Woolwise - Bearwise/Soft Toys

Bearwise/Soft Toys

Tina and Jane from Zar Bears have set up at Woolwise a teddy bear and soft toy repair hospital. Jane is the lady with the know how on cleaning and repairing and has many years experience, do contact us for a price quote.

We have several hand made teddy bears Jane has made for us in mohair, Tina makes hand knitted and crochet toys and accessories we will have these on sale when available.

CARE & REPAIR

A teddy bear can suffer from too much loving or everyday life like overly affectionate children, animals, insects or bacteria. Prices for cleaning and repairs vary, so please contact us for an approximate estimate before sending your bear to our hospital. We will be happy to provide you with a free consultation and estimate of your bears’ surgery cost. A photo of your bear will help us identify him and it is good to have a before picture on record.

STORE OR NOT TO RESTORE

Proper restoration and repair will not decrease the value of a bear. Eyes can be replaced, noses and mouth threads replaced, paw pads replaced with like materials, ears and limbs can be replaced if missing, and joints can be re-done if they are loose. Torn seams can be repaired, growlers and squeakers can be replaced or sometimes repaired, and careful cleaning can remove dirt and restore the fur to a soft fluffy feel. Stuffing can be added or replaced as needed with like materials to bring your beloved friend back to life.

CLEANING YOUR STUFFED BEAR

It is always best to know what type of fabric your bear is made of and what it is stuffed with before attempting to clean your bear yourself! Do not put your bear in a washing machine or send him to the dry cleaners as he will not like this experience! First make sure the fabric is strong enough to withstand cleaning. If you are not sure, please ask. It is always best to know what your bear is stuffed with before cleaning as some older stuffing materials will retain moisture and cause rotting or mold if not properly dried. Stuffing materials will often shift during cleaning. There are a variety of materials that have been used for stuffing bears throughout the years. If you want to try to clean your bear yourself, we suggest using only a tiny bit of cleaner for delicates and wool fabrics rather than soap or shampoo. Place a couple of drops in a large bowl of warm water. Use a clean rag and then dampen it in the mixture and wring the rag tightly. Rub the rag in a circular motion over the bear. Do not soak the bear! After this process, use clean water and remove all of the soapy residue in the same way. You can add a drop of fabric softener in the rinse water if you want, but be sure to use a clean fresh rag and repeat the process. This is a surface washing only! Once this process is completed, pat the bear dry with a towel to absorb any excess moisture and then use a hair dryer on low setting to help blow dry the fur. Or leave on a towel to dry out naturally.Once dry, fluff with a soft brush.

MAINTENANCE

Once the bear is clean and restored it only needs a little bit of regular maintenance. Keep your bear free of dust by using a brush or give him a periodic gentle vacuuming. Keep lavender bags or cedar oil balls nearby to prevent moths or other bugs from coming too close, especially if you have mohair or natural fur bears. Do not keep your bears sitting in direct sunlight, under or around a steady heat source such as heater vents, and never put them under hot halogen lamps. If you need to store your bear for long periods of time, do not store in plastic bags or boxes. Place your bear in a cardboard box and wrap him in acid-free tissue or an old cotton pillowcase with some cedar oil balls and then store him in a cool, dry place that does not experience dramatic temperature changes. If you take him on your travels make him or her a cotton bag to travel in.