Drying soft toys in a tumble dryer

Even children's soft toys need to be washed regularly to ensure they're safe for play. This is just as important as cleaning your baby's clothes, as favorite toys can also harbor dust mites and mold. While washing them isn't usually difficult, drying them in a dryer can be a bit of a hassle. Let's find out whether it's safe to dry soft toys in a dryer, whether they'll be damaged, or whether they'll harm your "home helper."

Is the toy dryer compatible?

First of all, let's find out whether it is possible to dry soft toys automatically. This depends solely on the product and should be checked using the label, which must be present on the toy. For example, if the label shows a circle in a square with two crossed lines, then the toy is strictly prohibited from being tumble dried.

But it's not always possible to find such instructions on the label, as sometimes plush toys don't have tags—they may have been torn off by a child, or they weren't originally on the product. In this case, you should look for the packaging, which may contain care instructions, or carefully examine the toy itself, evaluating it based on a number of parameters.

• Inspect the item for any glued-on parts. If it does, avoid tumble drying soft toys, as poor-quality glue can cause the parts to fall off. The glue can also melt or even ignite.
• Make sure the toy doesn't have tassels or other items with long hairs, which shouldn't be dried. As an exception, braids can be tied in knots and dried on the most delicate setting at the lowest temperature.
• Finally, carefully inspect the item after washing it in the washing machine. If it has faded after the cycle, putting it in the dryer will damage it even more.

If there is no label on the toy, you should try to find information about it on the Internet, for example, in online stores that may have the same or similar product.

If you don't have precise washing and drying instructions for soft toys, you can try drying your stuffed animal in a tumble dryer on the gentlest cycle. Stay close to the machine to monitor the toy's operation and condition. After about 15 minutes, stop the cycle and check the toy. If everything is fine, you can dry it on a full cycle.

What to do if the dryer is “contraindicated”?

When washing and drying a stuffed animal that is not suitable for automatic washing, extreme caution should be exercised. Follow these expert recommendations to avoid accidentally damaging the toy.

• Never wring out the toy with force; remove it from the basin or washing machine and gently run your hands over it from top to bottom.
• You can squeeze it out further by pressing lightly on it from above, after placing it on a horizontal surface.
• Then the soft toy should be wrapped in a thick, non-fading fabric or a terry towel to remove any remaining moisture.
• After these procedures, your child's plush pet should be left in a horizontal position, for example, on a clothes dryer.

Toys should only be dried in well-ventilated rooms, otherwise their filling may acquire an unpleasant musty smell.

• Be sure to comb the pile of the product with a wide-toothed comb.
• Turn the toy over and shake it occasionally to ensure it dries on all sides and that the filling doesn't form into tight clumps.
• Never leave the product to dry on a radiator, stove, or in direct sunlight, as this will cause it to fade.

Proper care of plush toys is very important, because the safety of your child's favorite depends on it. Plus, if the product is not dried properly, black mold may appear inside it, which can trigger the development of allergies and asthma. That's why you need to wash and dry toys properly to avoid ruining an expensive item and harming your family.

   

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