To prevent the bear from becoming overly logged with water, only submerge the first part (head, limbs, back side, front side, etc) that you intend to clean. Use a high-efficiency (HE) dish or laundry detergent that produces few suds in order to make rinsing easier. [2] X Research source
Make sure to clean behind its ears, along its neck, and any other areas where seams create crevices and extra dirt might collect.
Again, to keep the bear from becoming excessively waterlogged, only rinse off one part at a time before submerging the next.
Don’t worry if you end up using “too much” water. All this means is that you will have to wait a little bit longer for your bear to dry before it is ready to play with again.
If you have several spots or bears to clean, or expect to have to clean toys often, mix either 1 teaspoon of dish soap for every 1 cup of water in a spray bottle,[8] X Research source or mix a drop of liquid laundry detergent for every 1 cup of water. Spray the solution directly on the dirty spot. If there is one, check the bear’s care label to see if it recommends or warns against any particular chemical.
Only rub the dirty area. Avoid spreading soap and suds so that you don’t miss any when it is time to rinse them off.
This time, be sure to only slightly dampen the towel as opposed to soaking it, which may create or spread more suds while wiping the bear, and thus defeat the purpose.
Old teddy bears, those that are delicate by design, and those that have become fragile due to lots of use. Bears that are made of wool, mohair, alpaca fur, or rayon. Any with attached add-ons like sequins, buttons, or eyes that have been glued on.
Do not use hot water, since this may ruin the bear. Do not include items that are excessively dirty or whose colors may bleed in the same wash cycle as your bear.
Setting up a fan to blow directly on the bear will help it to dry out quicker. [15] X Research source
If your bear was too delicate for a machine-wash, consider it to be too delicate for a machine-dry, as well.
