How to wash stuffed animals without ruining them
A well-loved stuffed animal collects crumbs, drool and the occasional trip through a puddle. Most plush toys come back fluffy after a careful wash — the trick is matching the method to what is inside the friend.
Check the tag first
Surface-washable means a damp cloth only. Machine-washable plush can go in a gentle cycle. Weighted, musical, battery-powered and heatable plush should never go in the washer whole — remove inserts and sound boxes first, or spot-clean.
Machine washing, step by step
- Put the stuffed animal in a mesh laundry bag or a pillowcase tied shut.
- Choose a gentle or delicate cycle with cold water and a mild detergent.
- Add a towel to balance the load.
- Skip the dryer heat: air-dry, or tumble on no heat with two dry towels.
Hand washing
Fill a sink with cool water and a drop of mild soap, squeeze the plush gently (no wringing), rinse until the water runs clear and press it dry inside a towel. Let it dry fully before it goes back to bed, turning it every few hours.
Fluffing the fur
Once dry, brush the fur with a soft brush or a clean wide-tooth comb. Minky and long-pile plush look new again after a minute of brushing.
Big and special friends
Giant plush rarely fits a home washer: spot-clean it and air it outside on a dry day. Collector bears with jointed limbs should only be surface-cleaned. For the rest of the village, realistic wild animal plush and most floppy friends handle a gentle cycle well.
