Almost everyone I know has a little plush teddy or toy they’ve had since before they could speak! Whether they still physically have it and it hasn’t torn to shreds yet, or they have put it away for safe keeping, everyone has at least a memory of one. Along with the memory of having one, comes the memories of the mess that somehow developed overtime on them. That’s one tradition that never changes – having a little plush toy you’re addicted to as a child that goes everywhere with you and goes through the wars of food and dirt!

Sometimes used as a tissue for wiping some food off of a little ones face, sometimes dug in a hole to play hide and seek with. They get dirty, and then they need a clean. Pretty much like everything in life. But how do you clean these without ruining the beloved toy.

There will often be care instructions attached – be sure to check them first. So now, go and grab your little ones (or your own) plush toy and get it ready because here is a guide on how to wash plush toys.

How To Wash Plush Toys: Washing Machine

Yes, I admit this is an obvious one. But doing it correctly isn’t so obvious – you want to avoid any possibility of destroying the little toy, and breaking someone’s heart.

The part a lot of people miss out on is the very first step… Protection. Simply just putting the plushie into a pillowcase or a mesh laundry bag, and it’s ready to be thrown in the washing machine! Then, the next step is the wash setting you send the toy spinning on. Ensuring it is being washed on a delicate, gentle or hand wash setting is vital! Having the temperature a bit colder than usual helps as well to protect the colour from fading. Next up is to just wash it, and once that’s all done, take it out of its protection and either let it air dry or even use a hair dryer!

How To Wash Plush Toys: Hand Wash

Often, hand washing a plush toy is the safest way to go. You can see what you’re doing and it’s at a much lower risk of being destroyed.

You just want to fill up a sink (or a bath if you’re doing the rounds of toys) with cold water and submerge the little plushies into the water. Add about a capful or two – if a lot of water – to the water and give the toys a squeeze to really get them clean. A good way to know if you’ve squeezed enough is to pick it up and see how heavy it is. If it’s about double it’s usual weight from the water, that’s about right! Do not scrub, squeeze or wring too hard (don’t wring at all) as some plush toys can loose shape, or even fall apart from loose fabric or string.

There is a second part to this. Empty out the water from the sink or bath (whatever you fancy using) and refill it with clean, cold water. Squeeze again to rinse away the detergent and let them air dry. Again, you can use a hairdryer to speed up the air drying process.

Tips

If you do not have the time to wait for hand washing or using a washing machine, here are a couple of tips that can help short term for a plush toy that may smell a bit funky, or have a little stained patch.

Spot Cleaning

Spot cleaning is the perfect opportunity to do a quick test before doing either of the above. Mix one teaspoon of liquid dish soap into a cup of cold water. Once all mixed in, use a cotton bud to check if there id any dye transfer on a small patch of the plushie. If not, you’re good to go! It is also a good tip to use if you’re trying to quickly remove a stain that has managed to worm its way onto the toy. You do the same process, and wipe away the soap with a small towel to get rid of grime, and go in with a clean dampened one to wipe off the soap.

Deodorizing

Stuffed toys develop a smell after a while – it’s just what happens. There is a quick and easy fix to get rid of the smell. You literally just put the toy into a plastic bag along with some baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) and shake it up. Let the toy sit in there for a little while (a few hours), and then take them out, shake them off and remove any excess baking soda with a vacuum or in a no-heat tumble dryer for about a minute.

I hope this helped you in some way, and that you and/or your little one(s) are happy with your freshly cleaned plush toys. Check out our other blogs here!

This blog was originally published on  2 August 2022. Updated on March 14 2024 to improve the information available.