Plush Cleaning Information

After numerous picnics, sleepovers, and days of general loving, even the most fastidious Teddy may need some sprucing. Even bears who are displayed in a closed cabinet likely will accumulate light dust after a while.

When it comes time to clean your beloved bears, The Teddy Baron offers the following suggestions:

• Use your best judgment. Collectible and artist bears' values are significantly reduced if they are damaged, so anything beyond a light dusting may not be worth the risk of potential damage. If you do proceed with a cleaning, be sure to keep all of the original tags, ribbons, clothes, and other accessories.
  
  
• Check the label(s) for cleaning warnings and recommendations. If they are provided, follow the guidelines carefully. After all, who knows how to clean a bear better than his or her creator?
  
  
• Unless the label clearly recommends it, DO NOT clean a bear in a washing machine – and even then you may want to reconsider! Water will eventually destroy metal and wooden components inside the bear, and the rough treatment of a washing machine – even on the gentle cycle – may weaken a bear's seams. Dry cleaning is discouraged, as well.
  
  
• If the bear has only light dust, gently shake the bear and fluff its fur. This is a good time to give your bear a well-deserved hug, as well!
  
  
• For velvet bears and others with very short nap, masking tape will remove bits of fuzz:

1. Cut a short length of masking tape.
   
   
2. Form a loop by sticking the tape's ends together, sticky side out.
   
   
3. Slip your fingers inside the loop and hold the tape taut.
   
   
4. Gently dab the bear's surface with the tape.
   
   
5. Rotate the tape as necessary to use a fresh surface.
   

• For stubborn dust, stretch a piece of pantyhose across the vacuum cleaner nozzle, secure it with a rubber band, and gently run the nozzle over the bear's fur. Give extra attention to the bear's ears and joints as dust tends to gather in these areas. Another option is to use a household hair dryer set on "Low." Try to blow the air at an angle to the figure to avoid pushing the dust deeper. Both methods should help fluff the bear's fur, as well.
  
  
• Spot clean using clean, warm water. You may be surprised by how well this water-only bath works!
  

1. Dampen a sponge or white cotton cloth with water.
   
   
2. Wring out any excess, and then gently wipe or dab the fur.
   
   
3. Rinse the sponge or cloth and repeat this process.
   
   
4. Change the cloth as necessary if it gets too dirty.
   
   
5. Continue wiping and rinsing until the entire bear has been cleaned.
   
   
6. Gently towel-dry the bear and allow him to air-dry overnight.
   
   
7. For heavily soiled bears, you may want to repeat this process two or three times. Allow the bear to fully dry, usually a couple of days, between each bath.
   
   
8. When the bear has been cleaned to your satisfaction, gently shake and touch up his fur with a soft nail brush if necessary.
   

• If the water-only method fails to remove the dirt, you may decide to spot clean using warm water and a mild detergent. Please note, however, that some bear experts believe soaps and detergents leave residue that will attract more dust.
  

1. Add a small amount of mild soap or detergent such as Ivory to a bowl of warm water.
   
   
2. Mix the soap with a fork until it is sudsy.
   
   
3. Dampen a sponge or white cotton cloth with the soapy liquid.
   
   
4. Wring out any excess moisture, and then gently wipe or dab an inconspicuous area of the fur.
   
   
5. Dampen another sponge or white cotton cloth with clean, warm water.
   
   
6. Wring out any excess moisture, and then gently wipe or dab the tested area of fur to rinse it.
   
   
7. Allow the bear to fully dry and check for colorfastness.
   
   
8. If the results are satisfactory, repeats steps 1 through 4 with soapy water to clean the entire surface of the bear.
   
   
9. Repeat steps 5 through 6 with warm, clean water to rinse the bear. You may want to repeat the rinse process to make sure all of the detergent has been removed.
   
   
10. Gently towel-dry the bear and him to air-dry overnight.
    
    
11. When the bear has been cleaned to your satisfaction, gently shake and touch up his fur with a soft nail brush if necessary.
    
    
    

If a bear is not physically dirty but has a musty odor, The Teddy Baron suggests:

• If the weather permits, set the bear outside in a secure area for a little fresh air. Strong sunlight will eventually fade most bears, especially those with red fur, but dappled sunshine in a shady area may help remove stronger odors.
  
  
• Again with weather permitting, tuck the bear into a clean pillowcase and hang the case on a clothesline for a few hours in the afternoon.
  
  
• If the weather or space don't allow for outdoor freshening, try the following:

1. Put the bear in large plastic container with a tight-fitting lid such as a Rubbermaid.
   
   
2. Place a small dish of baking soda, kitty litter, or a few scented dryer sheets next to – but not touching – the bear and seal the lid.
   
   
3. Allow the bear to remain in the container for at least 48 hours, and then check for odors.
   
   
4. The bear may need to continue this "treatment" for a week or two, and may require replacement baking soda, kitty litter, or dryer sheets.

• For smaller bears, place the bear and a scented dryer sheet in a plastic bag. Seal the bag, and allow the bear to remain in it for at least 48 hours.
  
  
• Another option is to lightly spray the bear with a fabric freshener such as Febreeze and allow the bear to air-dry. After drying, gently wipe the bear's fur with a clean, damp cloth to remove any residue and again allow him to air-dry. You may want to test this method on an inconspicuous area of the bear first to test for colorfastness.