Do you feel that your children are putting aside their stuffed animals, and you want to find adequate storage for them? Whatever the reason, at one point or another, you're going to have to put the stuffed animals away somewhere! After all, you definitely don't want to see your home infested with teddy bears, cute as they may be. Do not panic ! In this article, you will know the best methods and tips for storing all your stuffed animals properly. Let's get started without further ado!
Before storing your stuffed animals
Even if your children are over the age of playing with their favorite stuffed animals, they don't necessarily want to part with them permanently. Moreover, many end up keeping theirs until adulthood, for the sentimental value they represent. In this case, you must make sure that your children's ones do not become invasive. To do this, you must learn to store them neatly, in order to save space and avoid damaging them. In order to help you, we have prepared a complete guide for you. So please follow these steps step by step and feel free to apply the tips we have taken care to include.
1) Clean stuffed animals before storing them
Before storing stuffed animals, it is essential to clean them properly. Unlike wooden or plastic toys, which are rather easy to clean, cleaning soft toys is a little more complicated. Indeed, the latter are much dirtier and tend to accumulate dirt , such as dust, oils and grease. You must therefore make sure to remove all stains, before storing them. This will save you, among other things, the pestilential smells, when you decide to take them out again. In addition, in this way, they will not risk attracting vermin.
If your stuffed animals can be machine washed (check the label), place them in a large cloth and close it tightly. In this way, you avoid damaging the soft toys and the machine. If it is recommended to wash the stuffed animals by hand or if you do not have a washing machine, use gentle products and lukewarm (almost cold) water . This will prevent you from wearing out the fabric of the fluff and will prevent the stuffing from losing volume. Also be careful to handle soft toys gently. The latter become much more fragile when they are soaked in water.
Let the stuffed animals air dry, if possible. In addition, before storing them, please ensure that they are completely dry, as humidity may promote the development of mold.
2) Fix lint
Storing the plush is a great opportunity to repair it. So, by covering it, you will find a plush in good condition. Plus, considering what the stuffed animals go through in their lifetimes, you're guaranteed to find at least a few tears here and there. If you're also going to wash the plush, it's best to proceed with the repair after it's completely dried. This will make your job much easier.
3) Wrap the stuffed animals well before storing them
Before storing your stuffed animals, please ensure that they are clean and repaired. You can wrap them in cloth with a desiccant pad or a moisture-wicking bag . Place them, then, in one or more plastic bins with lids or, alternatively, cardboard boxes. In this regard, be aware that you should never pile stuffed animals on top of each other. These must have a minimum of space, if you do not want them to lose volume or end up deformed.
4) Store stuffed animals in a place with low humidity
If you fail to apply this step to the letter, you risk damaging your stuffed animals. Indeed, as we indicated above, humidity is their worst enemy, because it promotes the appearance of mold . These can cause countless health problems and are particularly harmful for people with allergies. By choosing a place with low humidity to store your stuffed animals, you eliminate this risk and you protect your stuffed animals at the same time.
5) The most important tips to remember
Here, we present our various tricks to make your task easier:
- It is always best to empty the stuffed animal before washing it. You can do this by opening it from the back, where you will find the location where it was padded. Use a pair of scissors to open it up and close the opening once you've finished washing and drying it. You can also replace the upholstery, if it turns out to be too worn.
- Plastic boxes are ideal for storing stuffed animals. They are the perfect barrier against mold and vermin. In addition, unlike cardboard boxes, they are rather strong. This prevents them from giving way easily under the weight of items stored above.
- While it's not a substitute for a full wash, vacuuming the lint is, indeed, a good idea. In fact, you can even use it to dust toys.
- In order to properly store stuffed animals, it is best to avoid attics and basements. These are usually damp and may even contain rats and insects.
The best stuffed animal storage ideas
Soft toys aren't just for kids to play with. Indeed, they can also be used for decoration. They are certainly cute and adorable, but they also take up a lot of space. Plus, if you have kids, you probably get tons of them on a regular basis, especially around the holidays. Since they must now be crammed into your home, here are some ideas for you to incorporate them into your decor .
1) Create a small stuffed animal zoo
If you have enough space, you can set aside a corner of your home to make a stuffed animal zoo. There, you can place a large number of them and your children can even spend beautiful moments there. This option will allow you to store as many stuffed animals as you want, while decorating your home.
2) Use cupboards to store stuffed animals
This alternative should be reserved exclusively for stuffed animals that you are still using. Indeed, this method remains very practical, in the sense that it allows you to store them, while leaving them accessible. You can also take the opportunity to teach your children to put away their stuffed animals when they finish playing with them.
3) The stuffed animal storage bin
If you want to find a way to store your stuffed animals instead of throwing them in the trash, it's probably because you don't want to pollute the environment. In this case, we advise you to use a wooden box to place your stuffed animals. The latter will allow you to store them efficiently and optimize the space available, while presenting your guests with a decorative element that is pleasant to look at.
4) A hanging stuffed animal storage bin
In the same vein as the previous option, you can hang the tray on one of your walls, if you lack space or if you find this option simply more aesthetic. If you already have metal or plastic bins, don't hesitate to use them instead of throwing them away, in order to preserve the environment.
5) Place the stuffed animals in a shoe cabinet
Despite their specific name, shoe cabinets can be used in a decorative setting. Thus, you have the possibility of placing stuffed animals in series there and obtaining a unique and rather trendy decorative element . This piece of furniture is also practical, especially if your children are still undecided when it comes to choosing the soft toy they will cuddle at night. This way, they won't have to dig through a large pile of stuffed animals to find the one that's right for them.
6) Store the stuffed animals in a galvanized bin
You can give an industrial theme to the room you want to decorate with your stuffed animals by placing a few galvanized bins there. These are quite solid and they will have no trouble containing a large number of stuffed animals, even the largest ones. Galvanized bins also stand up to all kinds of abuse and stand the test of time with ease.
7) Place stuffed animals in baskets
Like bins, baskets can hold a number of stuffed animals. That said, thanks to their simplicity, they can easily blend with several interior designs. The baskets are also much more discreet and highlight the stuffed animals. So choose sober colors that go well with the paint in the room. It is also recommended to use them to store other objects, such as books that you can place between the arms of the stuffed animals.
8) Reserve a space for stuffed animals in your dressing room
It is possible that your closet is too big and that your clothes are not enough to fill it. In this case, you can use the empty space to place your stuffed animals . Reorganize your belongings and place your stuffed animals in such a way as to give style to your dressing room.
9) Place stuffed animals in hanging pots
Are the synthetic plants in your hanging pots getting old? Replace them with stuffed animals. In addition to bringing a trendy look to your room, these pots will look like new, especially if they were already covered by plants. Do not hesitate to repaint them so that they match the colors of your stuffed animals.
10) Set up a mini hammock to store stuffed animals in
Your stuffed animals can also enjoy a moment of relaxation on a hammock. In addition, this option will allow you to store a large number of stuffed animals without you having to rack your brains. Your guests will certainly be amused to see them relaxing peacefully on a small hammock. Hammocks are generally inexpensive. This makes this alternative one of the most economical.
11) Store stuffed animals in ottoman storage boxes
Also usable for seating, ottoman storage boxes are a solid option if you're short on space in your home. Some of these boxes can also have one or more transparent sides so you can keep an eye on your favorite stuffed animals. Since they are very light, you will have no trouble moving them from one room to another.
12) Stuff a cushion with soft toys
While the size of the pillow will certainly vary depending on how many stuffed animals you have, its usefulness is not in question. You can use it as an ordinary cushion or a pouf (if it's too big). This ingenious alternative allows you to easily store your stuffed animals and offers you a free cushion!
13) Hang stuffed animals on a hanging net
This option is interesting for those who have extra stuffed animals, but who do not wish to part with them. Hang a hanging net and place your stuffed animals in it. If you can't find a net, use a blanket instead. To preserve an aesthetic side, place it on the wall while making sure to leave an opening that will allow you to see the stuffed animals inside.
Thanks to the many tips and ideas in this guide, you will no longer have any trouble storing your stuffed animals. Whether you plan to store them for the short term or the long term, you're sure to find a storage option that's perfect for your home. Up to you !
