How to Clean Stuffed Animals With Baking Soda
If your child’s beloved stuffed animal is starting to look a bit dingy, don’t despair! You can clean it easily with some baking soda. Baking soda is a natural cleaner that will remove dirt and stains without damaging the fabric. Stuffed animals are a source of comfort for many children, but they can also be a magnet for dirt and dust.
To keep them clean and fresh-smelling, it’s essential to know how to clean them properly. Baking soda is a great cleaning agent that can remove dirt, bacteria, and odors from stuffed animals. Read on for instructions on how to clean stuffed animals with baking soda for your child’s favorite cuddly friend.
Summary: If your stuffed animal is looking a bit grubby, you can clean it with baking soda! Just mix a teaspoon of baking soda with enough water to make a paste, and scrub the toy clean. Baking soda is also effective at removing stains from clothes, so it can be a useful cleaning tool around the house!
Seven Methods on How to Clean Stuffed Animals With Baking Soda
Method 1: Machine Washing
Place your stuffed animal in your washing machine‘s tub. Fill the tub with hot water and about 1/4 of a cup of baking soda. Add laundry detergent to the water, if desired. Do not use liquid fabric softener or bleach when washing stuffed animals with this method.
If you are using powdered laundry detergent, you do not need to add water to the tub. Instead, wash according to your machine’s instructions and then hang it up to dry, or tumble dry for about 30 minutes on the lowest setting.
Method 2: Hand Washing
Fill a bucket with hot water and 1/4 of a cup of baking soda. Dip in your stuffed animal and gently swish it around to allow the baking soda to remove dirt. Rinse with a cup of cool water and pat dry with a clean cloth.
Method 3: Soaking
Pour about two inches of baking soda into a dish. Add vinegar to the water until it is bubbly, and then add your stuffed animal. Allow it to soak for about 10 minutes or until the material has softened from the liquid mixture. Remove stuffed animals from liquid and rinse with cool water before air drying.
Method 4: Vacuuming
Dip a soft-bristled brush into baking soda. Gently rub the brush over your stuffed animal’s surface until you have removed as much dirt as possible. You can also sprinkle baking soda on the surface and brush lightly with a soft-bristled brush. This works well for plush toys and materials like velvet.
Method 5: Baking Soda Paste
Combine equal parts of water and baking soda to create a thick paste. Apply the paste to your stuffed animal with a clean cloth or paintbrush, then allow the mixture to work for 10 minutes before removing it with a vacuum or damp cloth.
Baking soda is great for cleaning stuffed animals because of its gentle abrasiveness. It is also safe, non-toxic, and less expensive than many commercial cleaners. If you want your stuffed animal to smell fresh, sprinkle cornstarch into the baking soda paste before you apply it.
Method 6: Salt Cleaning
Boil enough water to fill a large bowl, and dissolve as much salt as you can into the water. Next, add your stuffed animal and allow it to sit in the salty solution for at least ten minutes, then dip it into clean water and allow it to dry.
Salt helps maintain stiffness in plush toys and can be used if your stuffed animal has a musty smell. The salt solution is also great for absorbing odors and can be used as part of a process to de-freshen stuffed animals that have been stored for an extended time.
Method 7: White Vinegar Cleaning
Vinegar is a product of the fermentation process of any carbohydrate, so it has good antibacterial properties. It also smells better than bleach and is safe to use on toys that are colored or vinyl.
You can either wipe stuffed animals clean with vinegar or soak them for thirty minutes in a solution of 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar per gallon of warm water. After 30 minutes, drain the vinegar and wash the toys as usual with a bit of dish soap and water before air-drying.
8 Benefits of Cleaning Stuffed Animals With Baking Soda
1. Clothes and stuffed animals smell better after baking soda.
2. Baking soda deodorizes clothes and stuffed animals (removes the smell).
3. Baking soda removes odors from clothes and stuffed animals (not just masking them with scents).
4. Baking Soda is a gentle cleaner that will not irritate your child’s skin.
5. Baking soda leaves clothes and stuffed animals feeling softer.
6. Clothes and stuffed animals come out of the wash smelling less like the washing machine (and more like clean).
7. Baking soda is good for anti-wrinkling clothes and stuffed animals.
8. Baking soda is better for sensitive skin than commercial laundry detergent.
How to Wash Stuffed Animals by Hand?
Wash your plush’s hands and feet by using a mild, soapy solution. Dip them in warm water for gentle cleansing. Dry the area with a paper towel after washing, which is more effective than cloth towels. Rinse out the towel once finished to prevent it from getting dirty, then repeat the process until you have thoroughly washed your plush.
As for your stuffed animal’s face, use a damp cloth to wipe away any stains or dirt. If the plush has painted eyes, you can remove them and wash just the eye sockets with warm water using a cotton swab. Allow the stuffed animal parts that were washed by hand to air dry before putting them back inside their pajamas.
How Long Does It Take for Baking Soda to Work?
It’s going to depend on the type of material your stuffed animal is made of and how long they’ve been stained or smelly. If they’re made of plush material like fleece, it’ll take longer for the baking soda to lift the stains and odor. For example, if you wait for 24 hours, there might still be some stains left or odor residue.
Let it sit overnight or possibly even longer, depending on how severe your stuffed animal is. It should work immediately if they’re made of cloth fabric without any plush material. The baking soda will lift the stains and odor, especially if you let it sit for several hours or overnight.
How to Get Rid of Mildew Odor?
If your stuffed animals have an unpleasant mildew smell, you may be tempted to scrub the surface vigorously. However, this can damage the fur or fabric and make matters worse, and you’ll need to go a few steps back to return your stuffed animals to their former glory.
Start using the baking soda method above, then place your stuffed animals in a warm, dry place to air out for about 24 hours. Do not give up hope if they still smell bad after this point! The problem may be on the inside of the stuffed animal, so you’ll want to proceed with washing them gently by hand or putting them through the machine with your usual laundry detergent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How Do You Use Baking Soda to Clean Stuffed Animals?
When you’ve got a stuffed animal with stains or smells that won’t go away, try some baking soda! Sprinkle the baking soda on the surface of the toy and let it sit for an hour or more, then brush off with a soft-bristled brush and wipe clean. Easy as pie (or cookies).
Q: Can You Use Baking Soda on an Animal that Isn’t Broken?
Yes, baking soda is safe to use on any stuffed animals that are not broken. The only thing you need to do is check for small parts or accessories that may be removable! If something looks like it may come off, you should probably remove it before applying baking soda.
Q: Do You Need to Rinse the Baking Soda Off?
Baking soda is pretty coarse, so it won’t dissolve in water or get absorbed by the stuffed animal’s fabric very easily. By letting the baking soda sit on your stuffed animals for at least six hours, you’re allowing it enough time to absorb all the gunk and grime that has accumulated over time.
In addition, the baking soda will become an integral part of the stuffing when it’s dried, so you can wash your stuffed animals as usual without worrying about rinsing out all the baking soda.
Q: How Does the Baking Soda Help to Clean a Stuffed Animal?
Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is excellent at neutralizing odors and getting rid of stains. This makes it a popular choice for cleaning everything from clothing to stuffed animals. It also helps by gently scrubbing away any stains or gunk that may be left on your toy.
Q: Does This Work on All Stuffed Animals?
This is a great way to clean any stuffed animals made out of fabric, but it won’t work for all materials. If your animal has hard plastic parts or accessories, you should not use baking soda because the powder will get stuck in cracks and crevices. You could potentially damage the toy permanently.
This is a great way to clean any stuffed animals made out of fabric, but it won’t work for all materials. If your animal has hard plastic parts or accessories, you should not use baking soda because the powder will get stuck in cracks and crevices. You could potentially damage the toy permanently.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is essential to note that baking soda can be used on stuffed animals and other toys. The best method for cleaning your stuffed animal with baking soda is by sprinkling a little bit of the powder on both sides and then shaking off any excess.
You may also want to rub the material gently if there are stains or areas where dirt has accumulated. We hope this article helped you learn some helpful techniques on how to clean stuffed animals with baking soda! Please leave them in the comments section below if you have any questions.
