How to wash your child's beloved stuffed animal

There is a big chance that your child owns a stuffed animal that has become a part of your family and that - in case of emergency you would protect with your own life. Our daughter also has one, his name is Charlie, he is a chick and he is always by her side. They eat, sleep and breathe together. He is there whether she is happy, sad or not feeling well. All this soaking up of emotions, spilled drinks, melted chocolate and accidental drops on the floor, obviously takes its toll on his once so beautiful soft yellow fur (feathers?). That's why he needs a wash once in a while. I'm too scared to put him in the washing machine because I have visions of seeing his little yellow face going round and round, while all his limbs are being pulled off from his body, so I decided to play it safe and wash him by hand. I'll share the method I used for this with you today.

The first thing you need is confidence - tell yourself that "insert name of child's toy" WILL come out in one piece, it will NOT lose any limbs. Said that out loud? Let's do this!
Other things you need are some washing up liquid, sponge scourer, a sink or washing up bowl, some lukewarm water, a beautiful sunny day, a washing line for drying and a lot of hours left in the day to make sure it's dry by bedtime again.

First I filled up the sink with lukewarm water and added a "splurt" of washing up liquid. Then I took Charlie and submerged him in the water. Look, here he is - it looks like he rather enjoys it!

Then I took the sponge scourer and with the soft part I went all over his delicate fur. I scrubbed all the stains that were left by unidentified sources - some succesfully, for other parts of his body, like his feet, help came too late. 

After most stains were gone and he started to look beautifully yellow again, I let all the soapy water out of the sink and filled it with clean water again. I squeezed all the soapy water I could out of Charlie and put in him in the clean water. I repeated this process untill he didn't bubble anymore (most of the soap was out of him)

I then squeezed all the water I could out of him and put him on the washing line out in the sun. Here he is, soaking up the sun.

After a couple of hours, he was dry and smelled gorgeous, was definitely a couple of shades more yellow and most importantly, still in one piece! Some stains didn't come out, and may never come out, but they all add to Charlie's uniqueness we shall say!

Thanks for reading!

X Siri