Cleaning crocheted animals: a guide

Cleaning crocheted animals: How do the figures and limbs keep their shape?
Which materials can go in the washing machine and which require special treatment?

Depending on the outer material and filling, crocheted animals can be cleaned by hand or even in the washing machine.
In these instructions, we show you what to look out for. These instructions do not only apply to crocheted animals from SindiBaba but also to crocheted stuffed animals and amigurumi (amigurumi: crocheted stuffed animals for decoration) from other manufacturers.
In the latter case, however, you should check the material information and care instructions on the product labels to make sure that the materials used to make the crocheted animal can also be stitch-washed and tumble-dried.
The term “crocheted animal” includes not only crocheted cuddly toys, but also crocheted baby carriage chains, baby car seat pendants , pacifier chains, baby mobiles, music boxes, baby rattles, standing figures and grasping toys that have been crocheted as a whole or in parts. RULE: Although not all crocheted animals can be washed in the washing machine, spot cleaning and stain removal is almost always possible.
In general, crocheted animals can be washed easily and effectively.
Crocheted stuffed animals made of acrylic yarn, for example, can be washed normally in the washing machine, whereas crocheted animals with cotton yarn in the outer material are better washed on the delicate cycle, with the risk that they may shrink slightly.
Crocheted animals made of wool yarn, on the other hand, should never be washed in the washing machine as they will shrink and the outer material will take on a felt-like appearance. In a nutshell: there are a number of cleaning methods that you can and should try before you put your crocheted animal in the washing machine!
The two main criteria when choosing a cleaning method are the composition of the outer material and the filling.
Let’s start with the outer material.
It should be noted that certain yarns have better washing properties than others: Outer materials made from blended yarns of equal components of cotton (50%) and acrylic (50%) have proven to be not only one of the softest when in contact with the skin, but also one of the easiest to wash with a very low risk of shrinkage.
While acrylic yarn can be washed like normal laundry, cotton yarn should be washed on a gentle cycle and dried with care.
However, great care should be taken when washing stuffed animals crocheted from wool y arn.
When machine washing, there is a risk that the ribbed crocheted surface will lose its structure and feel and then look smooth, like felt.
The gentle dabbing method is therefore the preferred cleaning method for a stuffed animal made of wool.
You should also bear this in mind if you are looking for a crocheted animal for your baby.
While wool is the more suitable material for amigurumi – wool outer material is thicker and more durable – an acrylic or cotton yarn outer material is the more suitable material for crochet toys for babies, as it may need to be washed more often and more thoroughly.

How do you wash crocheted animals?

There are a number of methods for cleaning a crocheted animal!
Which is the best choice in your case? Spot cleaning your crocheted animal can be effective for spot cleaning small areas where there are stains in the outer material.
Spot cleaning is also quite simple: simply take a cloth or washcloth and carefully dab the affected area with warm water.
For stubborn stains, you can also add a small amount of detergent solution to the cloth for spot cleaning.
Just make sure that you dampen an area of the cloth with water that has not been used before to finally remove the soap residue.
Another cleaning method that you should also try before using the washing machine is cleaning in the sink.
To do this, pour warm water into the sink and add a cleaning agent (detergent or wool detergent).
Soak the crocheted animal in the water, cleaning both the inside and outside.
Depending on the degree of soiling, the crocheted soft toy can soak for an hour or longer.
To ensure that the soapy water penetrates all the pores, you should squeeze the crocheted animal a little.
This procedure is similar to stripping a blanket, except that the object to be washed is much smaller.
The cleaning methods described above are the most delicate and at the same time most effective methods for washing your crocheted animal.
Allow your crocheted animal to dry out completely.
Also note that the outside may already be dry to the touch while the inside is still damp.
Allow up to 48 hours for this type of cleaning to ensure that everything is completely dry afterwards!
For washing a large item such as a cuddly toy, the washing machine may be more suitable than spot cleaning in the sink because it can clean larger surfaces more effectively.
So before you put your crocheted animal in the washing machine, first find out what the maximum temperature of the water should be.
The cold cycle is generally recommended for anything that can shrink in any way.
Also make sure that the crocheted animal does not have any features such as sewn-on safety eyes or loosely attached limbs that could come off and get caught in the washing machine during the washing process.
You can achieve this by using a heavy-duty mesh laundry bag.
This will protect your stuffed animal from damage caused by abrasion inside the washing machine.
Also be careful not to overload the washing machine.
This is because the increased abrasion can make it easier for small items to get caught on other items and possibly come off in the end.
Last but not least, make sure that all parts and limbs of your crocheted animal are intact before you put it in the washing machine.
Above all, make sure you follow the washing instructions on the textile care label of your crocheted animal. If this no longer exists, for example because it was deliberately cut off, first try to find out which crochet yarn was used to make the outer material.
(This is often not possible without chemical analysis or a flame test. However, wool, for example, has the property that water droplets initially form on its surface when it is wetted with water, which are only absorbed by the underlying fabric after a longer period of time. If in doubt, always assume that you are dealing with a delicate material that should only be cleaned with clean water and without soap).
Please note in general: If the washing instructions on the textile care label allow washing in the washing machine, always use the gentlest wash cycle and always put as few items in the drum as absolutely necessary.
If the crocheted item becomes deformed after washing in the washing machine, this is no cause for concern.
Simply gently push and pull the wadding inside the crocheted animal back into its original shape and then leave it to dry out completely (up to 2 days).
If you don’t have that much time, you can also put the crocheted animal in the dryer.
Simply follow the following precautions and you will have a dry stuffed animal again in no time: First check that your crocheted animal has survived your preferred washing process intact.
Make sure that all accessories are still fully intact.
Squeeze the limbs and move the stuffing inside to make sure there are no lumps forming inside.
Next, make sure your crochet animal is sufficiently protected before it goes into the dryer.
Put it in a pillowcase or cloth bag, which will let the heat through but also act as a barrier to prevent abrasion or snagging during drying.
First dry the crocheted animal on the lowest and most sensitive setting for 30 minutes and then inspect it.
After this long, it should be completely dry.
Otherwise, if necessary, dry for a further 30 minutes and check again.

When should you wash crocheted animals?

The right time to wash the crocheted toy depends on how often it is used and the purpose of the cleaning process.
Especially when used by babies and toddlers, the soft toy is often exposed to sticky and dirty children’s hands, which means it accumulates dirt more quickly.
However, if it is an amigurumi or a crocheted animal for decorative purposes, the washing process may not need to be so time-consuming.
And washing in the washing machine or a full wash in the sink with liquid soap may not be necessary.
Of course, if you notice that your crocheted animal starts to smell or has stains, it is time to give it a clean.
Excessive washing of your stuffed animal can also cause it to lose its shape more quickly.
You should take all of this into consideration before cleaning it.
You may find that frequent washing causes your crocheted animal to lose its shape and color.
It may even catch a permanent bad odor because you don’t let it dry out properly.
These are risks that you should weigh up before washing.

How do I keep my crocheted animals clean?

Keeping your crocheted animal clean is often directly related to its use.
If it is not so much used as a stuffed animal or toy, but rather as decoration – for example as amigurumi – you won’t need to wash it as often.
It goes without saying that care often goes hand in hand with cleanliness.
The better you or your little darling treats your crocheted animal, the less often it will need to be washed.

What should I pay particular attention to?

Do not wash your crocheted animal too often.
This can cause the yarn to fade and no longer shine like it did when it was new.
A crocheted animal when new will have shiny and vibrant colors, and spot cleaning will ensure that it stays that way.
If you feel spot cleaning is not an option, machine washing is acceptable.
In general, however, machine washing should be avoided as much as possible.
If you avoid machine washing, you will find that your crocheted item will keep its shape over a long period of time and the outer fabric will retain its vibrant colors and shiny surface texture.
Too frequent washing cycles will cause the yarn to gradually disintegrate.
Even with uppers made from machine-washable yarns, frequent washing can accelerate the disintegration and fraying of the yarn.
If you still prefer to wash your crocheted animal in the washing machine, make sure that it is not made of wool when you buy it, i.e. neither the outer material should be made of wool yarn nor should the filling material contain wool components.
Another way to ensure that your crocheted animal remains clean and stain-free over a long period of time is to use protective sprays that are easy to use.
Similar to a water repellent, spray it on your stuffed animal and then leave it to dry.

What to do if the crocheted animal loses its shape despite all the precautions?

If your stuffed animal gets a little out of shape while washing or playing, you should give it a little squeeze or pull to get it back to its original shape.
However, DO NOT try to reshape it while it is still wet!
Wait until it is dry.
If you pull on it while it is wet, the yarn can loosen and stretch, making your crocheted animal permanently misshapen.
If you follow this advice, your child will enjoy their crocheted animal for a long time!

A note on our own behalf

SindiBaba’s stuffed and crocheted animals are all made from machine-washable materials.
The outer material is made from either fluffy cotton yarn, a cotton-bamboo viscose blend yarn or an extremely soft pure bamboo viscose crochet yarn, all of which are machine washable.
We use machine-safe antibacterial polyester filling wadding as filling material – and for some cuddly toys we also use some filling granules.
To prevent the padding from coming out of the crochet stitches, a lining is incorporated between the upper material and the filling, which can also be machine washed.
The rattle boxes, which make soft noises when moved, are also machine washable.
SindiBaba crocheted animals are generally also suitable for tumble drying.
However, you can also leave your crocheted animal to air dry.
When drying in the open air, it is recommended that you first roll the crocheted animal in a towel and carefully squeeze out the excess water.
But don’t wring it out in the process!