Stuffed Animals and Care 101

Everything needs some tender loving care and that includes stuffed animals. Yes, you’ve read that right. Toys need all the loving too and not just in terms of playtime. We mean cleaning, storage and upkeep too. So what exactly does it take to be able to say that you’re one amazing toy parent? We’ve got some tips for you.

·      Know your toy. – Each and every stuffed animal is different. We’ve got varying sizes, materials and manufacturers. Each of these three factors will pinpoint the right practices and proper upkeep that should be given to every item making it a must.

·      Err on the side of safety. – When in doubt, do less and keep it as safe as possible. Sometimes, you have no idea as to what the exact care instructions are because the item’s lost its tag or it’s an old one that has been passed down to you. At times like this, say no to any cleaning experiments.

·      Pick a type of storage. – For regular stuffed animals there are toy boxes, drawers and chests. For pieces that are more for display rather than play, shelving and cabinets do the trick best. It is important to pick a type of storage or a combination that will suit the type, purpose and number of all toys.

·      Keep them out of reach. – Especially for limited editions and collectibles, it is important to have them high up enough to avoid kids and pets from tearing into them. Unlike the regular ones, these can pack quite the price.

·      Don’t store anywhere humid. – Moisture is one of the number one enemies here. It encourages the growth of molds and can even lead to other problems like insect infestations and rodent bites. Nobody wants that. Be sure to pick an area of storage that isn’t humid or tends to accumulate moisture.

·      Never place them inside plastic bags. – As mentioned previously, we want no moisture or humidity. Putting toys inside plastic bags will bring it in and create quite the nightmare that we all hate to be in. Avoid it.

·      Clean without the heat. – Any amount of heat or high temperature can damage stuffed animals. This is why washing should only be done using lukewarm water and drying must not involve direct sun or heat exposure. It can make the toy brittle, burn through the fur, melt certain accessories and dull out colors.

How to Store Vintage Steiff Bears

Vintage Steiff bears are the star in many toy auctions and collections all over the world. They not only hold the title to being the pioneer teddy bear manufacturer but they too come with so much history and art making them truly exceptional and charming to say the least. Owning one to several pieces will however require utmost care and ample maintenance. Apart from having lived through several decades, these pieces come packed with value too so leaving them unattended and uncared for would be truly silly.

One of the first care requirements to be had when it comes to vintage Steiff bears would have to be storage. It is one of the main if not the topmost priority when collecting such pieces.

Storage not only provides for display but also protection for the collectible toys. They act as a functional and display tool so choosing a type of system is really crucial. To help with such task, we’ve rounded up some of the best tips when it comes to vintage Steiff bear storage.

Determine your pieces. Not all vintage Steiff bears are the same. Because these pieces have been made in different years and decades, their condition and type of material varies thereby requiring owners to have adequate knowledge about particular models and how they are to be handled.

Establish height and size. Some collectibles are pretty small; many come in the regular sizes while there are those that are quite unconventional in terms of size. When planning a storage system, put the items’ dimensions in consideration.

Make it durable. It is important that the storage units last regardless of their type and size. It would be inconvenient to have to remodel and buy another system when the old one easily wears off.

Keep it out of easy reach. To keep children and pets from harming the said toys, shelving and cabinets must be kept high enough to prevent easy access for them. It’s better to be safe than sorry. These bears are for display not exactly for play or worse food.

Stir clear of humidity and moisture. This is done to avoid the growth of molds and the infestation of bugs and rodents. Pick an area that is not prone to humidity and moisture.

Keep temperatures normal. Vintage Steiff bears, just like any other stuffed toy, does not take high temperatures lightly. Excessive heat such as exposure to the sun can cause its colors to fade and dull out.

Creative Ways to Pack Stuffed Toys as Gifts

Stuffed toys are one of the most bought items especially during the Valentines and Christmas seasons. They are neat presents for both the kid and the kid at heart. Plus, they’re all around adorable. Who wouldn’t want them? Now, we all know that another charm held by gifts is their surprise element aka their packaging or presentation. The way you wrap and present them can add to the total appeal and charm of it all. Do you want to know how to go about this? Luckily, we’ve asked the people over at Steiffteddybears.co.uk for some neat tricks. Read up!

IDEA # 1: THE CLASSIC WRAP-AROUND BOX WITH A TWIST

To give this boxed present a unique spin, wrap it in special paper. You can always find pretty ones from the craft store or the gift supply shop but to add something new, why not try to DIY it yourself? For example, use a stamp or stencil and put in the recipient’s initials all over a solid hued paper. Another is you can simply splatter some paint to give it an abstract effect.

IDEA # 2: TIE A BOW AND MORE

We’re all accustomed to tying a bow around a present but to make it even more special, opt to add a special trick. Find some tutorials on the internet about the different ways in tying bows. There’s more to this than the usual. Also, you can go ahead and skip the box. Just tie it around the toy’s neck and you’re done! This is particularly useful if you don’t have enough time to wrap or if you fell short on materials.

IDEA # 3: ADD AN EXTRA PIECE TO IT

Especially for kids, it will be great if you buy a little notebook to accompany the toy. Remember that they do a lot of role playing with these stuffed animals. Tell them that it serves as a diary of their adventures. This way, you also teach them the value of using their imagination.

IDEA # 4: GIVE IT THE BIRTH RIGHTS

A fun idea to gifting a stuffed toy would be allowing the recipient to name it. Print out a faux birth certificate and leave the name blank. Allow the recipient to fill it in with whatever name they’ll fancy.

IDEA # 5: ADD SOME CHEESY WORDS

Lastly, put in a card. It always feels heartwarming to get a special greeting and a heartfelt message apart from the toy. As they say, it’s the thought that counts after all.