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doctorbeth · 19 days

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A happy colorful monster

Have you heard of My Pet Monster? It's a cartoon from 1986, which had one season (also apparently there's a live movie). You can stream it if you like. But for the purposes of this story, the most important fact is that the star was a very colorful smily, monster. And in January of last year, one of the cuddly plush versions was discovered in the back of a closet (so I guess he was a moonlighting as a closet monster?).

In any case, his original person found him, and wanted to gift him to his own daughters, but this monster had clearly had a rough time in the closet. Here is one of his diagnosis photos:

You can see the wound on his chest, and that his teeth are coming out. His feet and hands were vinyl, and had gotten that sticky feel that old vinyl sometimes gets.... and he needed a bath!

It took almost a year, but in December, the monster's family wrote again. Could we schedule treatment and an appointment for him?

Of course! The hospital was pretty full at the beginning of the year (not uncommon) so we scheduled his appointment for early March.

He arrived and the first step was a spa. He's quite large, so he got the large pink tub. :-)

Next he got restuffed, with a heart of original stuffing included ... who knows where his magic is stored, so it's important to keep at least a bit of original stuffing!

For his feet and hands, I can't replicate the printed nails on vinyl, but we didn't really want to do vinyl again anyway for the feel. So his person and I agreed to recover his feet and hands in new black velvet and then give him new nails from felt in the same teal as the originals. Here he is showing off his manicure and pedicure:

And here he is all better... even his fabric surrounding his tusks has been reglued:

and so he flew home to Colorado!

#my pet monster #1980s #1980s cartoons #stuffed animals #stuffed animal repair #stuffed animal hospital #stuffed animal cleaning #monsters #closet monster #monster toy #plush monster

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spicebiter · 16 days

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Mr. Cuddles' Spa Day

My roommate, who I will be referring to as K throughout this post for the sake of simplicity, has a teddy bear he loves to death and takes with him anywhere he'll have to sleep at least one night. His name is Cuddles. This was him before I got to work on fixing him up:

Mr. Cuddles is unable to sit up, his fur is matted and his fluff compressed. His ribbon used to be a lot less thin and he's decorated with hair ties and friendship bracelets K didn't like to wear himself. There are spots on his feet and paws that are made of less furry fabric and these are spotted with stains gathered over two decades. K told me he couldn't be sure, but the number of times Mr. Cuddles has been washed through the years could likely be counted on one hand.

For as dirty as he's become, Cuddles is in good shape! He has no holes or spots where his fur is warn through and his nose is sewn with no loose threads to speak of, though K reports he has no mouth which is odd for such a nose style. Cuddles will be receiving a wash + brush, re-stuffing, and a new bow all before it's time for K to go to bed.

First comes taking out his old fluff.

Inside the layer of dirty and compressed fluff was a layer that was fairly pristine! However, the outer layer was so old and saturated with body oils from years of cuddling that it had all but fused to the inside of the fur like an odd velcro. A bit of a challenge, but nothing that couldn't be taken care of.

With all his fluff removed, Cuddles moved on to a soak in hot water mixed with a mild detergent, fabric softener, and a bit of vinegar to help get rid of odor and bacteria. It was here that I began brushing out his fur with a slicker brush, getting every inch but focusing mostly on the matted areas around his paws and face.

It was at this stage that I discovered Mr. Cuddles had a mouth! The area around his snout had become so matted and tangled it hid the single lines of stitching that gave the bear a charming smile- Something K hadn't seen in so long he'd forgotten it even existed.

With his fur brushed, I left Cuddles to relax while I prepared for his later re-stuffing.

K chose a choice bit of fluff and I sewed up a heart using a fabric he'd chosen earlier in the week.

I forgot to take pictures of this but we also clipped a portion of Cuddles' old bow to tie around this heart before it was given to Cuddles.

Thoroughly washed and rinsed, we took Mr. Cuddles on a short trip to our local laundromat for a dry, with a few dryer balls to give him a massage.

Dry and fluffy once more, it's hard once again to see Cuddles' mouth, but parting his fluff to see that smile is no longer the trial it was. Stuffed to K's satisfaction, his heart implanted, and a bow tied and sewn in place, Cuddles was ready for bedtime!

K opted for a bow with shorter tails, in a blue gingham pattern that looks dashing against Cuddles' newly cleaned fur. He's able to sit up on his own, and although K opted to not include the bag of beans that once weighted him he is a pleasant weight and is altogether perfectly squeezable.

#spiced #stuffed animal hospital #stuffed animal cleaning #stuffed animal repair #teddy bear #stuffed animal

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sporecringe · 1 month

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#inner child healing #age regression #stuffed animals #agere #boyre #plushies #toy photography #posic #jellycat puffles puppy #Grant #bath #vinegar bath #imagination play #roleplay #wet plush #clean #my gif #mine

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unrealmuppet · 6 months

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Look who arrived today!!

#i gave him a wash and now he smells so fresh and clean!#and i suspect that the wash will help me feel more comfortable with his fur texture #hes a lovely boy!! just a bit goofed up on the nose #but nobodys perfect!#rowlf #rowlf the dog #plushie #stuffed animal #stuffie #the muppets #muppets #muppet #photo #mine!#maxpost

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intotheelliwoods · 7 months

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Guess who got to see a Solar Eclipse at the 4 Corners! (the bobble leos did. this trip was for them actually- they didnt even pay for gas)

#2 arms left #aha so eepy #had to wake up so early to drive here and I am very tired #relax weekend for me dont expect much aha #did I have a tag for the bobble leos I forget #anyways you know how some people have like a stuffed animal or something they take on all their travels #and photograph them next to the places they have been to #thats me. but with the bobble leos lmao.#If you ever see bobble leos on the dashboard of someones car congrats thats my car #as for I take them everywhere #im so sad I could not find the welcome signs for arizona or utah #also why is the new mexico sign like. decked in stickers. while the colorado welcome sign is as pure and clean as ever #do people prefer sticking them on metal as opposed to wood or something #im also so sad the whole place I was at didnt go pitch dark aha #the moon was def over the sun #just wasnt close enough to darken the place #as in where I was it was perfectly over the sun too!

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girlboyburger · 1 year

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late birthday gift for my husband @aphonicmongrel 💛💕✨

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webdiggerxxx · 1 month

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꧁★꧂

#dolls #teddy bear #stuffed animals #plush #plushies #clothesline #clean #laundry #south africa #flickr #oldweb #old web #2015

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plushieanimals · 2 years

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hello!! i checked your faq and couldn't find this question, but you seem like the person who could answer it. when you acquire pre-loved or vintage plushies, how do you disinfect/wash them? especially beanie babies? like beyond spot cleaning

This turned into my masterpost of how to clean plushies! I also have a tag for plush care where i’ve answered asks about damaged fur, and brush recommendations + more!

How to wash and clean stuffed animals:

🧸 1. Prep! 🧸

I vacuum/lint roll the plush to get any stray hairs/dust/debris etc. I have a soft bristle brush attachment for my vacuum that i bought off amazon that i use exclusively for stuffed animals

I always hand wash my plushies when possible, but i’ve included a section on both spot cleaning for less dirty plush and machine washing under the wash section!

NOTE: if your plushie has a voice box or joints or anything inside that is incompatible with water then don’t submerge it!!

🧼 2. Soap! 🧼

I use Woolite brand soap because it’s gentle and safe for synthetics. You can also use dawn dish soap at even more diluted ratio. I dilute the detergent with water in about a 1:6 soap:water ratio in a small container (i usually use the detergent cap) Be aware that the more concentrated your soap is exponentially increases the amount of time it will take to rinse it out!

A good rule of thumb for your soap:water ratio is you want the solution you are using to be just a little slippery when rubbed between your fingers.

i use woolite but any gentle detergent safe for synthetics will work. Stuffed animal fur and stuffing is generally made of plastic! NO FABRIC SOFTENER! And no shampoo, conditioner, or soap made for human skin! The moisturizers used in these products will never “absorb” into the plastic fibers! These products will all leave a residue!

You can use very diluted cheap conditioner to detangle a plush but you will need to wash out the conditioner with a a detergent afterwards.

🫧 3. Wash! 🫧

Hand washing: I soak the plush under COLD running water first, and then with my hands i apply and lather the soap in to the fur/fabric and make sure i thouroughly saturate it with the soapy water.

For plush that can’t be bathed/aren’t super dirty/only need a spot clean I use a damp microfiber rag dipped in a mixture of lukewarm water + a tiny (like a drop!) of soap (woolite or dawn) and rub them down all over with it. Then I go over them with a rag damp with clean, soapless water until all the soap is gone. If your plush has medium or long fur you still will want to brush it out to make sure the fur dries soft and not clumped up! Check my section on drying/detailing below.

For machine washing put them in a pillow case to protect the eyes, and put some pillows/ blankets/ towels in the machine with the plush to pad it. use gentle detergent and wash it on “delicates” (or your machines gentlest cycle) with COLD water! Top loading machines do best for this and you’ll want to arrange them sitting up with their backs to the wall of the machine if possible. For front loading machines just throw a bunch of extra pillows/blankets to pad it. skip to step 5 if you end up using a washing machine. I find this method works very well for larger, sturdier plush like build a bears. NEVER PUT PLUSH IN THE DRYER!!!

🚿 4. Rinse! 🚿

Use cold running water! Make sure no soap remains. I smell the plushies periodically to be extra certain i’ve gotten the soap out. You can gently squeeze the plushie depending on the stuffing type. Some plush may need to be washed twice or three times depending on the filth-level, or rinsed multiple times depending on the soap concentration.

Beanie babies and some other plush can be squeezed because of their beans, but plush made out of purely soft stuffing can have their stuffing deformed if you squeeze them too much. Some brands like douglas have stiffer plush with beans and stuffing and they actually can be squeezed too. (DO NOT “WRING OUT” ANY PLUSH!!)

🧽 5. Pre-dry! 🧽

after the soap is 100% out and you are happy with the cleanliness of the plushie, you have two options to pre-dry them:

My favorite way is to put the plush in my washing machine and run it on “spin” cycle only, which is very effective at getting excess water out. In my experience the plush barely moves in my top loading machine, but you can always put the plush in a clean pillow case or put a bunch of clean towels in with it to pad/stabilize the plush in a side loader or if the plush is fragile

If you can’t use your washing machine for any reason, then try your best to get as much water out without damaging the plush. Consider wrapping it in a towel and making a sling with a second towel and spinning it around you, lol. It will be okay if you can’t do any of these things, though! You can also just use a towel and press it on your plush to try and soak up as much water.

Only you know how durable your plush is. The more well made it is (think big brands like douglas, jellycat, wild republic, aurora VS an antique) the more your plush can take without risking damaging the seams/parts. PLEASE don’t “WRING OUT” your plushies as this can deform them!

I NEVER put my plush in the dryer, it can melt the fur fibers and cause matting/damage!! Some people use the “air dry/no heat” but i don’t like to take risks

🧺 6. Dry! 🧺

⭐️ This is the most important part, you must set your plush up to air dry thouroughly!! I prefer to use a fan pointed at the plush. but if you don’t have access to any kind of fan then a hair dryer set on cool could work, and plain air drying works too, it just takes longer.

For plushies with medium/long fur (basically anything besides minky fabric) I brush the fur out with a soft bristle brush once or twice while it’s drying to make sure the fur dries fluffy and soft. I use a build a pear paw brush. You can also use a plastic slicker brush and brush backwards with the direction of the fur to avoid pulling the fur fibers out. Don’t use a brush/comb that’s been used on humans or pets without super disinfecting it first, as the skin oils/dirt can damage your plushies fur!

For beanie babies or any plush with beans you must make sure the beans dry completely, they take way longer than the stuffing!

You need to rotate the plush every few hours or so to make sure it’s drying throughly. Make sure the bottom of the plush gets just as much exposed drying time as the rest of the plush, as gravity will pull any water downwards.

Try not to dry it in a humid room, like a bathroom! There is a risk of mold if a plush doesn’t dry completely before being packed up/sealed up.

I also wouldn’t risk drying your plush outside due to sun bleaching and possibly debris from wind/trees landing on it. You can dry it in a window that gets sunlight still as long as you don’t leave it there for weeks on end. Sun bleaching takes quite a while so the risk is very small.

✨ 7. Detail! ✨

(optional) after the plush is completely dry i go back with the brushes and detangle/fluff up the plush! This is almost necessary for any long/medium furred plush to keep the fur soft and detangled. I use the soft bristle brush for all, and plastic slicker brush for long fur. You can get a small plastic slicker brush for kittens/small dogs at walmart for like $3. Just make sure to be gentle with any combs/slicker brushes to avoid damaging the plush/ripping out the fur. ^_^

This was super long! I have hand washed like 25 plushies of all different sizes at this point and this is what works for me. I have a lot of thrifted plush and they dont always come in great shape. you can reply to this post or send me a message if you have any questions!

extra tip from reblogs:

#there’s probably typos #faq #super faq #wash #washing plushies #wash stuffed animals #clean stuffed animals #clean plush #resources #cleaning plushies #plush care

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herbertpocketsfidgettoys · 6 months

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so little…

#south park #south park fanart #kenny mccormick #karen mccormick #she is so little omg #I mean she is liek 4 #5 maybe idk #Baby😢#I want to take her home and clean her up #I hate children but will get very emotional over cartoon babies and stuffed animals

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otaku553 · 8 months

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can I ask what ur summer research was about?!!! :0 (u absolutely don't have to answer if ur not comfortable, I'm just a giant nerd and loves to hear about research dhdnfjdmdjfng)

Of course!!! I’d be glad to talk about it!!

In short, my research over the summer was putting mice in mazes and looking at how well they remember mazes, how quickly they learn the maze, and how learning one maze can help them learn other mazes faster. More detailed under the read more!

Previous maze studies with mice have shown that mice can actually learn very quickly when they’re learning behaviors that are in line with their own evolutionary advantages rather than arbitrary associations. It’s the difference between telling a mouse “go around these tunnels and try to find water to survive” vs telling it “do these very specific and completely useless 5 things and then you’ll get water”. Maze navigation for mice is already a natural complex behavior: mice are burrowing rodents and already have the predisposition for running around tunnels. We set up a maze and cameras and infrared lights around it to record it doing its thing, so that we can look at its natural behaviors with no human interference.

The unique thing about this project is less the behavior and rapid learning of the mouse and more the maze that we use for the study, called the Manhattan Maze. I think my mentor created it but I’m not too certain? But the basic concept of it, as shown in the figure above, is that there are two boxes of parallel tunnels and one layer of acrylic in the middle. Through holes in the acrylic, the mouse can climb between the two layers and make a “turn”. Essentially, this maze is the most reconfigurable setup for studying mouse behavior in mazes possible, because the middle layer of acrylic, which we call a mask, can be changed 2^(n^2) ways (n being the number of channels in a layer) to make completely different mazes. For the figure above, a 4x4 Manhattan maze, we have 2^16 possible different configurations, but we were actually running it on an 11x11 maze, so there were 2^121 different possible configurations! This way, we can look at the mouse in tons of different mazes without actually having to make a new maze altogether and transfer the mouse every time.

And they learn extremely fast! The mazes we used were pretty much linear paths with small dead ends that weren’t far off from the main path, and required 9 turning decisions to get from starting point to end point. There were 3 of these different masks, and after training for one day on one of them, the next day, almost all mice that completed the training managed to learn completely new 9-decision masks in 3 hours or less!

#I was kind of a menial work goblin over the summer lmao which was to be expected #I am an undergrad after all #but yeah most of my work entailed cleaning up after the mice and putting the mice in the mazes and taking them out at the end of the day #and then bits of data processing to make the data usable for analysis later #but yeah very interesting stuf!!#it’s a bit of a departure from what I did last year which was eye tracking to study implicit visual processing #but I think working with animals in a psychology lab setting was a very good experience #also the mice were very cute.#I enjoyed them a lot #you hold them by the base of the tail to not harm them and they’re kind of disgruntled about it

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weheartstims · 4 months

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and may i request a stimboard for brock samson from venture bros with mending stims? like sewing, fabric/clothes/stuffed animal washing, hair braiding, and hand-based actions? black, red, brown and blue for color influences. thanks so much for all the work you do on this blog, it's so cool!!

Brock Samson (Venture Brothers) with mending stims!

🧸|🪡|🧸 🪡|🧸|🪡 🧸|🪡|🧸

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doctorbeth · 1 month

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An elderly patient part 2: Bearie

Last week I told you about Poochie the dog, who was in his sixties and came in to be stabilized so his original person could continue to hug him. Today, I'm going to share Bearie's story. Bearie is a 70 year old panda bear, and he was getting ready to go live with his original person's daughter.

Here are Bearie's original diagnosis photos:

Like Poochie's family, Bearie's family wanted to keep some of his original self visible, but since he was eventually going to be loved by a new person, he needed more stabilization, and a bath and new stuffing as well!

There aren't photos of Bearie in the bath... spas for black and white patients of his age are major surgery, because their colors need to be separated for safe cleaning. But I did clean him, and restuff him. Then, he was recovered in new fur on his head, torso, and limbs. This left his original ears and pawpads visible. He kept his original eye, and hand a new nose and mouth embroidered. Rather than replacing his missing eye, he got a removable eye patch. Here he is before we added his new mouth:

And here he is just before he headed home:

#antique teddy bear #stuffed animal repair #teddy bear repair #antique stuffed animal #antique stuffed animal repair #teddy bear cleaning #stuffed animal cleaning #antique bear #antique toys

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glitchy-furby · 5 months

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I'm back home from my trip to see my partner, who had some Pound Puppies for me to bring home! 💕 Now my pups Spot and Cappuccino met Frumpy and his adopted puppies Fleas and Frog. Frumpy was from the Goodwill bins, but he's okay now.