that they're not in direct sunlight all the time. Just like house paint and furniture, stuffed animals will fade in color with too much sun exposure.
- Wash after sickness: If a stuffed animal is used to comfort and support a sick child who has something contagious (ie. the flu, chicken pox, or just a cold), it's a good idea to clean the stuffed animal to prevent it from spreading the disease.
- Beware of bleed: Should the stuffed animal get wet for whatever reason, including cleaning it, be careful not to leave the stuffed animal next to anything of an unlike color. Stuffed animals, like clothes, will bleed their color. Check out how to properly dry stuffed animals.
- Add more stuffing: If the stuffed animal is starting to have loose "skin" or get lopsided, it might help to add more stuffing. All you need to do is open up one of the side seams of the stuffed animal. You can use old stuffing from a pillow or buy new stuffing at a craft store. Push the new stuffing into the stuffed animal and then resew the side seam. You'll be impressed with the new and improved stuffed animal!
- Beware of loose pieces: Particularly when the stuffed animal belongs to a young child, it's a good idea to check it periodically to make sure the button nose, eyes, or other parts aren't coming loose. You don't want a child (or a pet) to be able to swallow any part of a stuffed animal.
- Electricity+Water=Bad: It's probably pretty obvious that electricity and water shouldn't mix, but it's easy to forget that certain talking or moving stuffed animals do indeed have electric parts. Keep these stuffed animals away from the water!
- Air out: Once or twice a year, or more often if the stuffed animals begin to smell musty, take those stuffed animals out and lay them spread out in the sun for an afternoon. This will help prevent that musty smell from taking over your stuffed animals.
- Beware of sun: At the same time, try to store your stuffed animals so that they are not in direct sunlight all the time. Just like house paint and furniture, stuffed animals will fade in color with too much sun exposure.
- Wash after sickness: If a stuffed animal is used to comfort and support someone who is sick with something contagious (ie. the flu, chicken pox, or just a cold), it's a good idea to clean the stuffed animal to prevent it from spreading the disease.
- Beware of bleed: Should the stuffed animal get wet for whatever reason, including cleaning it, be careful not to leave the stuffed animal next to anything of an unlike color. Stuffed animals, like clothes, will bleed their color. Check out how to properly dry stuffed animals.
- Add more stuffing: If the stuffed animal is starting to have loose "skin" or get lopsided, it might help to add more stuffing. All you need to do is open up one of the side seams of the stuffed animal. You can use old stuffing from a pillow or buy new stuffing at a craft store. Push the new stuffing into the stuffed animal and then resew the side seam. You'll be impressed with the new and improved stuffed animal!
- Beware of loose pieces: Particularly when the stuffed animal belongs to a young child, it's a good idea to check it periodically to make sure the button nose, eyes, or other parts aren't coming loose. You don't want a child (or a pet) to be able to swallow any part of a stuffed animal.
- Electricity+Water=Bad: It's probably pretty obvious that electricity and water shouldn't mix, but it's easy to forget that certain talking or moving stuffed animals do indeed have electric parts. Keep these stuffed animals away from the water!
