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Lately Tater Tot’s favorite “lovey”, Mr. Duckie is smelling, uh, less than fresh. He goes just about everywhere with her. When she sees him, her eyes light up and she breaks out in a huge grin. I swear she’s happier to see that duck than she is to see me sometimes! He is a rather large, fuzzy stuffed duck. You could even say that he is a bit shaggy since his “feathers” are longer than you would expect for a duck. Kinda like the Suzy’s Zoo duck . My dilemma is how to clean this duck? Warm soapy water? I don’t think I can throw the thing in the washing machine, unfortunately. The other dilemma is when to clean this duck! When can I clean it without her throwing a fit because she sees it and wants it? What’s gross about this whole situation to me is that the duck does not look dirty. It just smells dirty. Ewwww.

Well, I just took a break to look up how to clean stuffed animals and came up with some good suggestions!

Mommy Tip: Baking soda apparently works for a “dry bath” and I think it would probably take care of the smell since it is a natural deodorizer. I like that it’s natural because this thing is in Tater Tot’s mouth quite a bit. Leave it on for 15 minutes and then just brush it off.

A couple of web sites recommended just throwing the thing in a pillowcase, closing it and putting it in the washer even if the tag says not to (there are exceptions for animals with sound boxes, of course). This site has an extensive primer on stuffed animal care, in case you are in need as I am.

So at some point when Mr. Duckie is not critically needed by The Tot, I guess I will be throwing his Duckie Butt in a pillowcase and takin’ him on a ride in the washing machine. Wish me luck!