So your child loves her favorite teddy and the oh-so-cuddly stuffed toys. She may like to curl up and sleep with a beanie or a furry friend. It is comforting and cute no doubt, but do you realize that they are also a giant storehouse for dust and mites?

This dust can cause serious allergies to your child and the germs may cause infection of all sorts! Keeping the stuffed toys clean is therefore very important. First of all, do not keep the toys outside all the time, e.g., on the bed. Store them away in a cupboard and take it out whenever your darling wants to play with them.

Most of the toys can be soaked for a few hours in a bucket with lukewarm water and a gentle cleaning agent, like wool-cleaning solutions Ezee or Genteel. Gently wash the soaked toy as you wash woolens and then let it dry (not hang) in the mild sun.

You can also let the sturdier toys run in a washing machine cycle for ‘woolens’ and ‘delicate’ clothes. Use lingerie bags to wash the toys if need be. Using a hot dryer is very effective for killing germs, if the material can sustain it. Check the label.

Freezing the toys in plastic bags for 24 hours will also kill the germs! Or simply use a damp cloth to surface clean the toys that cannot be washed, e.g. the beanies.

With these easy tips you can sit back and relax as your child indulges in their favourite play time.