Odd Question About Cleaning A Toy...

[Fourmonkeysjumping]

This is bizarre, I know, but I figure someone on here has to have come across a situation like this at some point. 

 

My mother in law has struck again...

She sent my daughter some handmade upholstered doll furniture for her birthday.  It's cute, it's a nice gift, she bought it at a craft fair...  great.

 

Problem is, she packed it IN A RAISIN BRAN BOX!!!!!!!  How do I clean something like this?  I'm not certain it can be submersed, because it's handmade with cloth and wood and batting.  I know just wiping with wet wipes will not be adequate.  So, now what?  What is my best bet to make sure i get the gluten off.

 

Also, what the heck would you say to her?  I mean, this is NOT new for our family.  We've been gluten-free for NINE YEARS.  She should really start to know better by now.  My husband thinks we shouldn't bother, because obviously she doesn't get it, but I feel like we should say SOMETHING.

 

what a pain.

[cyclinglady]

Mail off a thank you card and then re-gift the furniture or donate it to charity for Christmas.  

 

I don't think you'll be able to change your mother-in-law.  If she really was concerned about your children's health, she would educate herself.  If it were an honest mistake, then when she asks about the furniture, you could sweetly explain to her that it had been "glutened" and you donated it to charity.  If she gets mad, then that's her problem.

 

We have received many inappropriate gifts from family and friends throughout the years.  We normally donate those gifts to charity.  

[africanqueen99]

I'm with the PP.  That thing would be gone so fast...  And I would just wait for my MIL to ask what happened to it.  But I'm not a MIL fan.  At all.

[frieze]

frankly, you couldn't be sure it was safe even before the cereal box.  Though I think that was a nasty slap in the face.

[kareng]

At the risk of being different - I'm not sure I would worry about it. Cereal is usually in a plastic bag. Yes, I know it sometimes comes out of the bag. But it's not gooey, a stray crumb won't absorb into the fabric. And I wouldn't worry that the person who made them somehow rubbed flour all over it. If you aren't putting this doll furniture in your mouth, I would just vacuum or wipe it off and play with it.

[Fourmonkeysjumping]

 

 

I don't think you'll be able to change your mother-in-law.  If she really was concerned about your children's health, she would educate herself.  If it were an honest mistake, then when she asks about the furniture, you could sweetly explain to her that it had been "glutened" and you donated it to charity.  If she gets mad, then that's her problem.

 

 

I think this is the real key here...  I think she just doesn't believe us.  My guess is she "knows someone" who isn't as strict or something.  You know the type.  It's been a long nine years with this woman.

 

If it was up to me, I'd just pass the toys along.  My husband probably won't want to, since they're from his mother, but maybe I can just toss them in storage for a bit until he forgets about them

[IrishHeart]

At the risk of being different - I'm not sure I would worry about it. Cereal is usually in a plastic bag. Yes, I know it sometimes comes out of the bag. But it's not gooey, a stray crumb won't absorb into the fabric. And I wouldn't worry that the person who made them somehow rubbed flour all over it. If you aren't putting this doll furniture in your mouth, I would just vacuum or wipe it off and play with it.

 

 

I AGREE completely with Karen's thoughts.

 

Your husband is right, 4 monkeys. This is not one worth fussing over. Honest.

 

Let's be realistic here. Chances of this being a problem are pretty nil. 

 

Take it all outside, blow a hair dryer on it .......and enjoy.

 

....and say "thank you for the thoughtful gift".

[psawyer]

I agree with Karen and Irish. Not worth worrying about.

[massagemamaof3]

I agree with karen, I would vacuum it and wipe the legs off. As someone who has dealt with multiple mils, you are better off pretending they don't exist until they are on your door step! They are just not worth the effort or the problems with the husband! Good luck!

[dilettantesteph]

I would consider how sensitive your family is before making a decision.  Also, how likely is it to be contaminated.  Was it just in the box, or was it packed in the cereal?  How likely is it that it came in contact with gluten.? Will you child put it in her mouth?  Did you find that you needed to be a gluten free household?  I understand being upset that your mother in law isn't being considerate about this medical condition, but it would be a good idea not to overreact.