Ahh, it's that time of the week again where I have to defuzz the bups and make them look their best. It's almost a full-time job, given how dirty some of them like to be. I'm not naming names, cough. Snowy cough, some of our bups are straight-up magnets for dirt.
While Snowy is actually dirty with stains, most of the cleaning revolves around removing fuzzy buildup. One of the worst offenders in this regard is Moe Moe, for some reason. Teddy also attracts his fair share of debris and dirt, along with plenty of hair, but that last one might actually be my fault.
Nevertheless, let's get this party started, shall we? During my 2+ decades of stuffed animal ownership, I have learned a thing or two about how to care for and maintain the hygiene of these fur babies. The most important rule of thumb is not to allow them to get dirty in the first place, which can be harder than it sounds.
Unfortunately, our planet is a naturally dirty place; dust is everywhere, and it's attracted to stuffed animals of all types; it does not discriminate. While some opt for hand washing or traditional washer methods, I employ a more gingerly approach.
I start by taking a soft tooth brush (new) and lightly rubbing it over the surface of each bup. This simple process can remove a lot of fuzzies and hair. Some bups accumulate more than others; sometimes you wonder where it all comes from, as it never seems to cease.
Depending on the bup in question, if the toothbrush isn't removing any or enough of the fuzzies, you can use a little more force, but take great care not to damage the bup in the process.
Next up is spot cleaning. If, for some reason, your stuffed animals have dirt or a stain on them, you can simply wet the corner of a washcloth and lightly dab at them. I do it sparingly; again, I am not trying to damage them, only maintain them. In the case of Snowy, I don't even try to clean him anymore; he will just get dirty again to spite me.
The overall goal here is to keep them clean. I prefer to dress them up at times in clothing, as the garments will collect most of the dirt and dust and protect them underneath. The problem I run into most is that there isn't much clothing that fits them, so customized garments need to be made. Luckily, that's where the Bups grandma comes into play!
I wish I had thought about clothes for them when I first began to accumulate them years ago. Unfortunately, we cannot turn back the clock and instead only move forward. If you want to keep your bups clean and maintain them for as long as possible, I would highly recommend clothing garments!
