Could you please click on this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/33404394@N05/ I need to know where the
yellowish-brown spots came from. It's a stuff toy. Do you have any idea?
1.) Could it be mold?
2.) I used to wash the toy under tap water and leave it out under the Sun to
dry. Do you think that overtime, bacteria would grow in the cotton inside the
stuff toy and show it on the outside by those spots?
3.) I thought that it is due to the humility and density in the room. However,
it only happens to this particular stuff toy and not the others.
4.) I also thought that it could be grease. But some spots appear on areas
where I do not touch.
So which point is more sensible to you? Is point number 2 possible?
Also, if I did not want to put my stuff toy in the washing machine, is there a
certain type of removal I could use? One that isn't too strong and would
damage the outside?
Thank you.
Jessica
ANSWER: Jessica,
First, It does not look like anything you need to worry about like mold or bacteria. It is not uncommon for stuffed animals or even some furniture to get spots like that. It could be caused by many different things. Sometimes there's something under the fabric that over time or because of humidity or moisture comes to the surface. Try putting some vinegar on a q-tip and dabbing the spot. Then put it somewhere that gets sunlight. It usually won't correct immediately, but it should get better over 24 hours. Even if it doesn't come out, I wouldn't worry about it. Mold will grow, it won't stay in one spot. It's also usually much darker than the spots you have.
Todd
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Say it was caused by something under the fabric that over time or because of
humidity or moisture comes to the surface, what would those spots be
called?
Right, some spots are darker than the others and it is appearing here and
there, I just don't want it everywhere. Ha.
What type of vinegar are you talking about? Cooking type will do? I heard that
vinegar is quite strong. Are you sure?
Thank you again.
Answer There's no specific name for something bleeding through the material. There is a situation called "browning out". This is where moisture can cause some natural material (like cotton) to release a brown dye. This happens because natural fabrics sometimes have tiny fragments left from when they were processed. The vinegar is very safe, because it is slightly acetic, and dries to nothing, so there's no residue left. Use any white vinegar, and use very little. That's why I said to put it on q-tip instead of putting it directly on the stuffed animal. If you're afraid it's too strong, put some vinegar with some water in a glass and dip the q-tip in that solution.
