In the case that your plushie or other yarn-based item (cactus, keychain, coin purse, etc.) gets dirty, my general suggestion is to spot wash the area with a mixture of dawn dish soap and water to remove the stain, and then a gentle blotting of the area with a damp cloth to remove any residual soap mixture.
DO NOT MACHINE WASH OR DRY your stuffed creature - despite my best efforts to ensure all ends are woven in, knotted, and secure, the movement of a washing machine or drier can cause ends to become loose and your item to unravel. Additionally, machine washing or any sort of full submersion in water can cause the stuffing to ball up, pill, and become compacted and hard. If not dried properly, mold or mildew can form.
If you spill something harder to remove from fabrics like tea, wine, coffee, or other items, on your friend, please look up the best ways to remove those substances from ACRYLIC or POLYESTER fibers, as those are the yarns which I use to make my creatures. Keep in mind, like clothes, your plush may stain permanently.
If you stain or dirty an item that doesn’t have stuffing in it, like a coin purse, you can hand wash the item in warm soapy water and rinse it, as they are fully submersible. Hang to dry, or dry with a blow drier on low heat for faster dry times!
If you suspect your stuffed item has been in contact with pet urine or other bodily fluids, you can attempt to fully submerge the item in a mixture of odoban and water to hand wash it - be warned, however, that this may alter the color of the yarn, and if not properly dried (my suggestion is laid out on a hot, sunny day in direct sunlight, rotating the plush every 45 minutes to an hour), you could cause mildew or mold to form in the stuffing.
Water can cause yarn to stretch out and become deformed, which may lead to safety eyes falling out, holes forming, or limbs/attachments to stretch.
If you are a crafty individual, some simpler plushies may have their "butts" undone and stuffing removed - at which point they can be put in the wash, in a pillowcase, on a gentle cycle; dried; and then re-stuffed and closed up again. I only suggest this if you are very familiar with crochet and/or weaving/knitting.
In the unlikely event your little friend needs surgery, I am more than happy to repair your item! I just request that you pay for the shipping costs of sending your plushie back to me, as well as return shipping. I am happy to provide the labor of repairing your stuffed friend for free in this case.
If you’re a crafty individual, I am happy to walk you through the process of sewing in any loose ends, or re-attaching any pieces which may have come loose due to a well-loved plush.
Depending on what broke and how it happened, I may or may not be able to help. If an item broke while in transit shipping, I am happy to direct you to the proper place to send an insurance claim through the post office (all my packages are insured up to $50 by default), and to assist you in filing said claim if necessary.
If your item broke (ex. a potted cactus) after shipping while in your posession, unfortunately I will not be able to provide any assistance outside instrucitng you how to go about removing the pot and attaching your piece to a new one. If another part of your item became damaged due to normal wear and tear and not a defect on the part of my assembly or creations, I again will be unable to provide you a replacement or new item without an additional purchase of the item you would like replaced being made.
I am happy to provide assistance in repairing if you need it.
The best way to care for your new plushie, or other crochet item, is to treat it carefully - avoid pulling or excessive force on small limbs (while I attach them tightly, continued force can cause the yarn to break or come loose) and never machine wash or dry your item. Crochet is a very sturdy way to create things, and so feel free to cuddle and hug your stuffie or use your usable item as much as you want! As with any fabric item, repeated use will lead to an item becoming dirty, stretched out and/or worn, and possibly becoming damaged over time. If you want your plushie to remain in pristine condition, finding a nice shelf or even an acrylic or glass display case is the best way to give it the longest lifespan possible!
My plushies are NOT made to be baby safe. If you intend to purchase any of my items for a child, NEVER leave one of my items with your child unattended. Despite their name, safety eyes are not baby safe items, and CAN become a choking hazard if they become detached from my plushies. My plushies are a designer toy item, and not meant or designed for children or babies. Safety eyes are labeled not safe for children under 3 years of age.
I am able to modify my patterns so that items are safer for babies, but unfortunately am unable to advertise any item as entirely baby safe due to stringent regulations on what can and cannot use “baby safe” as a modifier. Additionally, I would never feel comfortable giving something to someone who intends to use it with their child not knowing there is a 100% guarantee of safety, and market it as such.