One of the most recognizable stuffed toys in the whole world is the plush teddy bears. There are quite a number of stories about the origins of this adorable stuffed toy but one of the most popular is the American version where in it involved then President Theodore Roosevelt back in 1902. A cartoonist for The Washington Post drew the former president and a wounded bear who he ordered to be killed to ease its misery. From then on, toy manufacturer Michtom began creating a new toy inspired by the cartoon and called it Teddy Bear.

It has become so popular that the demand for it increases each year and up to this day, the interest for these plush animal toys never wavered. They are still being sold in toy stores online and offline. The only difference from the then and now teddy bears is that the present generation of these plush teddy bears are easier to clean. Most of them are accompanied by manufacturer tags, which give instruction on how to clean them. It is indicated there if its hand washed or machine-washed. Sometimes it is even indicated there if you cannot use bleach to remove stubborn stains.

Following the manufacturer's instruction is very important. You can easily ruin the toy without meaning to by being careless about it. Imagine how the kids will react if they find their favorite damaged plush teddy bears after the parents cleaned them. Trust me you do not want this to happen. If you cannot find any tag or label, the basic cleaning process for plush animal toys is to get a white damp cloth and gently wipe the whole surface. If there are stubborn dirt, it is best to spot clean them with warm water and mild liquid soap. Try removing it by rubbing gently to the spot.

If you are going to use the washing machine, it is best to put it in on a gentle cycle so as not to mush the stuffed toy. If you think the teddy bear is a little bit more delicate than the usual designs, try placing it inside a pillowcase before putting it on the washing machine. Make sure you dry it out thoroughly but never spin-dry it in your machine. That will be the easiest way to ruin the toy. It is best to hang it out for air-drying but do not expose it to the rays of the sun as that is the quickest way to lose the color of these plush animal toys. If you want to dry it out faster, you may use a hair dryer.

Regular vacuuming of teddy bears is also a great way to clean them. However, nothing beats having them washed thoroughly with water along with a mild laundry detergent. Remember to wash your kids' toys regularly to maintain proper hygiene as your children love to hug them. Children likes to bring these stuffed toys everywhere they go and naturally, it will accumulate all kinds of dirt along with it are germs and if it goes unchecked, it will prove disastrous to your children's health.