Puppet Care & Feeding

Did you ever feel somewhat droopy following a long car trip? After several days in a stuffy box, your puppets may appear a little travel-weary. To freshen them up, we recommend a shake-out and thorough grooming with a wire or coarse-bristled brush. By brushing with – rather than against – the fabric grain, you’ll quickly restore the quality and realism of the animal’s fur. BUT NOTE THIS WARNING: a strong brush is no friend to the eyes and ears of an animal. Both can be scratched and damaged if care is not taken to avoid these sensitive areas.

Cleaning Recommendations

Furry Plush Puppets:

(Sheepdog, Horse, Timber Wolf, etc.) DO NOT PUT IN WASHER OR DRYER. This will destroy your puppet. Furry plush puppets are surface-washable only. Do not submerge the puppet in water. Use lukewarm water and sponge with Woolite® or other mild laundry detergent to wet and lather fur. Rinse surface with sponge. Be careful not to wring or twist the puppet, or you may end up with lumpy stuffing. Dry by gently squeezing between towels, or hanging from clothesline to drip-dry. After it’s dry, brush with wire dog brush to fluff the fur. When brushing face, be careful to avoid scratching the eyes or pulling out the threads in ears, nose, or mouth areas.

Velour Plush Puppets

(Ladybug, Baby Dragon, Large Pig, etc.) DO NOT PUT IN WASHER OR DRYER. With the larger velour puppets, surface-wash with a sponge, mild detergent and lukewarm water. The smaller velour glove puppets can actually be submerged in lukewarm water to wash. Do not wring or twist puppet. To dry the puppet, gently squeeze between towels or drip-dry from clothesline. Do not brush the velour puppets.

"Feeding" your Puppet

The only feeding your puppet requires is lots of love and snuggly fun!

You can find additional information for your Folkmanis puppet by visiting www.folkmanis.com.