Plushies, Soft Toys & Stuffed Animals
We clean and restore your plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals that have some monetary value and/or high sentimental or emotional value.
Inside and out.
At RAVE FabriCARE, we have the technical skills, experience and equipment necessary to clean, sanitize and deodorize (and, if necessary, completely restore) your child's favorite friends to original color, softness and freshness while simultaneously promoting your child's health and safety.
We can also clean, sanitize and deodorize (and, if necessary, completely restore) old, tired vintage soft toys and stuffed animals that have been gathering dust in attics, basements, garages and storage lockers.
We believe that every treasured velvety or furry friend entrusted to our care carries with it a history of memories, emotions and attachments that dictates careful attention to detail.
You'll find that our cleaning, sanitizing and deodorizing (and, if necessary, complete restoration) process is built to deliver that attention to detail.
We can handle it all:
* Plushies: These include ultra-soft, velvety soft toys with embroidered or fabric features for eyes, noses and mouths.
*. Soft toys: These include soft toys with a furry or other fabric exterior and hard (typically plastic) features for eyes, noses and mouths.
* Stuffed animals: These include "standing" or "flat-laying" soft toys with a furry or other fabric exterior and hard (typically plastic) features for eyes, noses and mouths.
We serve clients:
* Locally at our Scottsdale, Arizona location and
* Nationally through our Nationwide Clean By Mail service.
No matter where you live in the USA, we are as close as your neighborhood Post Office, UPS store or FedEx store.
You could say that we have over 100,000 locations nationwide to serve you.
Understanding the issues associated with cleaning, sanitizing and deodorizing plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals
Non-construction related issues
When you’re considering cleaning, sanitizing and deodorizing (and, if necessary, completely restoring) plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals – modern, relatively modern or vintage – you'll be presented with a number of non-construction related issues:
- Stains and soiling: Plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals are easily stained and soiled by dust, dirt, food fats, body oils, lotions, creams, blood, soda, milk and the like.
- Bodily fluids and their associated odors: Plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals often accumulate bodily fluids and their associated odors (urine, feces, throw up and the like) as a result of usage by infants and young children.
- Bacterial and viral pathogens: Plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals are often exposed to bacterial and viral pathogens as a result of usage by infants and young children and contact with unsanitary surfaces (bacteria and viral pathogens are the primary cause of diseases).
- Dust mites and protein allergens: Plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals are often exposed to live dust mites and the Der f 1/Der p 1 protein allergens produced by the dust mite feces embedded in the interior fill (protein allergens from dust mite feces are the primary cause of allergies).
- Musty odors: Plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals often accumulate musty odors as a result of improper storage in attics, basements and storage lockers.
Construction related issues
In addition, you'll be presented with a number of construction related issues:
- Outer fabrics: The outer fabric used in the construction of many plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals might contain fugitive dyes (i.e., the fabric “bleeds” to water, dry cleaning solvents and fluids, and/or various cleaning agents).
- Interior fill: The interior fill used in the construction of many plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals might contain fugitive dyes (i.e., the fabric “bleeds” to water, dry cleaning solvents and fluids, and/or various cleaning agents).
The main problem with "bleeding" interior fill is that the fill used in your plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal is often unknown or hidden.
We've seen everything: Raw cotton, strands of cotton and linen fibers, ground up cotton and linen, fiber fill, down, feathers, down/feather mix, ground up foam, sawdust, ground up corn cob, and other unknown substances.
Sometimes the fill is white; sometimes not. Sometimes the interior fill has color and is a "bleeder"; sometimes not.
Alternative approaches to "cleaning"
So what to do?
The DYI cleaning approach
One approach to cleaning your plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals is to search for a do-it-yourself "advise" online. The internet is awash with “testimonials” as to the “effectiveness” of water, baking soda, salt, vinegar and/or other products in "cleaning" your plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals.
The possibilities and combinations are infinite.
Please note that we do not offer DIY telephonic or email advise on caring for your plushies, soft toys or stuffed animals in your home. That would be like offering advise as to how to clean a "dry clean only" silk blouse with red wine stains in a home washer using products available on your supermarket shelf or from Amazon.
The branded cleaning product approach
In addition to the DIY approach, you’ll find countless references on the internet to a host of branded cleaning products that someone experimented with at some point in time and that somehow produced "miraculous" results.
Were you to discuss the subject of cleaning plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals with someone, you'll probably hear some anecdote about someone’s aunt who, at some time in the past, "cleaned" a plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal by:
* using a particular branded cleaning product and a bucket of hot, warm or cold water, or
* tossing it in a washer with some Tide (R) detergent and Oxyclean (R).
Again, please note that we do not offer DIY telephonic or email advise on the effectiveness of any branded product in caring for your plushies, soft toys or stuffed animals in your home.
The non-branded cleaning product approach
In addition to the DIY and branded product approach, you’ll probably find an array of non-branded cleaning products that might be sitting on a shelf in your laundry room.
You might decide that one or more of these cleaning products might "do the trick". Throw a little of this or a little of that on a stained or discolored plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal, toss it in a washer on gentle cycle and see whether those stains or discoloration disappear.
Again, please note that we do not offer DIY telephonic or email advise on the effectiveness of any non-branded product in caring for your plushies, soft toys or stuffed animals in your home.
Summary
One of these solutions might be perfectly suited for plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals that have no monetary value and/or no sentimental or emotional value.
After all, you've got nothing to loose.
If the suggested solution "works" for you, that's great. If it fails, there's always a nearby trash can.
Our approach is different
When it comes to cleaning, sanitizing and deodorizing (and, if necessary, completely restoring) plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals that have some monetary value and/or a high sentimental or emotional value, however, the stakes are much higher.
Plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals that have some monetary value and/or a high sentimental or emotional value, don’t lend themselves to DIY experimentation with some branded products or non-branded cleaning product.
When you combine the non-construction issues (stains and soiling, bodily fluid odors bacterial and viral pathogens, dust mites and protein allergens and musty odors) with the construction issues (outer fabrics of unknown quality and interior fill of unknown origin), the cleaning, sanitizing and deodorizing (and, if necessary, the complete restoration) of plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals that has monetary value and/or sentimental value is a task best entrusted to a professional.
At RAVE FabriCARE, we’ve been cleaning, sanitizing and deodorizing (and, if necessary, completely restoring) plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals for over 35 years.
Inside and out.
We believe that every treasured velvety or furry friend entrusted to our care carries with it a history of memories, emotions and attachments that dictates careful attention to detail.
You'll find that our cleaning, sanitizing and deodorizing (and, if necessary, complete restoration) process is built to deliver that attention to detail.
Our cleaning, sanitizing and deodorizing process
As we've explained, when it comes to professionally cleaning, sanitizing and deodorizing (and, if necessary, completely restoring) a plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal, both the exterior fabric and the internal fill of your plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal requires treatment.
Cleaning, sanitizing and deodorizing (and, if necessary, completely restoring) the exterior fabric without cleaning the interior fill is like "spot cleaning" a visible stain on a well-worn, smelly T-shirt, ignoring the rest of the T-shirt and then declaring your T-shirt "clean".
Fact is, the exterior fabric is the least of the issues. After all, we're nationally recognized garment care experts. Caring for bespoke, made-to-measure, specialty, designer, high fashion and couture garments is our bread and butter.
As we'll explain below, the problem is always the interior fill.
Furthermore, the notion that you can clean, sanitize and deodorize a plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal by "steam cleaning" the exterior fabric is an internet myth. You can't clean a plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal with steam. Anymore than you can clean any dirty T-shirt with a Jiffy Steamer!
So what's the solution?
At RAVE FabriCARE, we:
1. Open up a seam in an inconspicuous area to access the interior fill.
2. Remove and discard the interior fill.
3. Clean, sanitize and deodorize the exterior fabric.
4. Air dry the exterior fabric.
5. Replace the interior fill with brand new, fluffy, hypoallergenic fiber fill.
5. Close the open seam that was previously opened to remove the interior fill.
7. Complete minor and major repairs on request
8. Groom and fluff the exterior fabric.
And the result?
A plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal that's completely clean, sanitized and deodorized.
Inside and out.
Think of our cleaning, sanitizing, deodorizing and/or restoration process as a resort spa for your cherished plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals.
Our process in more detail
Opening an inconspicuous seam and removing and discarding the interior fill
Contrary to conventional wisdom, it'salmost impossible to clean, sanitize and deodorize a plushie, softtoy or stuffed animal by inserting that plushie, soft toy or stuffedanimal into a washing machine or water bath with some added detergent-- no matter how hot or cold the water is and no matter how gentleand thorough the wash might be.
Why do we say that?
Becausethe interior fill of that plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal is:
*probably the most contaminated part of the plushie, soft toy orstuffed animal,
* those contaminants are buried deep withinthe fill,
* those contaminants cannot be "extracted"through the exterior fabric with hand washing, and
* the dustmites and dust mite feces (the primary triggers of asthma andallergies) within the fill cannot be killed and denatured by handwashing or machine washing -- no matter how hot the water may be.
Killing the live dust mites and denaturing the protein allegens in the dust mite feces
When a child plays with a plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal, skin cells (commonly called dander) penetrates the outer fabric and embeds into the interior fill.
Every day, a human being sheds 0.5 to 1 gram of skin cells -- enough to feed thousands of dust mites for many months.
Unless the exterior fabric used to construct your plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal is certified to be a 100% barrier against dust mites (a very remote possibility), dust mites pass through the outer fabric and into the interior fill.
The dust mites then feed on these dead skin cells.
These dust mites, in turn, excrete dust mite feces that contains a protein allergen called Der f 1 (from the American dust mite) and Der p 1 (from the European dust mite) respectively.
These protein allergens -- inside the interior fill of your plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal -- are the primary triggers of asthma and allergies.
Accordingly, any process that is used to clean a plushie, soft toy and stuffed animal must include:
1. Killing the live dust mites and dust mite eggs in the interior fill
2. Significantly denaturing (or deactivating) the Der f 1/Der p 1 protein allergens in the interior fill
caused by dust mite feces.
The problem is that numerous scientific studies have concluded that the only way to kill live dust mites and dust mite eggs in the interior fill and to significantly denature (or deactivate) the the Der f 1/Der p 1 protein allergens in the interior fill caused by dust mite feces is through a combination of:
8* temperature (at a minimum of 248 degrees Fahrenheit) and
* time (for a minimum of 30 minutes).
This problem is compounded by the fact that manufacturers of the home washing and commercial washing machines typically set maximum allowable temperature of their machines at 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
They do this to protect themselves against lawsuits would result from injuries sustained due to contact with hot water that exceeds 120 degrees (contact with 120 degree hot water can cause third degree burns).
And the result?
1. It's almost impossible to reach the minimum temperature required to kill live dust mites embedded in
the interior fill of your plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal.
2. It's almost impossible to reach the minimum temperature required to significantly denature (or deactivate)
the Der f 1/Der p 1 protein allergens produced by the dust mite feces in the interior fill of your plushie, soft
toy or stuffed animal (these protein allergens are the primary cause of allergies).
Now you know why we remove and discard the interior fill of your plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals.
It's a lot easier and cheaper to remove and discard the contaminated interior fill than it is to put your soft toy or stuffed animal into our Norlake Scientific dry heat chamber for 30 minutes at 248 degrees and risk the possibility of melting any plastic eyes, noses and mouths.
Aside:
AT RAVE FabriCARE, we know all about the science required to kill live dust mite and live dust mite eggs embedded in fills and significantly denature (or deactivate) the Der f 1/Der p 1 protein allergens in the dust mite feces embedded in fills.
That's because our WHITE KNIGHT pillowCARE division uses these very same principles of temperature and time to kill the live dust mites in the fill of down and/or feather bed pillows and to significantly denature (or deactivate) the Der f 1/Der p 1 protein allergens in the dust mite feces in the fill of down and/or feather bed pillows.
Cleaning, sanitizing and deodorizing the exterior fabric
You might have seen videos on the internet of folks "cleaning" plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals in a home-style washing machine, occasionally throwing in a scoop of detergent.
By contrast, RAVE FabriCARE is a true quality dry cleaner, specializing in the care of high value bespoke, made-to-measure, designer, high fashion and couture garments.
In order to deliver extraordinary care for these types of garments, our skilled stain removal technicians have the training and experience to remove all types of stains, including water-based and oil-based stains -- the most common stains found on plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals.
These technicians are, in turn, supported by an extensive array of different, sophisticated, computer-controlled wet cleaning and dry cleaning machines.
Just like the cleaning of fine garments, the cleaning of plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals is a combination of science and art.
At RAVE FabriCARE, we know how to deliver clean, sanitized and deodorized garments.
And we can do the same for your cherished plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals.
Focusing on BOTH water-based and oil-based stains
When cleaning plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals, we treat BOTH water-based and oil-based stains
Water-based stains are removed by soakings in water-based solutions and followed by wet cleaning in sophisticated, temperature controlled, rotation controlled wet cleaning machines and then air dried in sophisticated, temperature controlled, rotation controlled dryers.
Important note: Water-based stains are removed with water. For the most part, oil-based stains cannot be fully removed with water, no matter how strong the laundry detegent might be.
For the most part, water cannot emulsify oil-based stains.
Oil-based stains are removed by dry cleaning in a gentle dry cleaning fluid in sophisticated, temperature controlled, rotation controlled dry cleaning machines and then dried -- in the same machine -- at the lowest possible temperature.
Important note: Oil-based stains are removed with dry cleaning fluid. For the most part, water-based stains cannot be fully removed with dry cleaning fluid or solvent, no matter how strong the dry cleaning detegent might be.
For the most part, dry cleaning fluid or solvent cannot remove water-based stains.
Adding just the right degree of fiber fill
Everyone has a sense of just how soft or how firm they want their plushies, soft toys or stuffed animals to feel after completion of the cleaning, sanitizing, deodorization and, if necessary, complete restoration process.
That's why we offer 3 levels of fiber fill stuffing:
* Soft -- floppy.
* Medium -- not too soft, not too firm
* Firm -- rigid (suitable for display)
What's your preference? Just let us know.
If you have no preference or don't specify a preference, our default preference is medium.
Grooming and fluffing of the exterior fabric
Many furry soft toys and stuffed animals arrive with matted fur, disheveled fur and/or singed/burnt fur.
If the fur is matted and/or disheveled, the grooming and fluffing process will, to a large degree, restore the fluffiness to the exterior fur to close to it's original fluffiness.
We often receive soiled soft toys or stuffed animals with singed or burnt fur. In most cases, the client will acknowledge that, at some point, that soft toy or stuffed animal was hand washed or washed in a washer and then dried in a dryer. That's because most fur is made from synthetic (think: plastic).
The outer fabric of many soft toys and stuffed animals should never be dried with any heat. If a soft toy or stuffed animal has been dried with heat, the damage to the outer fur fabric is permanent and cannot be restored. We might be able to fluff it somewhat but the original soft feel cannot be restored.
Attending to the plastic pellets in hands, feet, paws and or rear end
Some plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals (such as Ty brand soft toys) have plastic pellets in the hands, feet, paws and rear ends. These pellets are sometimes loose and sometimes encased in a small mesh bag.
In these cases, we remove the pellets or pellet bags prior to cleaning and replace them prior to
re-stuffing with fiber fill.
Because we maintain an inventory of these plastic pellets, we'll add plastic pellets if we feel that the pellets, in one or more places, is unbalanced because the pellets have shifted into the fill during play or the mesh bags have broken.
There is no charge for removing/replacing and/or adding plastic pellets.
Repairs
You might have seen videos on the internet of folks who "repair" plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals using a vintage home Singer sewing machine located in a corner of their home "workroom" -- right next to their home washer.
RAVE FabriCARE has Repairs and Alterations Department equiped with professional sewing machines of all types and staffed by trained tailors who specialize in the repair and alteration of bespoke, made-to-measure, designer and high fashion garments.
So there's almost no repairs that we are not equiped to handle.
Our tailors can make minor repairs to plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals submitted for cleaning and/or restoration, such as closing open seams, patching holes, reattaching loose parts such as ears, noses and tails, replacing worn out/torn fabric in hands, feet and paws, and the like.
We make these fabric-related repairs -- on request -- prior to cleaning and/or restoration. This way any
pre-existing damages to a plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal don't enlarge during the cleaning/restoration process.
Fabric for making repairs
In the event we are making repairs that requires supplying fabric, please note that we will do our best to match your original fabric but that a perfect color/fabric type match cannot be guaranteed.
So, for example, if we are asked to repair the fabric in one foot of a teddy bear and the hands and feet have the same color/type of fabric, please consider replacing the fabric in all four hands and feet to ensure a consistent look. Of course, the decision/choice is yours.
If you have existing fabric or if you find "the right" fabric at a local fabric store and you'd like us to use that fabric to effect the repair, please bring that fabric in or send that fabric in along with your plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal.
Some clients are quite resourceful when it comes to procuring the "right fabric".
Examples include finding an identical plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal online in "so-so condition" but with usable fabric and finding the "right fabric" on a different soft toy or stuffed animal on the shelves of a local thrift store. The possibilities are endless.
Repairs are only offered in conjunction with our cleaning and/or restoration services
Please note that we do not offer plushie, soft toy and stuffed animal repair services unless we are also cleaning and/or restoring the soft toy or stuffed animal.
That's because:
(a) our tailors will not work on any plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal that's not absolutely clean, and
(b) most repairs can only be completed if the stuffing is removed prior to the repair.
We do not offer "velvet" or "fur" replacement services
Many velvety or furry friends arrive at our facility with small areas of their exterior fabric either partially or completely worn.
We view this "velvet or fur loss" as part of the "patina" of a well-loved plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal.
Our mission is to clean, sanitize, deodorize and/or completely restore the plushie, soft toy and stuffed animal while ensuring no further "velvet or fur loss" in the cleaning and/or restoration process.
We do not offer "velvet or fur replacement services" as this would entail the complete reconstruction of the plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal using brand new fabric, thereby changing the entire character of your velvety or furry friend.
We do not offer hardware-related repair services.
We do not routinely offer hardware-related repair services.
However, if we are cleaning a soft toy or stuffed animal and we notice that the nose or an eye is missing, we'll check our inventory of replacement parts to see whether we have a part(s) that might reasonably match the original.
These parts may not be a perfect match, but will probably be reasonably close. If one eye is missing and we have suitable replacement eyes in inventory, we will, of course, replace both eyes.
No services to collectors, internet resellers, consignment stores or resale stores
At RAVE FabriCARE, we clean, sanitize, deodorize and/or completely restore plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals for personal use by a client or personal use by a family member.
We do not serve collectors, internet resellers, consignment stores and resale stores.
Why?
Because many collectors, internet resellers, consignment and resale stores mistakenly believe that, any plushie, soft toy and stuffed animal that they acquire -- irrespective of condition -- can be restored to mint or original condition and then added to a collection at a relatively low cost (original cost plus cleaning cost) or resold at a high profit (sales price less original cost plus cleaning cost).
This is rarely the case.
At RAVE FabriCARE, we will do our very best to restore every plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal to the best technologically achievable condition.
For the collector, internet reseller, consignment or resale store, however, the best technologically achievable result is, typically, never good enough.
Pricing
Our prices are based on the
- Age and fragility
- Physical size
- Number of swivel-attached or jointed parts
- Type and degree of staining and soiling on the exterior fabric
- Color fastness of the exterior fabric
- Condition and number of pieces of detachable or non-detachable clothing
- Amount of new, hypoallergenic fiber fill required to re-stuff
- Degree of technical skills involved
- Number of hours needed to complete our work.
Some general guidance on pricing
As you might expect, pricing varies based, for the most part, on the technical skills and investment of time required to clean, sanitize, deodorize and, if necessary, completely restore your plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal.
We do, however, have a minimum price for professionally cleaning a relatively modern plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal:
- Height less than 10" (no jointed limbs) $40
- Height 10" to 15" (no jointed limbs) $50
- Height 16" to 20" (no jointed limbs) $60
- Height 21" to 25" (no jointed limbs) $70
- Height 26" to 30" (no jointed limbs) $80
- Height more than 31" (no jointed limbs) $ By quotation.
We regard a relatively modern plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal as being less than 20 years old, a modern plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal to be 20 to 30 years old and a vintage plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal as being more than 30 years old.
As a general rule, height is used as the basis for pricing. This presumes a "proportionately reasonable width or girth".
To measure height:
* If the plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal sits upright (such as a teddy bear), lay the item flat and measure from top of the head to the end of the toes.
* If the plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal lays down (such as a crouching lion), measure from the tip of the nose to the back of the rear foot or tail.
These minimum prices apply to plushies, soft toys or stuffed animals that are one piece without jointed limbs and without detached or attached clothing.
One final point on pricing: Photos do help in providing a ball park or rough estimate, but a final quotation can only be provided after physical inspection and assessment.
Soft toys with multiple jointed parts
Some soft toys or stuffed animals have multiple jointed parts. For example, a teddy bear where the feet, arms and head are attached to the body with a swivel-type devise.
If the fill is compartmentalized in multiple attached parts and requires multiple openings to remove the fill in each of those parts, you should add $5.00 to $10.00 per additional opening depending on the size of the opening required.
Plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals with detachable or attached clothing
If a plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal has detachable or attached (non-detachable) clothing, we are going to clean the clothing as well as the plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal itself.
In many cases, the clothing is far more stained, soiled and discolored than the exterior fabric of the plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal itself.
At RAVE FabriCARE, we will restore all items of clothing that's an integral part of the plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal.
Clearly there's no point in cleaning the plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal and then "re-dressing" the plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal with dirty or stained clothing.
In this case, you should add $2.50 to $5.00 per garment depending on the size of the garment. For example, a scarf or bonnet might be $2.50 but a dress might be $5.00 or even $7.50.
Soft toys and stuffed animals with fugitive dyes (aka "bleeders")
We test the color fastness of all the different fabrics used in the construction of a soft toy or stuffed animal to ensure that the dyes will not "bleed" during the cleaning process.
If we determine that one or more colors are not color fast, we might have to wholly or partially deconstruct the soft toy or stuffed animal, clean the parts separately and then reconstruct the cleaned parts. This work is performed by our tailors.
The vast majority of soft toys and stuffed animals do not require such drastic surgery. This is more common on vintage and hand made soft toys and stuffed animals where the "fabric dyeing technology" might have been fairly rudimentary.
For example, we recently restored a 24 inch, heavily soiled, 60 year old Santa Claus constructed of red, white, black and mustard-gold velvet-like fabric. The red was a bleeder. We deconstructed the Santa and cleaned the red, white, black and mustard-gold components separately. Our tailors then reconstructed the Santa. The result was a bright, clean, "new" Santa Claus that will, hopefully, delight future generations.
Plushies, soft toys or stuffed animals filled with styrofoam pellets or other static-prone fill.
On a rare occasion, a plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal might have an unusual fill necessitating the investment of additional labor time to remove the fill.
Consider, for example, a Teddy Bear filled with small pellets of styrofoam. In the process of removing these styrofoam pellets, static might cause the styrofoam pellets or other static-prone fill to cling to all surfaces -- counters, floors, clothing and the interior and exterior of the Teddy Bear.
In this case, we add a minimum $20 clean up all those clingy styrofoam pellets.
Soft toys with embedded musical boxes
The above pricing structure applies to relatively modern soft toys without musical box "implants".
These musical box soft toys and stuffed animals typically come in two forms:
(a) A soft toy or stuffed animal with a wind-up key protruding through the outer fabric.
(b) A soft toy or stuffed animal with musical box implant and a network of internal wires connected to touch buttons in the hands, feet or paws.
The work associated with relatively modern soft toys with implanted musical boxes typically requires extensive labor time to remove the musical boxes and/or wiring prior to cleaning the exterior fabric and to replace the musical boxes and/or wiring after cleaning .
Accordingly, our pricing will be significantly higher than our pricing structure (listed above) for more modern soft toys.
Our minimum price for a soft toy with a musical box implant is $80. Our average price for soft toy with a musical box implant is approximately $115.
If you are considering cleaning and/or restoring a modern soft toy with a musical box "implant", we invite you to Contact us.
Vintage soft toys and stuffed animals
The above pricing structure applies to relatively modern soft toys and stuffed animals (defined as less than 20 years old).
The work associated with vintage soft toys and stuffed animals typically requires extensive skilled labor and our pricing will be significantly higher than our pricing structure for relatively modern soft toys (see above).
Our minimum price for a vintage soft toy or stuffed animal is $100. Our average price for a vintage soft toy or stuffed animal is approximately $130.
If you are considering cleaning and/or restoring a vintage soft toy or stuffed animal, we invite you to Contact us.
Minor repairs
If we are also making repairs to the soft toy or stuffed animal, our tailoring services are charged at $40 per hour. Some repairs are relatively easy; others are more complicated. Some repairs can be done by machine; others require hand stitching. That's why we charge based on time.
We're often asked to provide an estimate of the cost to clean and repair a soft toy or stuffed animal. That may be lot easier when it comes to the cleaning and almost impossible to estimate when it comes to repairs.
Repair costs can generally only be estimated by physically examining the soft toy or stuffed animal in question.
Discounts for quantities
Please note that we do not offer discounts for quantity.
Each plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal is different and requires individual attention and skilled labor.
There are no economies of scale when it comes to cleaning, sanitizing, deodorizing and/or completely restoring plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals.
Let's put this in context: When you drop off 5 dress shirts at an ordinary dry cleaner, they're probably washing those shirts -- in a single wash cycle -- together with 30 to 50 other shirts. By batch washing 30 to 50 shirts at a time, they're passing those economies of scale to you in the form of a low price per shirt.
Plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals cannot be "batched cleaned". That would be heresy.
Price estimates
If you live in the greater Phoenix metro area, please make an appointment to come in for an evaluation and price estimate.
If you live outside the greater Phoenix metro area and intend to ship your plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal to us, you can use our Contact Form to request a ball park estimate. You can use that same form to upload pictures should you so wish.
Pictures always help in providing a "best" ball park estimate. If you have difficulty uploading any pictures, you can always use the Contact form to provide us with some basic information. We'll email you a response and you can then use that same email address to email us your pictures.
Please remember that any estimate provided is subject to physical examination and assessment. Why?
Because...
* every plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal is different -- even twin/identical soft toys will be different.
* we want to make sure that there are no potential issues that might require us to invest more time than anticipated.
*
Shipping costs to and from our location in Scottsdale, Arizona
Clients are responsible for the inbound shipping costs to our facility in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Clients are also responsible for the outbound shipping costs.
But there's help with outbound shipping...
That's because, as a larger UPS shipper, we have negotiated heavily discounted UPS shipping rates and we pass those discounted rates back to you. Our clients only pay the actual cost that UPS charges us. We make no profit on the UPS shipping charges.
For example, consider the UPS cost to ship a 16 inch Teddy Bear (20" x 12" x 6" box, 3 pounds) from Scottsdale, AZ to a residence in San Antonio, TX is $16.86. The regular UPS rate for that same box is $36.37. That's more than a 50% savings. And we pass all those savings onto you.
No guarantees, warranties or refunds
We have clearly explained -- in this section of our website -- that it's almost impossible to return a plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal to mint, original or perfect condition and that our mission is to deliver the best technologically achievable results.
"Mint, original or perfect" condition? Not a chance.
"Wow, that's a incredible improvement" condition! Certainly.
At RAVE FabriCARE, we invest our technical skills and time to bring your plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal "back to life". Once expended, that time cannot be reclaimed.
Accordingly, we do not offer guarantees, warranties or refunds.
If your goal is mint, original or perfect condition, RAVE FabriCARE should not be your restoration choice.
If any cleaning service offers to restore your plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal to mint, original or perfect condition, we would advise you to jump at the opportunity.
Then hold them accountable for delivering on that commitment.
Summary
At RAVE FabriCARE, we aim to deliver the very best technologically achievable results.
We recognize that our prices are likely to be higher than most other "ordinary cleaners".
But if you're only paying for a third of the work -- for example, if "cleaning" merely involves tossing your plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal into a washing machine or wash tub and then drying that plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal in some fashion -- shouldn't those other "cleaners" be charging only a third of the price?
Turnaround
At RAVE FabriCARE, we don't rush our work.
While most ordinary dry cleaners offer standard 1 and 2 day turnaround on any garments you drop off, our minimum turnaround on garments is one week.
That's because the vast majority of the garments we care for are bespoke, made-to-measure, designer, high fashion, specialty and couture garments.
These types of garments require and demand extraordinary care.
Same with your cherished plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals.
That's why our typical turnaround on time on plushies, soft toys and stuffed animals is 1 to 3 weeks.
There are numerous factors (condition, interior fill, construction, etc.) that could impact the actual turnaround time. But 1 to 3 weeks is typical.
We understand that children may be reluctant to part with their favorite plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal for any period of time while their favorite plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal is away at the "hospital".
With that in mind, we'll do whatever we can to expedite the cleaning, sanitizing and deodorization process (and even the shipping process if you live out of state).
Just, let us know if "time away at the hospital" is or might become an issue.
If your soft toy or stuffed animal is vintage item or has a musical box implant, please allow more time to complete the work.
If your plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal requires a complete restoration, please allow even more time to complete the work.
Contact us if you live outside the Phoenix metro area
If you live outside of the metro Phoenix area and are considering cleaning and/or restoring a plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal, you might want to request a preliminary evaluation and estimate from us.
To provide us with more details about your plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal such as the type (example: Teddy Bear), size/height (example: 18 inches), known damage (example: open seam at left ear), etc. and to upload some photographs to help us develop a preliminary estimate, please Contact us.
Pictures always help in providing a "best" ball park estimate. If you have difficulty uploading any pictures, you can always use the Contact form to provide us with some basic information. We'll email you a response and you can then use that same email address to email us your pictures.
Alternatively, if you've already made your decision to utilize our cleaning and/or restoration services, you can ship your plushie, soft toy or stuffed animal to us using our Nationwide Clean By Mail service.
Simply, click on the Nationwide Clean By Mail link, scroll down the page until you locate a Shipping PDF form, complete your contact information (Part 1 of the Form) and Inventory of Items Sent information (Part 2 of the Form), print out the Form, pack your plushie, soft toy and/or stuffed animal and the Form in the smallest box available, and ship the box to us.
If you are only shipping a plushie, soft toy and/or stuffed animal, please ignore Part 3 of the Form.
On receipt, we'll text or email you to confirm receipt and, if you so request, provide our estimate for the work. If we have any subsequent questions, we'll call, text or email you.
