Her flagship column, Ask a Clean Person, debuted in 2011.
When a kid really loves a toy, theyll bring it with them everywhere.
Thats cute, sure, but its also super gross.
This means that youll have to wash that stuffed animal at some point.
Heres what you better know about that potentially dangerous task.
When she was ill for 10 years she slept with it every night and cuddled to it.
After she passed away I kept it and sleep with it, thinking of her.
Poor LambChop is very, very dingy and kind of worn.
I wouldnt care so much, except it was Moms and she loved it and so do I.
How can I clean it without it falling apart and still get it white again?
It is now tagless so I cant read the instructions on it.
Thank you for any help it’s possible for you to give me, I appreciate it.
In the case of LambChop, we will treat her (him?
My apologies if Ive misgendered ole Lammy!)
to a gentle hand-washing experience.
But in the case of a run-of-the-mill plush toy, machine washing is perfectly fine.
Lets start with those instructions, since theyre relatively straightforward, before we get into the hand-wash method.
Here are the best practices for that operation:
Use the gentlest cycle available on your washing machine.
Wash plush toys in cold water using a mild detergent.
Padding the drum of the washer with towels can add another layer of protection.
Machine drying is also fine, and it will be best to use the low-heat setting.
Step 1: Pick a location where the hand-washing will take place.
And, of course, confirm the space where youre hand-washing is clean.
Step 2: Introduce water, detergent and a booster, if needed.
Fill the sink with lukewarm water and detergent, and add a small amount of a mild detergent.
Heading into agitate it from time to time will also help to release dinge.
Step 4: Rinse.
After allowing the item to soak, drain the wash water.
It will probably be pretty gross-looking!
Its OK if you find the state of the water oddly satisfying.
Repeat as needed until the toy is free of suds.
If the toy is sturdy, you’re able to also rinse it directly under running water.
Step 5: Dry.
Next, transfer it to a clean towel and roll it up, pressing again to extract more water.
Then lay the item on the towel to air dry.
This story was originally published in 2017 and updated with new information on 3/2/2020.
