Need help cleaning build-a-bear

[dinki]

My daughter got a build-a-bear style rabbit for her first birthday. She loves this thing dearly. The only problem is that it is really showing it's age as she approaches her third birthday next week. We tried buying her another in hopes of doing a swap-a-roo but now she ends up totting two instead of just the one. It's no burden; it's actually pretty cute.

At any rate, my question is does anyone know of a good way to get the original bunny clean? It started out white and now it's pretty dingy. Any miracle workers out there??

Thanks!
Donny

[cearhart]

Does it have sound in it? If not you can put them in the washing machine on the delicate cycle. If it has sound it might drown the sound out. I had to put my daughter's build-a-bear in the washer machine when she got lice. It worked great!! You can dry it on delicate or lay it out on a towel for a couple of days. I hope that helps!! Good Luck!

[dinki]

Thanks for the tips. Bunny has taken a ride in both washer and dryer many times. He doesn't have sound so all is well. Washing does not really brighten his color though :sad:

[Chris S.]

Don't they offer the service where they'll take the stuffing out for you and restuff it and sew it back up? I seem to remember the lady saying something about that when my daughter got one.

[dinki]

Yes, they do, but this isn't a stuffing issue. The fabric is, umm, soiled for lack of a better term. Bunny is looking pretty rough. It's not that it's dirty, it's dingy if that makes any sense.

[queenofthehivemomof5]

What color is the bunny? If he/she is white you might try some blueing in the wash water to help him/her look white again.

[dinki]

What color is the bunny? If he/she is white you might try some blueing in the wash water to help him/her look white again.

Yes, he is white. I've never heard of blueing. Where might I find it? Is it harsh? I'm afraid of ruining my little girls favorite companion!! She has no problem with the way he looks; she loves him just the way he is!

[RaceMom2]

Have you tired adding a small amount of bleach to the wash when you wash it?

[MrsPinecone]

OxiClean usually perks up any dingy white things around our house.

[smiles]

Try soaking it in oxyclean before washing and then washing and drying it it a pillowcase. That keeps them fluffy.