Puppet Care and Maintenance

Congratulations on your new puppet!  To make the most out of your new furry, fleecy, or [insert material type] friend, please follow these recommendations:

 

Storage

When not in use, keep the puppet in a clean, dry, climate-controlled place.  Extreme heat or cold are not great for the glues that might be holding your puppet together.

 

Keep the Puppet Clean

Puppets can’t be dropped off at a dry cleaner.  I’d advise keeping them away from:  makeup (especially lipstick), food, liquids, fire, animals, toddlers with sticky hands or runny noses, and strangers with candy.

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Enough with the Eye Scuff!

Eyes can get scuffed up with use, but that’s an easy fix! You can clean the white of eyes using a Clorox wipe, or if that doesn't work, try a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (I have no stock in either company, I just like their products!). Be gentle with the Magic Eraser or else it could wear away the paint on the eyes.

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Fur Styling

​​Your puppet's fur might be styled! I often use glue to control the fur's shape, such as around the mouth or in the eyebrows like on the puppet to the right here.​

 

If this styled fur is sitting a little wonky after shipping, I recommend dampening your hands with water and smoothing the fur to the desired position.

 

Dreaming of switching up your puppet's look and styling it yourself?  You can!  First, dampen the fur and your hands with water.  Then add a little bit of clear Tacky Glue to your fingertips.  Now, lightly reshape the fur.  Let that dry.  Tell the puppet, “You look marvelous!” and you're done!  Don’t like the look?  Dampen the fur again to wash out the glue.

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Repairs

Puppets are active! I try to incorporate as much machine stitching as possible for durability, but some seams are hand-stitched and won’t last forever.  Repairs can be made with safety pins, a needle and thread, or if you’re handy, hot glue.  If you happen to live in the Los Angeles area, you can also reach out to me to setup up a puppet spa day to take care of any issues!