help needed safe cleaning musty vintage and BAB plushy's

[shabbychicdee]

hi guys as i have all this time at home i pulled my old care bears collection out of storage and sadly discovered everything smells musty  i also stored my 3 ty G4 plushys  (which still have their tags on them) and my build-a-bear spike and a near mint Popple in the same box,  all my flurry cuddly toys are either new or near mint, what would be a safe way to clean with them all, would a popple be ok in the washing machine or a bab spike, carebears im frightened of washing as they have plastic eyes and the butt hears might wear of and the noses might get scuffed.

has anyone got any advise on what worked for them? without making them look worn.
maybe a singe gentle wash with vinegar or baking soda?

please and thank you guys

[Sukey]

I have put plushies on the wash before and they came out pretty good. I would add a few towels in the load. Whatever you do don’t put them in the dryer- just let them air dry. A pet slicker brush works well to fluff up the fur after they are dry.

[shabbychicdee]

thanks hun i will have to track down that brush, i hate it when the plushy gets matted and clumpy.

[nessa16]

I recently washed most of my plush collection including dolls, MLP Softies, Care Bears, Rainbow Brite and a handful of random others.  They all came out well and safe.  The tags on the Care Bears actually say machine washable which is interesting. 

I washed them in king sized pillow cases or lingerie bags on gentle cycle with Woolite Gentle Cycle wash.  I then left them in the bags or pillow cases and dried them on very low heat for about 2-3 hours (timed dry).  They all came out well and just needed a fluff. 

The only thing I did not like is that the MLP Plushies hair got a little tangled because they were all rubbing against each other in the pillow cases but I just need to comb them out.  That and I also washed my childhood Pony Surprise and the color came off her hooves.  I am guessing that was from the dryer but not 100% sure.

I know many say not to put them in the dryer but if you have a newer dryer with a very low heat cycle you can use on timed dry, it seems to work well.  I just reran them 2-3 times per batch.  I also think a washer without a central agitator is better.   

[shabbychicdee]

thanks for the heads up i washed the popple and came out ok and another vintage plushys, care bear cloths and a tiny spike and they seem to be all good, i have a cheap dryer with one tempure but it was super sunny and windy today so dried well.

the ty's with tags and bab spike  i've left sitting in the sun, will give them a sniff later

still scared about the care bears though but pillow cases are a good idea

[SpaceButtPonies]

In my honest opinion handwash them, its the safest way and you control what's going on. Never stick them in the dryer, it can damage heat sensitive parts of your plushies. Good luck!

[Shaz]

If it's just a musty smell rather than actual dirt, airing them out works wonders. I had some Ty beanies that had acquired a musty smell through being in the attic, after a few weeks sitting out in my room they smell fine again. Just sit them out separately, not touching each other.

For washing, I always go for handwashing, as SpaceButtPonies says it's easier to keep an eye on them.

[shabbychicdee]

great thank guys i will do that, i will try airing, 2 days later they aren't so stinky so here's hoping.