Step by step: how to wash a stuffed animal by machine, by hand or without water
- 1
Read the tag and check for electronics
Look for “surface wash only,” “hand wash” or “machine washable.” Squeeze the toy for a battery pack, sound box, wires or a heat pack. If there is anything electronic or metal inside, skip to surface cleaning, because water will damage it.
- 2
Remove surface dust first
Roll a lint roller over the toy or vacuum it with a brush attachment. This lifts dust, hair and crumbs so they do not turn to mud once the toy is wet.
- 3
Spot treat stains
Dab stains with a washcloth dampened in cool water and a drop of mild detergent. Work gently from the edge inward. For greasy spots, sprinkle a little baking soda, wait 15 minutes, brush it off, then dab with a damp cloth.
- 4
Machine wash in a pillowcase, if the tag allows
Put the toy in a mesh laundry bag or a pillowcase knotted at the top. Wash on the delicate or gentle cycle with cold water and a small amount of mild detergent. Add a couple of towels to balance the load and cushion the toy.
- 5
Or hand wash it in a sink
Fill a sink with cool water and a teaspoon of mild detergent. Submerge the toy, squeeze it gently several times, then drain and rinse in clean cool water until no suds come out. Do not wring or twist it; press the water out instead.
- 6
Roll it in a towel
Lay the toy on a dry towel, roll it up and press firmly to pull out water. Repeat with a second towel. This cuts drying time a lot, especially for thick stuffing.
- 7
Air dry completely
Set it in an airy spot out of direct sun and turn it every few hours. Thick toys can take a day or more. If your dryer has a no-heat air fluff setting, you can use it to fluff and finish drying, but no heat.
- 8
Fluff and brush the fur
When it is completely dry, brush the fur with a soft brush to restore its texture. Squeeze the stuffing back into shape. Do not give it back to a child until it is dry inside, or it can smell musty.
How to clean stuffed animals without a washing machine
Surface clean them with a damp cloth, or hand wash them in a sink. OxiClean notes that most stuffed animals and plush toys are surface clean only, and that hand washing is the most delicate option even when a toy is machine washable.
Ty, the maker of Beanie Babies and Beanie Boos, says its heart tag instructs surface cleaning only and suggests these methods, testing each on a hidden spot first:
- Gently wipe the soiled area with a baby wipe.
- Blot with a washcloth run under cold water and wrung out.
- Use a stain remover pen, then lift it with a wet cloth.
- Sprinkle a little baking soda on greasy spots, then spot clean with a damp cloth.
- For an all-over clean, hand wash with soap and cool water, air dry, then brush the fur.
Ty advises against the washer and dryer, bleach, disinfecting wipes, dry cleaners and the dishwasher for its plush, since they damage the texture and colors.
Which cleaning method suits your stuffed animal?
Pick the method by the tag and what is inside the toy. When in doubt, use the gentlest one.
| Toy | Method | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tag says machine washable | Pillowcase, gentle cycle, cold water, air dry | The bag protects eyes, seams and fur |
| Tag says surface clean | Damp cloth, mild soap, blot | Soaking can mat fur, shift beans or warp shapes |
| Batteries, sound box, lights | Surface clean only, or remove the box first if it is designed to come out | Water damages electronics |
| Old, vintage or fragile | Gentle surface clean, no scrubbing | Seams and threads tear easily |
| Filled with pellets or beans | Surface clean or quick hand wash, then dry for a long time | Water trapped in pellets takes days to dry |
| Microwavable or heat-pack plush | Follow the tag; usually surface clean only | The grain or clay filling must not get wet |
Simple Green’s plush toy guide agrees that toys with built-in battery packs, mechanical parts or metal should only be spot cleaned, and that older or delicate toys should not go in the wash.
Dust mites, allergies and sick days
For a child with dust mite allergies, washable toys and hot water matter. The American Lung Association suggests reducing stuffed animals in the bedroom, and if that is not possible, washing them weekly in hot water of at least 120°F to kill and wash away dust mites. Choose machine-washable toys for allergic children.
After a stomach bug or a cold, wash machine-washable toys on the warmest setting the tag allows and dry them fully. Surface-clean-only toys can be bagged and set aside for a while, or retired if they cannot be cleaned. More on mites in our guide on getting rid of dust mites.
Mistakes to avoid
- Washing a toy that has a battery pack or sound box inside.
- Using hot water or a hot dryer on plush, which melts or mats the fur.
- Throwing it in loose with jeans and towels, where eyes and seams get pulled.
- Using bleach or disinfecting wipes, which fade and discolor plush.
- Giving the toy back while the stuffing is still damp inside, which leads to a musty smell.
Products that make this easier
Optional. Everything above works with basic supplies; these just save time or effort.
- See it on Amazon
Protects the toy
Mesh laundry bags (set)
Keeps eyes, noses and fur from snagging in the drum. A knotted pillowcase works too.
- See it on Amazon
For surface-clean-only toys
Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover pen
A small pen for spot cleaning food and drink stains without soaking the toy. Test on a hidden seam first.
- See it on Amazon
Gentle detergent
Woolite Delicates Hypoallergenic Liquid Laundry Detergent
Mild enough for cold, gentle washes and hand washing plush. Use a small amount so it rinses out of thick stuffing.
- See it on Amazon
Quick dust removal
Scotch-Brite Lint Roller
Lifts dust, hair and crumbs before washing, or as a quick clean between washes.
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