Stuffed animals in the dryer???

Question

To eliminate dust mites? Is this true???

Answer 1

My daughter has been tested by an allergy doctor and was found to be allergic to dust mites. He told us to wash all her bedding and stuffed animals once a week in hot water and that it would kill the dust mites. He said if it couldn't be washed to get rid of it.  

Answer 2

Once every couple months I throw my son's favorite stuffed animals...at the very most @ a time 5...into the washer and select extra small load and put it on handwash or gentle cycle. I drop in my Downy softner ball and let it catch in the rinse cycle. If you dont have a softner ball...just add faberic softner to the rinse cycle. When done...I turn my dryer to AIR DRY and dry for however long and it take to dry them all. They smell so fresh and it gives me a peace of mind! Best Wishes!

Answer 3

I am not 100% sure but i was told the same thing so...yes

Answer 4

You can wash a stuffed animal in the washer, but when you put it in the dryer... put it in a pillow case - to defuse the heat.  My mom forgot to put one of mine in a bag once and it turned into a brillo pad!!

Answer 5

i dink ur stuff animal will rip and its head willl pop off like wut happen to my snowman bear =(

Answer 6

my mom use to do it when I was a little tyke....don't know about dust mites but it should be done regardless

Answer 7

i have no idea.

Answer 8

I have successfully washed lots of stuffed animals, but I usually let them air dry and then put them in the dryer on low heat just to fluff them back up.

The cheaper stuffed animals received as prizes at carnivals are often NOT washable - their dye runs and the glued-on eyes and features come loose.  These stuffed toys usually aren't safe for small children anyway because they are poorly made.

Answer 9

I have 4 young kids aand as a result have countless numbers of stuffed animals. I wash them all regularly to keep them germ and dust mite free in the washing machine. I throw a couple in at a time with a regular load of laundry. However, I do not dry them in the dryer. They will not come out the same. The heat will melt the fur some so they will not be as soft and cuddly and will look horrible. If you wash them in  the washe and let them air dry they will turn out as good as new. Trust me I do it all the time. However my mom came and thought she would help me out a little and threw my daughter's care bear in the wash and then the dryer and it came out looking and feeling very bad. I had washed it several times before that though and let it air dry and it was perfect. Oh so sad, not anymore. Good luck to you!!!!

Answer 10

Just make sure there is no sort of squeaker or delicate ribbon or something like that on the animal...these can't be dried in a machine.

If not, that'll work.  

Answer 11

I have no idea whether it would kill dust mites but it cannot hurt to give them a wash and try it.

You can actually put them through the washer AND the dryer.  You just put the stuffed animal in a pillowcase and tie it shut (you could knot the pillowcase or use a rubber band or a shoelace), wash them cool on the delicate cycle, then throw them - still in the pillowcase! - into the dryer, again on low.  

I cannot imagine a dust mite could survive that but I couldn't say for sure.

Answer 12

You can wash a good quality stuffed animal on hot and dry it on high. You can also put them in the freezer for 24 hours. That is supposed to kill all germs and dust mites.

Answer 13

I wash mine in the gentle cycle and then dry them.

Answer 14

i have heard its true...give it a try

Answer 15

I've not heard that I do wash and dry mine all the time. When my daughter was in the NICU her stuffed animals had to be kept in a ziploc bag to keep them from getting dust mites. I also have bought some stuffed animals from Build a Bear that are "asthma and allergy friendly", part of the care is you can put in the freezer for 4 hours to kill the alergens.

Answer 16

I would personally hang then on the line for the sun to do its thing :)

The sun will kill the dust mites. Not sure about the dryer as they get quite dusty themselves