Soft toy sustainability: Get your well-loved plushie mended at Mandai Wildlife Reserve

“We never use electric dryers,” Mr Kong says. “While many believe heat and sun help to disinfect, they actually cause discolouration and make the fabric brittle over time.”

At Toy Doctor, a deep clean and restuffing for a toy under 35cm tall starts at $110. Mending a tear can range from $10 to $250, while other repairs such as replacing eyes or a nose are priced between $80 and $200.

“This may seem expensive to someone who says, ‘I bought this for only $5,’” Mr Kong says. “But our customers don’t see an object; they see a friend or a family member. You can buy a new toy, but you cannot buy the memories linked to the original.”

Mr Darul Ailmchandani, a 38-year-old civil servant, agrees. He recently paid $120 to have his 30cm-tall Green Lantern plush toy deep-cleaned and restuffed at Toy Doctor.

The DC Comics superhero figure has been his companion for a decade, even accompanying him on travels abroad.

When asked if the cost made him hesitate, he replies instantly: “I was ready to spend.”

For Mr Ailmchandani, the plushie carries the weight of a turning point in his life. Ten years ago, he was hospitalised with a collapsed lung following an accident.

Doctors were uncertain about his prognosis – until a colleague arrived with the Green Lantern gift.

In the hours that followed, his health took a turn for the better. Call it coincidence or a touch of magic, but the moment stayed with him. So did the toy.

Since then, he and his wife celebrate the plushie’s “birthday” every Oct 13 – the anniversary of the day he received it – with a Green Lantern-themed cake, a tradition they now share with their three-year-old son.

“To me, it’s not just a toy,” Mr Ailmchandani adds. “It’s a reminder of the moment things finally turned around.”

The Toy Doctor’s service has even drawn visitors who had never stepped foot into Mandai Wildlife Reserve.

Among them is Mrs Clarissa Wiyono, 29, who flew from Jakarta specifically to seek “treatment” for her 10-year-old Dumbo plush, a cherished gift from Disneyland Orlando.

The 50cm-tall elephant toy has been a close companion, following her into married life. Even her husband Shan Wiyono has been won over by the plushie. The 35-year-old, who works in merger and acquisition, jokes that he may be more attached to Dumbo than she is, as he often hugs it to sleep.

As avid travellers, the couple never board a flight without their floppy-eared friend. However, years of adventures had taken a toll on it.

“Dumbo began looking very thin,” Mr Wiyono says. “We were worried about his condition worsening, so we decided it was time for a visit to Toy Doctor.”

Mrs Wiyono, who works in the food and beverage industry, chose to deliver the plushie personally to ensure its safety during the journey.

“We couldn’t trust logistics companies to handle this; we didn’t want our plushie to be smashed in a box,” she says, noting that she was unable to find a similar restoration service in Indonesia.

Besides spending $190 to rejuvenate the soft toy, she also incurred travel expenses from Jakarta to Singapore. But seeing their “thin” Dumbo return to a “clean, fat and cuddly” state provided a sense of relief that money cannot buy.

The toy is one of a kind to them. Despite searching Disney stores globally during their trips, they have not come across this design again.

As Mr Wiyono puts it: “We couldn’t find another one, so we have to protect this.”

It is these heart-warming stories that fuel Mr Kong and Madam Theng’s passion for what they do.

Beyond their roles as “surgeons”, the couple and their team of “nurses” host education programmes where children can explore the anatomy of a plushie. Young participants learn about recycling, restoring and various filling materials, from soft polyester to microfoam beads, during these sessions. They even get to stuff a toy and take it home. Prices start at $35.

However, the duo emphasise that empathy, rather than just a needle and thread, is the most vital tool in their kit.

“You have to be able to put yourself in the customer’s shoes and truly listen,” Mr Kong says.

“Most of the time, they aren’t looking for the toy to look brand new or perfect. We have to follow their lead and respect their unique connection to the plushie, instead of simply doing what we think is technically right.”

Madam Theng reflects on the deeper impact of their work: “As time goes by, we’ve realised we aren’t just fixing toys; we’re healing hearts and minds.”

Whether it is putting an anxious adult at ease or helping a child who has lost sleep over a tear in his favourite friend, the couple find job satisfaction in the emotional relief they provide.

“There’s nothing quite like receiving a text from a relieved mother,” Madam Theng adds, “or hearing a simple ‘Thank you, Dr Isaac and Dr Pamela’ from a happy child.”

If you want a beloved soft toy to last, follow these tips from Toy Doctor’s “surgeons” Isaac Kong and Pamela Theng.

Ultimately, your care method depends on the toy’s sentimental value. While using a washing machine is convenient, you should avoid it if you want to prolong the lifespan of a special gift intended to be passed down to your children or grandchildren.

The tumbling motion of a washing machine is harsh on delicate seams and fur. If you must use one, always place the toy in a laundry net and use the delicate cycle with cold water.

High heat is not a friend to fabric, contrary to the common belief that it can disinfect. High temperatures gradually destroy fibres and cause the toy to shed fur over time. Never use a dryer, steamer or hairdryer and avoid leaving toys in direct sunlight. Air-drying in a well-ventilated indoor area is best.

For a deep clean, Madam Theng recommends a “surgery” approach: Remove the stuffing and wash only the outer “skin”.

“If you wash the toy whole, the stuffing will often not dry completely. This trapped moisture leads to a musty smell or mould growth,” she adds.

For regular maintenance, use a cloth dampened with a solution of three parts water to one part distilled vinegar or lemon juice. Wipe the fur in all directions and allow the toy to air-dry.

If your plushie has developed a musty odour, try this dry-cleaning hack. Put the soft toy into a plastic bag. Depending on the toy size, add a teaspoon or a tablespoon of baking soda. Tie the bag securely and shake it well to distribute the powder. Leave for 30 minutes, then take out the toy and thoroughly pat it to remove the powder. Wipe with a damp cloth.