Caring for a collectible bear

A handmade textile bear lasts for decades if you follow a few simple rules. Its enemy is not time — it is sunlight, damp and dust.

Light

Direct sun is the most destructive thing of all. It burns the colour out of fabric and thread unevenly: the side facing the window fades faster, and nothing brings it back. Keep the bear away from the window, or somewhere the sun does not sit for hours.

Dust

Dust settles into the pile and gradually turns the colour grey. Every week or two, go over it with a soft brush — a powder brush or a soft natural-bristle brush — moving with the pile. Never use a vacuum: it pulls fibres out and can catch fine embroidery.

Humidity

Damp causes mould and odour; over-dry air makes fabric brittle. Normal room humidity is fine. Do not keep the bear in a bathroom, on a windowsill where condensation collects, or next to a radiator.

Never do this

• Machine wash or soak — the stuffing mats and the shape is lost for good.
• Dry with a hairdryer, place on a radiator, or press with an iron.
• Use stain removers or alcohol-based cleaners on embroidery.
• Store in a sealed plastic bag — textiles need air.

If the bear gets marked, work locally: a barely damp light-coloured cloth, gentle blotting, then full drying at room temperature. If you are unsure, message the artist before doing anything at all.

Storage and travel

For storage use a box with soft padding and some airflow, away from light. Do not compress it: creases in stuffed parts stay for a long time. When travelling, carry the bear in hand luggage — boxes get crushed in the hold.