Hot wash teddy bears

[TheOwlandThe]

So I have been self isolating with a coronavirus like illness

DP has been sleeping in a separate bedroom. It's actually been nearly 2 weeks now and I'm feeling better, DP obviously needs to come back to his bedroom

So obviously hot wash ad iron bedding. Same with any clothes/towels. But I have a couple of teddy bears who I've been sleeping with and they obviously need washing too. Normally I'd just do a quick cold delicate wash and tbh they havent been washed in quite some time, but I need to kill the rona. Can I wash them at 60?

I really really don't want to damage them, I've had them both since I was a baby but at the same time I have been breathing all over them for nearly 2 weeks.

They are just normal teddy bears, just like what you buy from a toy shop. Will they be okay? How do I clean them?

Couldn't you just bag them up and put them somewhere for however long it takes for the virus to die on whatever they are made out of?

Do not hot wash them, they will die.

Anything involving soap/washing detergent should do the job. You don't have to boil your hands when you wash them to kill coronavirus, for example - soap breaks down the lipid outer layer of the virus. So I see no reason why a cooler wash would be a problem.

Put them on the washing line, do this each day for a few days
Line drying will sterilise

So we think just a normal low temp delicate wash will be okay?

Tbh they need a wash anyway. And I feel a bit mean bagging them up

I know it's a it strange to be worrying about my teddy bears but I've had them since I was a baby and they've come with me everyone I've moved etc.

I washed DD’s care bear earlier this week (not cv related) went on a 40 degree wash, came out fine hung on washing line out in sunshine.

Tumble dry if you can

It’s much better than washing as it gets much hotter

I was gonna leave them outside to dry in the sun which has decided it's not coming out today

Does freezing work? Put in a bag and put in the freezer for a while?

Someone said about other coronaviruses just going dormant when frozen. Not sure how true that is though.

Don’t hot wash or tumble dry it will destroy them.

Put each bear in a pillow case and tie it shut with a hair elastic or similar. Wash in cold (no more than 40C) with usual soap. Hang dry.

The corona virus is not that strong. It only takes twenty seconds of applying soap and water to kill it. If you are really worried and want to go nuclear, put a cap full of general disinfectant like dettol in the fabric softener section of the detergent tray in your washer (not bleach though!). That will make your rinse cycle into a disinfection cycle.

I would just isolate them until there's no chance of infection. Wait till your dp is ready to move back into the room though so you still have something to cuddle

Soap kills it so a delicate wash with detergent should do it?

If they need washing then use the programme you usually use. It's the detergent that kills it, not the temperature of the water

I have accidentally washed a very precious steiff bear after DD had D&V and he got wrapped up in the sheets. I suddenly saw his face and paws pressed up against the glass door going round and round with what looked like a pained expression. He was fine despite the dire warnings on the label. I would put them in a pillow case or laundry bag and use some of the dettol wash alongside normal soap and then let them dry on an airer or towel.