Hello everyone!  My son, who is in his last semester in college, wants me to make him a puppet for his blog. I did a search for "making puppets with moving mouths" and eventually found this site. I haven't made the puppet yet, but I've been looking at videos, reading information, and collecting materials.  I've only made a paper bag puppets in the past.

So the other day my mother-in-law throws out her sofa bed. I bought home one of the couch cushions because it is foam. The foam is dirty so I cut 8 inches off the foam from the cushion and cut the long piece in half and shove it in the washing machine. The machine ripped it in a few places and some pieces got chewed off. So I don't think the washer is the best way to clean it even if I cut it in smaller pieces.  So I was thinking that I just let it soak in the tub with soap and bleach and try to squeeze the water out.  I think getting the water out of that big piece of foam is going to be hard. Any suggestions?

It's so nice to be here and thank you for your input!

Sybil,

Your tub and soaking is going to be about the best bet.  You are right that getting the water out is the hard part but you can try a couple things. First if you can advance your washing machine do it to the spin cycle. Then put your foam inside and spin the water out of it.  It wasn't so much the spin cycle that chewed up your foam but the wash with the agitation.  You can also lay your foam on a towel and roll it up in the towel.  Think along the lines of camping and rolling it into a bed roll.  Then you can twist this combination and the towel will draw some of the moister out.  Lastly if it is a nice day lay the foam out in the sun.

Yay!  Thank you Shawn! Advance to the spin cycle is a great solution!