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Spa treatment for Teddy Bears

Writer's picture: Sam MasonSam Mason

Updated: Jan 30

Ever since I saw Toffee Bear, a 1950s character teddy in my book, The Teddy Bear Encyclopedia by Pauline Cockrill I had to have one, there was no rhyme or reason and so I was on the hunt for one. It is thanks to another collector, who remembered my comment on Facebook that I was envious that someone had got one and that I had missed out a couple of times on Ebay. So it is with many thanks to Kathlyn Hunt that I now have one of my dream bears, a Chad Valley Toffee Bear, what a happy little collector I am. 


Toffee is quite a rare find and sought after by collectors.  I also have a soft spot for the East European bears made of Art Silk, that are not quite so sought after by Collectors. I couldn’t resist Buddy, who I saw waiting to be bid on too, a very grubby 9” art silk bear, maker is possibly Hamiro.


Now, does anyone know where I can find an Alpha Farnell Toffee? 


Little Toffee and the art silk teddy arrived and I got to thinking about what Restorers and serious Collectors automatically do when they receive a new old bear to join their hug. A lot of people are not sure what is the best way to welcome and clean an old teddy bear. 


Caring and cleaning for old bears is very different to the modern washing machine and tumble dry teddy bear. I don’t think there is a Teddy Bear Restorer that hasn’t had a sorry looking old (pre 1960s) jointed mohair bear to repair because the owner (or someone being very helpful) has innocently popped Teddy in the washing machine.  Sorry, I understand for those who know this is wrong, your heart rate has probably increased somewhat at the mere thought of this scenario, mine has. However, the owner (or helper) is feeling worse and is overwhelmed with sadness and guilt that the special teddy has been ruined.


If you don’t know the best way to clean and care for your bear, then it is an easy mistake to make. So what do I do with my orphans and patients at Blinkley Wood Bears?


My Cleaning Kit - Looks like a lot, but generally the usual household items that you will find in your kitchen or bathroom. I am UK based.


1: Quarantine

2: Pre Wash

White Paper

Face Mask (& my specs)

Clothes Moth Killer Papers

Various Brushes (Baby & Dog Brush…)

Plastic Bag (Teddy size)

Teasel Brush

2 - 8 Weeks

Muslin Cloth (or similar)


Rubber band (hair bobble)


Hoover with Nozzle


3: Cleaning

4: Drying

Soap  (for bubbles)

Fluffy Towel (preferably white)

Warm water (not hot)

Laundry Bag (and pegs)

Soft Toothbrush

Airing Cupboard (somewhere warm and dry)

White cloths - Lots

A few days

Fluffy Towel or drying cloth




Quarantine


When a Teddy Bear is admitted to Blinkley Wood Bears, Hospital and Orphanage department they get a full examination, firstly I’m looking over them for any creepy crawlies that may have decided to take up residency in poor old Teddy. I’m based in the UK, so am mainly looking for moth damage.  


Moth damage has a few giveaway clues, perhaps one of the most obvious signs are random patches of fur loss, where moth larvae have dined on the mohair.  What goes in must come out, so take a look, especially in the creases and crevices, joints and seams for a sandy looking grit, tap Teddy over the White Paper to help see this moth larvae Poop.  

Another sign is the pupae casing that the moths have emerged from, they are tiny paper looking bits on the fur. You may also see small bore holes, easier to see in felt paws.


I kindly got permission from Cassy Leversedge to use a picture of a bear she has worked on that was showing the bald patches and the pupae casing on the fur I previously mentioned.  

Yes, the “Dr Cassy” of Teddy Bear Times past (1990s), a Restorer still, of 40 years experience, and of course no need to worry this teddy is back to full health. 



What to do….


FREEZING !  - NO!  NO!  NO!


It was once advised to do this. I have myself, a long time ago, done this with my own bears, because that is what it said to do in a book about teddy bear restoration. Don’t worry Teddy survived.


Today we know better, freezing doesn’t kill the moth eggs and it can seriously damage the delicate fabric of an old bear. Without getting too technical, there is a normal moisture level held in natural fibres of the mohair and cotton weaved backing, the freezing causes this to crystallise and it expands  the fibres which then causes further damage.  If you have ever tried to stitch/darn the fragile fabric of an old bear you will understand how the fibres can simply break and crumble, so you can imagine the damage caused by the added pressure of ice crystals. 


With no evidence of moth damage in either bear, I have put my Chad Valley Toffee Bear and his art silk Buddy in a shoe box to hibernate with Rentokil Clothes Moth Killer papers, which has then been sealed in a plastic bag.

They were left to hibernate for a couple of weeks, I would have left them for 6-8 weeks at least, and individually if I had suspected a moth infestation.


Just released from Quarantine
Just released from Quarantine

Pre-Wash


Phew !  we haven't even got to cleaning our bears yet.


After hibernation (quarantine) we can carefully wake up our sleepy little bears.


Before rushing off to get the soap and warm water, there is the Pre-wash stage of cleaning.


If  you wondered what to do with all those old Covid face masks, now is a good time to use one, and better still, if it’s a nice day, pop out into the garden so both you and Teddy can enjoy some fresh air together. You certainly do not want to be breathing in all the old dust, dirt, dead skin cells, talcum powder, old bits of food, to name a few of the ingredients from the years of adventures coming off Teddy’s fur.  I wear my specs as well for some eye protection. 


Now it is time to give Toffee and Buddy a brush to help get rid of surface dust and grime, fluffing up the pile. While brushing teddy bears I am always mindful to support their heads, limbs and joints not wishing to cause any further weakness or damage.


I have various brushes from a soft baby brush, toothbrush, great for smaller areas, a dog brush (used for Teddys only) which have the hard bristle on one side and on the other side, a teasel with plastic coated end..

I also have teasel brushes of various sizes, please, if you use this brush be very careful not to snag the backing fabric of your Teddy.


A simple brush can make a difference
A simple brush can make a difference

This is also a good time to note whether there are any loose threads, seams, claws, any holes etc. Buddy's left ear was coming away and a claw thread was loose on one of his paws. I fixed both these problems before moving on to the next stage. You can also see from the photo that simply brushing Buddy’s paw pads, what a difference that can make.  On these Art Silk bears the paws are made from the same art silk fabric, which is reversed, so that the backing fabric is on the outside, making for a great colour match. 


Toffee has a hole coming in his bald tummy and I can also feel a broken growler under the surface, so I will avoid brushing and cleaning this area. I may open him up at a later date to investigate further.


Why brush?  It is always a good idea to give Teddy a brush, if like me you had a childhood without computer games etc, you will know this simple, common scientific equation.  


 Dirt + Water = Mud Pie


I always protect claws and eyes when doing any brushing and cleaning, covering them with my finger or thumb. And yes I have teasel brushed my own digits - a little uncomfortable!


If your bear is strong enough, you can also give Teddy a hoover.  Again gently do this,  I place the muslin cloth over the hoover nozzle, held in place with a rubber band and I open the vent to avoid the strong full suction.

Why cover the nozzle?  We do not want to add any dirt from the nozzle to the bear and if, for example, you accidentally discover a loose eye its caught in your cloth.


Carefully does it
Carefully does it

Cleaning


Firstly choose your Bubble Maker - Again “Gentle” is the key word. 

What is recommended?  

I usually use baby shampoo, but there are also silk/wool laundry liquids for hand washing. 

For example, Stergene (WoolMark approved), has bubble staying power.  I have used Woolite as well, but have recently come across the fact that Woolite can react badly if Teddy has a heavy smoke residue and may discolour the bear (thank you Dee Finch)  You may also use a natural soap.


I put some warm water in a bowl with my chosen bubble maker and stir up a storm of frothy bubbles and also fill the sink with clean warm water to keep rinsing my cloth in.


This bubble method is for a bear that still has about 60% fur and fluff, it is important not to get the backing fabric wet.  Why? - Old bears are usually filled with excelsior, which when wet will stain the fabric of the bear. Cotton sub stuffing may possibly do the same. 


I work in sections, a little part of the bear, following each stage.  I start on the back of the body, then each limb separately, the tummy,  finally finishing with the back of the head then the face.


  1. I carefully place some bubbles on the surface of the fur and gently agitate with a soft toothbrush or fingertips (remembering to avoid getting the backing fabric wet) 

  2. Next, a fully wrung out white cloth (almost dry) to carefully work over the fur to remove soapy residue. Optional, a little fabric conditioner in your rinsing water may be used, with a clean water cloth wipe off of any residue.

  3. Finally a fluffy towel or drying cloth to dry off the fur as much as possible


Please be aware dyes on these earlier bears are not always colour fast and can bleed, so be vigilant with stitched claws and noses, I have known the dyes to have run from these areas.

And if you are dealing with a Panda Bear be very, very careful of the black dyed areas running onto the white sections. Wise to do a test patch on Pandas first.


I am not sure how many times I have mentioned not to get the backing fabric wet - no matter how hard we try it is easily done.

I have not put a Hairdryer on my kit list, as this is used as a last resort, if you notice that the backing fabric got wet, move away from the sink, dry your hands etc. 


Water + Electrics = Disaster


Set your hairdryer on the lowest heat and power and cautiously waft and wave the air from the dryer over the patch to help speed up the drying phase to reduce any possible staining. 


Hopefully this one wash treatment will be enough, however if your bear was an attic dweller and is extremely dusty and dirty, perhaps a second and even a third clean may be needed. Be mindful how delicate your bear is, it is not always a bad thing that your bear is showing years of journeys to the bottom of the garden and other happy adventures.


If more than one bubble session is needed please let your bear dry out and fibres relax back before doing again.


Play time with bubbles - who has not one a bubble beard at bathtime?
Play time with bubbles - who has not one a bubble beard at bathtime?


Drying


It is now time to let Teddy rest and naturally dry, if you have an old-fashioned airing cupboard, this is a perfect warm, dry bear cave for another teddy nap, best to leave them for a day or two.


Not everyone has one of these in modern day homes, I’m lucky there was space in my boiler cupboard to put a shelf at the top, a perfect warm and cosy place for my bears to recuperate. Hubby does come up with some good ideas :)


The Laundry Bag, great on those sunny days for a sleeping hammock for Teddies.  Never hang up your bear by the ears - Ouch!   I wouldn’t like to chance my bears being out in the open, living near the sea, we have plenty of gulls flying over, I would be back to making bubbles again. The sea gulls usually like to leave a deposit on my clean sheets that are nicely billowing in the wind to dry.


Please do not put Teddy in direct sunlight or heat and please don’t burn their little bottoms on a hot radiator.




So what to do

for the next couple of days while Toffee and Buddy dry out.  Of course Toffee should have a woolly hat and scarf, so off to find the knitting needles and red wool.


Finally, another soft brush and fluff and Toffee is happy to get a new hand knitted scarf and hat just as


Lulupet the doll once made for him. Buddy is quite content with a simple bow of gold satin and organza and they now both feel very hungry.


Must dash, I can hear some noise coming from the cupboards where the sticky jam and marmalade is kept.




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2 Comments


Wow! There's a lot more to this Teddy Bear Care than I thought. You certainly have to know your stuff. Keep up the good work Sam. Your knowledge is immeasurable. Kind regards, Peter.


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Sam Mason
Sam Mason
Jan 27
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Thanks Pete, it's never ending learning x

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