hi! my blahaj recently went through the washer and now its fur is ruined ;-; it feels very rough and sad to pet and even combing it out isn’t doing much.. is there any way to revive it as this is basically a trans girls worst nightmare.. thank you!!
hi! sorry for the late reply, i’m so sorry to hear about your blåhaj :( unfortunately, if the fur is rough, it sounds more like it went through the dryer and/or washer on hot and the fur fibers got melted. (fabric softener also is a culprit for this as well)
As far as I know there is no technology to perfectly revive melted fibers to their original texture, but there are some tricks you can do to at least make the fur a bit softer again. I know you mentioned you already tried combing, but if you can get your hands on a soft plastic bristle brush it will be more effective than a comb, especially with the short fur blåhaj has. they are usually sold as kitten, baby, or small pet brushes:
(build a bear, petco, petsmart)
I have written a longer guide here about dryer damage repair that might be of some use!
and i also found a reddit thread with some interesting info specifically about restoring a blåhaj too! reddit thread on r/blahaj
hope this helps even a little bit! the key will be patience, as none of the methods are quick and easy. good luck!! 🩵🩷🤍
Keeping your stuffie friends clean, healthy and happy is super important, but can be very intimidating if you don't know how. A lot of people are afraid of messing up their beloved friends. Hopefully this post can help!
៚ ⋯⋯⋯ ˁᱸᲲᱸˀ ⋯⋯⋯⋯ ༄
Tip 1: Lint rollers!
These are super cheap and easy to find at basically any store. They won't pull out your friends fur or hair, but they are great for removing loose dirt and dust. We recommend going over your stuffie friends with a lint roller at least once a week or after any trip out (especially during pollen season!) Make sure to get under their arms and behind their ears!
៚ ⋯⋯⋯ ˁᱸᲲᱸˀ ⋯⋯⋯⋯ ༄
Tip 2: Unscented Wet Wipes
Scented ones work too, but we prefer unscented because of our sensitive skin. These are great for giving your stuffie friends a proper cleaning. We usually use 4-5 wipes for a standard 16 inch BAB plushie. Your stuffie should be damp after being thoroughly wiped down. We like to gently rub in circles all over their plush. After they've been cleaned make sure to use a towel to dry them. Most stuffies will be dry in just a few minutes! We recommend wiping your stuffie at least once a month, more often if they are going out on adventures or spending time around food and drinks!
៚ ⋯⋯⋯ ˁᱸᲲᱸˀ ⋯⋯⋯⋯ ༄
Tip 3: Slicker Pet Brushes
These brushes are perfect for most stuffie friends, especially Build a Bears and other stuffies with straight fibers for fur/hair. They separate fibers and detangle easily. We like to brush against the direction the plush lays (against the grain) and then with the direction it lays (with the grain). Don't press too hard when using them. If you notice the brush is full of your stuffie friends fur/hair after brushing, stop using and refer to tip 4. These brushes can be found online and in most pet stores and sections.
៚ ⋯⋯⋯ ˁᱸᲲᱸˀ ⋯⋯⋯⋯ ༄
Tip 4: Detangling Brushes
For stuffies with curly, textured, or older fur/hair, a detangler is the best option for brushing them (they're also great for human hair too!). See how the tines are different lengths? This helps detangle, but they're also soft plastic so they won't pull fur/hair out while brushing. If they snag on a knot the tines will bend and the knot will slip off without damaging or ripping anything out. We have a bear with loopy fibers mixed into his plush. A detangler keeps him soft and clean without damaging him at all. These brushes can be found online and in the human hair-care section of most stores that carry brushes.
Whether you use a slicker or a detangler, giving your stuffie friends a good brushing at least once a month (and after baths!) will help keep them soft, clean and happy!
Had a situation today where my dog got a hold of one of my Jellycats, got its fur matted and slobbery but I found out that gently brushing through the mats with an small doll brush not only fixed it but also made it soft again! I just felt like sharing just in case anyone else needs this!
for plushies with sound functions (like a little thing that makes noise when you press on it) how do you clean them without risking damaging the noise?
hi! i have a way more detailed guide about cleaning plushies here, but the answer for your question is very carefully! You never want to put a plushie with a sound box in a washing machine or submerge it in water. You are mostly limited to surface washing if you can’t remove the sound box. Check out my guide above for more instructions!
We decided to take some before and after photos while brushing Toaster Strudel, our Jellycat Dexter dragon.
Before:
During (belly brushed and head unbrushed):
After:
Toast says: Don't forget to brush behind ears, between spikes and under wings!
Just a note:
We brush against the grain first and then brush normally. That way we don't have to apply much pressure with the slicker brush while still getting all the fibers brushed out. Then we lightly pat with the brush to floof the fibers up a bit to make them look nice and fluffy.
Toast will never look like he did fresh out of the box and that is okay, none of us do, but a good brushing really helps to keep him clean, soft and looking his dragony best.
ah... you mentioned restuffing plushies being easy? :0c ive always wanted to do that myself but, ah this feels dumb to ask, but do you have any resources (or tips?) on how to do that?
Thylacereal gave a detailed advice on their blog !
you need to carefully open up a seam (i use manicure scissors) and after you're done restuffing, close it off with a ladder stitch !
My absolute favorite care bears plush display i have ever done. I took this idea from a post on instagram i saw by desperate_danny and i absolutely loved it. I did this display for 2 different houses, and i want to set it up again for the house im currently staying in as well. Hope you guys enjoy!