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Creative Ways to Store Stuffed Animals

stuffed animals

Stuffed animals, whether they are yours or your children’s, tend to be fruitful and multiply. They are wonderful and warm gifts, and we all grow attached to them. Throwing them out is absolutely unheard of.

So how do you store them?

Do you stick them in a toy trunk or use them as decorations and display them?

Most stuffed animals are colorful and cute, and they make a great addition to your home decor. Burying them in a trunk or toy box doesn’t really give them their due. Especially for children who tend to have a special attachment to each stuffed animal, being able to see them all the time is like a security blanket. There are as many ways to display your stuffed animals as there are people to think of them, and here are a few ideas.

Of course you can always put them on a shelf or dresser top. But in the interest of getting a bit more creative, think a bit outside the box. Get a nice tree branch from your yard. You can paint it to accent the room’s color or leave it natural. Then hang a swing from the branch and display the stuffed animals on that swing.

Think baskets. They can be made of any material that you like, and you can buy them readymade or create your own if you’re that energetic. Hang the baskets from floor to ceiling and put a few stuffed animals in each basket. You might organize them according to species, or color, or put the ones your kids hold most often near the bottom so they are easily accessed.

Ladders are beautiful home accessories, and can hold books, objects or anything you can think of. So why not display stuffed animals on them. You can paint the ladder to compliment the room’s color or paint it your child’s favorite color, and let him or her help you place the animals. You should nail the ladder to the wall to prevent accidents.

Finally there is the catch-all – the hammock! String a hammock anywhere that suits the room and just pile all the stuffed animals in it. It is an adorable way to display them and your child will enjoy seeing them all in one place.

As an important part of your child’s life – or even yours – stuffed animals deserve to be visible to everyone. They add color, shape, and life to any room. So think about displaying them and not shutting them up with other toys. They are special items in your life, have earned your or your child’s love, and even been teachers. Honor them.

 
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Pet’s Toys Need to Be Cleaned, Too!

washing pets toys

Your pet’s toys get dirty and soiled just as anything else that gets used a lot. Surface dirt needs to be removed, and sometimes even the bounciness of the toy needs to be refreshed. Washing is simple. First thing to do is read labels and if there are washing instruction for a specific toy, follow them.

If you have no instructions you can still clean your pet’s toys. For rubber toys a gentle wash in soap and water, with a nice long rinse to make sure all the soap is off, is fine. But for furry toys, it is a bit more involved.

Here at the Zoo Factory we have a special Bath Laundry Bag, into which you can place furry toys so that they don’t break apart in the wash cycle. Make sure you use a gentle cleanser, like Woolite, or one that is made especially for cleaning furry toys. Wash on a “gentle” or “delicates” cycle, and with only warm water. Cold water can also be used. Never use bleach or bleach alternatives.

Dry on cool while still in the Bath Laundry Bag, or allow the toys to air dry outside the bag. The Zoo Factory also has dryer sheets to add more freshness, if you choose to dry the toys in a dryer.

Cleaning toys regularly ensures your pet’s good health, and actually enhances play time. Playing with a clean, fluffy toy is more fun than playing with one that is oily and grimy. And our candy scented dryer sheets, provide a fresh clean smell.

Washing your pet’s toys is appealing to everyone – humans and animals alike. So give your pet’s toys a routine cleaning. Your animal pals will be eternally grateful.

 
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Zoo Factory Necklaces: Keep Your Favorite Animal With You!

the zoo factory

Growing up, we all had that that one animal that we loved and adored. We wished that we could take them around with us everywhere we went. Well, with these special necklaces, now you can!

Our necklaces are not only a great value, they are super stylish too. In a variety of animals, these would be great as a gift. There are necklaces with all sorts of animals on them, so no matter what the preference, there is something here for everyone.

Girls love to accessorize and dress up. Why not give them the opportunity to do so with something that they love? This is a great opportunity to have them show off their individuality.

the zoo factory

Another great perk is that they come in adorable carrying cases. Many times, they look just like the object on the necklace! You can never be too coordinated, right? It’s like getting a gift within a gift.
And, for some of us who have a sweet tooth, there are also cupcake necklaces with matching bejeweled cases. They look so good you want to eat them! (Although, for safety reasons, we suggest you don’t actually do this.) Our necklaces are safe for young children and do not have any harmful lead or chemicals.

So for birthdays, holidays, graduation, and any other gift giving holiday that hasn’t been mentioned, consider giving that special girl the gift of these cute necklaces that are easily affordable.  She will be glad you did!