My 4 year old son has a LeapFrog My Pal Scout (electronic stuffed animal) that he is in love with - I mean undying "together forever" type of love. We bought a second one because the germs and dirt on the first one probably have created a new strand of bacteria that could wipe out mankind. We want to keep the first one because that was the original but I want to have it cleaned and back to its original glory. I have found a few stuffed animal hospitals (http://www.realmsofgold.com/hospital.html) (http://www.stuffedanimals.com/stuffed_animal_hospital_a/1...) but they are pretty expensive. Has anyone ever used a stuffed animal hospital or a professional toy cleaner? If so, who would you recommend and how much did you spend? No repairs needed - just a deep cleaning.
Just saw my first reply and should have elaborated that I have already attempted to extensively clean this thing myself with the most heavy duty scrub brush I could find. It needs a professional cleaner - there is no getting around that. As for recommendations on detachment - thank you but I am not concerned about that rather than just getting the original cleaned for sentimental value.
I did use one once and the item was never the same. They restuffed it with hard polyfill rather than the lofty cluster fill. To this day I felt it was a mistake because it was never the same.
I understand keeping it for sentimental reasons, but I'm not sure I would mess with it for the reason I stated above.
I'm assuming it's the talking Scout or else you could just put it in the washer. Never used a stuffed animal hospital. I'd probably just give it a good scrubbing with soapy water and a washcloth or scrub brush, spray it with some Febreeze, and let it air dry in the sun. I'd also use the excuse of more frequent and regular cleanings to help him detach a bit from that toy, since he's such a big boy. I wouldn't offer a replacement Scout to hold it's place during these breaks.
Good luck!
I haven't ever used an animal hospital, but I will throw in my two cents. We have Violet. For a while my daughter was also extremely attached. I couldn't get it clean either. It's frustrating that they don't put the electronics in a removable box so it can be thrown in the washer. As a last ditch effort I sprayed it with "Spot Shot" (It's a rug cleaner, but I use it to clean ALL fabrics...LOVE that stuff). THen I steam cleaned her using the brush tool on my machine. Surprisingly it worked and since I was careful not to drench it, the stuffed animal the electronics worked just fine afterwards. I just let her air dry, I was careful to turn it every few hours to keep parts from molding or gettig stinky.
The only "stuffed animal hospital" I ever used was called MOM. Whenever my toys or my nieces stuffed animals got so bad they were breeding need brands of bacteria, my mom, (or in my nieces case me) would toss them in the washer with soap, some bleach and a touch of vinegar. She'd then take the hand dryer to them, fluff the animal up with a brush, and I'd have a brad new toy!
When the animal really got to be beyond repair, we'd put the toy in a special bag for the special "Animal Maker" to remake (mom threw it away when I wasn't looking) and she took me out to choose a new specie stuffed animal, usually under $5.
Anyway, my point is that you might want to try cleaning the toy yourself before you send it off to a professional place, because I'm sure they're quite expensive. You might want to ask a dry cleaners if they will do the deed for you. Sure, they do clothes, but they might be willing to do the toy,especially if you are on good terms with them.
Good luck!
If it means that much to you then yes, get it done. I would go to any length to keep my daughter's stuffed doggie well.
I've stopped washing him since he's older and she's older and only uses him at night. But he's part of the family!!
You might scroll through etsy, or try a broader geographic search for a stuffed animal hospital. I know there is one in NYC. You might also ask about specialty storage packaging too, the sort that they sometimes do for wedding dresses or collectible dolls. Little sense spending all this money for the restoration only to throw the doll in a rubbermaid in the attic.
Best,
F. B.
