Vacuum sealing stuffed animals is a practice that some people use to help preserve and protect their beloved plush toys. However, there are some important considerations to keep in mind when deciding if vacuum sealing is right for your stuffed animals.
Quick Answers
Here are quick answers to common questions about vacuum sealing stuffed animals:
- Vacuum sealing can help protect stuffed animals from dust, bugs, and moisture damage over long-term storage.
- Not all stuffed animals are well-suited for vacuum sealing. Soft, porous materials like cotton and wool may get crushed and misshapen.
- Foam, plastic, and polyester stuffed animals generally hold up better to vacuum sealing than natural fiber stuffed animals.
- It’s important not to over-compress the stuffed animal when vacuum sealing. Use a gentle vacuum setting and leave some air in the bag.
- Inspect stuffed animals carefully after unsealing to ensure the vacuum process did not damage the toy.
Benefits of Vacuum Sealing Stuffed Animals
Here are some potential benefits of vacuum sealing stuffed animals:
- Prevents dust buildup – Vacuum sealing creates an airtight barrier that keeps dust and dirt from accumulating on the stuffed animal over time in storage.
- Avoids bug damage – Bugs like carpet beetles can damage and eat away at stuffed animals. Vacuum sealing prevents insects from getting to the plush toy.
- Reduces moisture damage – Excess moisture can encourage mold growth and cause stains. Vacuum sealing removes moisture and creates a waterproof seal.
- Saves space – Vacuum sealing compresses the stuffed animal down so it takes up less storage space.
- Cleans the stuffed animal – The vacuum process can help suck out dust and allergens from the stuffed animal.
- Long-term preservation – By protecting against dust, bugs, moisture and compression damage over many years.
Risks of Vacuum Sealing Stuffed Animals
While vacuum sealing does have benefits, there are also some risks to consider:
- Crushing or flattening – The vacuum compression can crush more delicate stuffed animals, flattening them and damaging their shape.
- Material damage – Natural fibers like cotton and wool are prone to tearing or weakening when compressed for extended periods.
- Dyes transfer – Vacuum sealing multiple dyed stuffed animals together could cause the dyes to bleed and transfer color.
- Moisture trapping – Any residual moisture sealed into the bag could create mildew and mold over time.
- Plastic deterioration – PVC, vinyl and plastic parts can become brittle and cracked after prolonged vacuum sealing.
- Invalidates warranties – Vacuum sealing build-a-bear stuffed animals voids the warranty according to the company’s policy.
Tips for Vacuum Sealing Stuffed Animals
If you do want to vacuum seal stuffed animals, here are some tips to do it safely:
- Use a gentle setting – High suction can over-compress and damage the stuffed animal. Use lower suction.
- Leave space – Don’t remove all the air. Leaving some air in the bag protects the shape.
- Use appropriate bag size – Size the bag to the stuffed animal to prevent excess compression.
- Seal one item per bag – Don’t overstuff bags to minimize crushing risk.
- Pre-freeze – Freezing can help retain shape and prevent moisture issues when sealing.
- Inspect carefully – After unsealing, inspect for any damage caused by compression.
What Types of Stuffed Animals Can Be Vacuum Sealed?
These types of stuffed animals are generally safe to vacuum seal:
- Foam filled – Foam stuffing holds up well to compression from vacuum sealing.
- Plastic pellets – PVC bean bag stuffed animals retain shape when vacuum sealed.
- Polyester fiberfill – This synthetic stuffing doesn’t crush easily or hold moisture.
- Plush with plastic parts – Stuffed animals with plastic eyes, noses, etc. are less prone to damage.
These types of stuffed animals are risky to vacuum seal:
- Cotton – All natural cotton stuffed animals are easily crushed and damaged.
- Wool – Wool stuffing flattens out under compression over time.
- Paper – Paper stuffing inside very old antique stuffed animals can tear and rip.
- Leather – The leather parts of a stuffed animal could dry out and crack.
Key Considerations by Stuffed Animal Material
Here is a breakdown of how common stuffed animal materials are affected by vacuum sealing:
Cotton
- Prone to crushing, misshaping, and tear damage from vacuum compression.
- May suffer color transfer issues if multiple dyed cotton stuffed animals sealed together.
- Lower moisture resistance increases risk of mold growth in storage.
- Recommend avoiding vacuum sealing or using very gentle suction setting if sealing.
Polyester Fiberfill
- Maintains shape well with minimal crushing risk when vacuum sealed.
- Resists absorbing moisture so lower mold risk.
- Dyes less likely to bleed and transfer color compared to natural fibers.
- Can safely be vacuum sealed on low/medium suction settings.
Foam
- Holds shape extremely well with minimal flattening from vacuum compression.
- Does not absorb moisture so resists mold growth when sealed.
- Less prone to damage overall and retains bounce back after unsealing.
- Can be safely vacuum sealed even on higher suction settings.
Plastic Pellets
- Maintain shape very well with minimal flattening when vacuum sealed.
- No moisture absorption issues.
- Pellets may deform slightly under pressure but regain shape after unsealing.
- Can safely withstand higher levels of vacuum compression force.
| Material | Crushing Risk | Moisture Resistance | Dye Transfer Potential |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | High | Low | High |
| Polyester | Low | High | Low |
| Foam | Very Low | High | Low |
| Plastic Pellets | Low | High | No Dye |
Tips for Safely Vacuum Sealing Specific Materials
Based on the risks for different stuffing materials, here are some tips for vacuum sealing specific types of stuffed animals:
Cotton
- Use lowest suction/gentlest setting possible.
- Leave ample extra space inside the bag, don’t over-compress.
- If possible, pre-freeze cotton stuffed animals before sealing to retain shape.
- Seal each stuffed animal separately to prevent dye transfer issues.
- Monitor carefully after unsealing for any damage/shape issues.
Polyester Fiberfill
- Can safely use low to medium suction settings.
- Multiple small polyester stuffed animals can be sealed together.
- Leave a bit of extra space inside the bag instead of fully compressing.
- Inspect after unsealing to make sure the stuffing has not shifted or clumped.
Foam
- Higher suction settings unlikely to damage foam filled stuffed animals.
- Some compression and slight deformation is fine as foam regains shape.
- Can vacuum seal foam items tightly with minimal space in bag.
- If concerned, pre-freeze and use lower settings to minimize compression.
Plastic Pellets
- Higher suction unlikely to be an issue.
- Check for any damage to outer fabric or stitching from compression.
- Pellets may be somewhat deformed after unsealing but should regain shape.
- Take care if vacuum sealing items with plastic accessories like eyes.
Conclusion
Vacuum sealing can be a good option for storing some types of stuffed animals long term. Natural fiber stuffed animals like cotton are riskier to vacuum seal due to potential crushing damage and moisture issues. Foam, plastic pellet, and polyester stuffed animals tend to hold up better to vacuum sealing with lower risks.
To vacuum seal most safely, use conservative suction levels, leave space in the bag, pre-freeze if needed, and inspect carefully for any damage after unsealing. Consider each stuffed animal’s material composition and structure before vacuum sealing. With proper precautions, vacuum sealing can help preserve stuffed animals as beloved treasures for years to come.
