How to Wash Stuffed Animals
Stuffed animals & other soft toys and plushies are with us for most of our childhood, but how often do we spare a thought to cleaning them? I’ll answer that: not often enough. So, if your child has a collection of plush toys they hold near and dear, then learning how to clean them is essential.
How often should they be cleaned? What’s the best method? Do they need to be dry cleaned, or will a simple hand wash be enough? And what about stubborn odors and stains? Any chance we can revive a plushie to its former glory? These are all questions we’ll be addressing today.
Basics
Before we get into more in-depth or specialized information, let’s cover the very basics: safety, frequency, and washing prep.
How frequently should I wash stuffed animals?
I think I speak for everyone when I say that cleaning frequency is a mystery to most. Should they be washed regularly, or just when necessary? Should you wait for them to develop an odor or visible dirt? Let me answer that right now: no, you should not.
Ideally, stuffed animals should be washed once a week if they’re very cherished items your child brings everywhere and holds close to them at all times, sleeps with them, etc. All kids have a favorite, and you’ll have to wrestle away their plush unicorn in order to wash it frequently. If you can’t manage once a week, then cleaning it once a month is the minimum.
When does not washing them become unsafe?
If your child has allergies, then not cleaning his stuffed animals can become unsafe, as they can carry the allergen. If the toys come in contact with other health hazards - such as lice picked up from daycare - then that can also be unsafe. Same with potential contamination with unsafe foods - peanut butter, or chocolate, or whatever the child may be allergic to, especially if the allergy is severe. The same principle applies to illness; if your child has been sick recently, then it’s a good idea to also clean their toys, clothes, and bedding, to make sure that they’re not infected.
What detergents are safe to use for stuffed animals?
There’s a natural apprehension about the kind of cleaning agents we use on stuffed animals, because our children hold them so close - or even chew on them! - so one of the very first considerations is what kind of detergent to use. You can try a natural detergent or a substance like baking soda to treat stains. For actual detergent, there are mild ones or even unscented ones that may be more suitable for soft toys and won’t irritate your baby’s sensitive skin.
Prep:
Before we start the actual cleaning process, there’s some necessary prep.
Take out the batteries
First thing’s first: if the toys sing, vibrate, or move in any way, they probably have batteries and it’s imperative that we take care of those first. If they can be removed entirely and there’s no other wiring, then you can do that and then clean. If the batteries cannot be taken out, then the toy cannot be submerged, and it’s best if you spot clean it as necessary.
Read & follow the care tag
Of course, as with any laundering task, you want to first read the care tag, if one exists. This will indicate what temperature is suitable for washing the toy, if it should be washed manually or in the washing machine, if it can be bleached, or dry cleaned, etc. There are symbols indicating all this information.
Color test
Color testing is also an important part of the laundry process. You see, depending on the fabric and the color, the toy may “bleed” when it comes into contact with water. That means that it may lose color and it will no longer be as vibrant, and - more importantly - that color can latch onto another light colored toy and ruin it. So, ideally, you’ll test colorful toys by rubbing some detergent on a hidden part of the toy and see if it holds up to friction. If the color doesn’t come out, you’re good to go. If it does, we recommend a more gentle approach, and washing separately from their other plushie friends.
Consider the condition of the toy
One thing to keep in mind is exactly how well-loved the toy is, on a case by case basis. Newer toys and toys that don’t have any plastic features or accessories can survive a thorough machine wash, but very well-worn toys or toys that contain plastic may require a more gentle approach. Hand washing these is indicated, in order to preserve their integrity. Please remember not to throw old or delicate stuffed animals in the washing machine, otherwise Teddy might come out missing a plastic eye. You’ve been warned!
How to Wash Stuffed Animals By Hand
Some toys are more delicate than others, so they may require hand
What do you need?
- A tub
- Soap or laundry detergent (pick something mild)
- Towels
- Brush
After you’ve done the prep, you can prepare a tub of warm water. You can use soap or laundry detergent. Make sure your water is nice and soapy. Now you can submerge the toy in the water and let it soak really well. It can be gently rubbed or brushed if it’s dirty.
Now change the water in the tub to clean cold water and submerge the toy again and move it around the tub to rinse it well and make sure the soap is gone. You can also rinse it under the tap if that’s easier. Once washed, you can take it out and dry off all the excess water with a towel.
How to Wash Stuffed Animals in a Washing Machine
For the plushie friends who can take it, the washing machine is also a good choice. Set it and forget it!
What you need:
- Laundry bag
- Laundry detergent
- Towel
- Blow dryer
- Brush
Just like handwashing, make sure you do the prep first. When you’re ready to wash, putting the toys in separate laundry bags meant for delicates is a great way to make sure they’re as protected as possible. Use the delicate cycle on your machine, they don’t need to be tumbled around for hours. Don’t select the hottest water temperature, stick to 30 degrees.
Once the cycle is done, take the toy out and dry it off with a towel, this step is essential to a quick drying time, you want to soak up as much water as possible. The toy should not be dripping wet when you lay it out to dry.
How to Dry Stuffed Animals
When it comes to drying stuffed toys, the best thing is to allow them to air dry naturally. If there’s any way to clip them on an outdoor drying rack or to let them sit out in the sun, then that would be ideal. If not, then letting them sit somewhere properly ventilated is the best approach.
In a pinch, a hairdryer will speed up the process, especially if the toy is taken from your little one without their knowledge and needs to be returned fresh and squeaky clean.
Do not throw stuffed animals in the dryer, especially if they have plastic or electrical parts. The dryer may also cause them to come unglued, melt, or otherwise warp, depending on the material of the toy.
How to Remove Odors from Stuffed Animals
Stains and dirt are one thing, but what happens when there’s an odor? Kids can create an impressive amount of dirty messes, and some of them smell bad. Not just mud or bodily fluids, but dog saliva or dried up food stains can be just as bad. That’s why it’s important to treat the odors separately. The easiest solution? Baking soda. All you need to do is sprinkle it all over the toy and let it sit for a few hours. During that time, the powder absorbs any smells. You shake it off at the end and voila - your toy should smell fresh. Or at least, neutral.
How to Remove Stubborn Stains from Stuffed Animals
Occasionally, a cherished toy can acquire some… unique stains. Food, mud, or even more unsavory stains, like bodily fluids are not uncommon with stuffed toys owned by small children. In that case, the plushie requires pre-cleaning in the form of targeted spot cleaning, before attempting to wash it by hand or by machine.
Applying a pre-treatment, like Vanish or OxiClean ensures that the bulk of the stain is removed before being submerged in hot water and potentially fixing the stain in place and making it more difficult to remove. Depending on the stain, it may need to be vigorously rubbed, or even let to soak or sit for a few hours or overnight. After that, it can usually be washed normally.
What About Stuffed Animals That Cannot Be Submerged?
Sometimes, our stuffed friends cannot be submerged in water, so cleaning can be more difficult. In that case, it’s time to look for alternative cleaning & sanitizing methods.
Steaming is an excellent way to disinfect or refresh an item without washing it, whether we’re talking about toys or clothing. Just make sure you don’t get your hands in the way, the steam gets extremely hot and can very easily burn. This should also make it smell better.
If the beloved toy cannot be traditionally washed, or it has some significant stains, then spot cleaning is the move. Water, soap, detergent, Vanish - even baking soda - can be applied directly on the stain and rubbed to get rid of the stain, depending on how bad it is.
More uncommon, or even slightly controversial, freezing is actually a great way to disinfect. Just wrap the toy in a bag and stick it in the freezer overnight. Extreme temperatures - so either boiling point or freezing point - are a surefire way to disinfect almost any surface. Especially if you’ve got toys that may have acquired friendly fleas from family pets, freezing is a great way to ensure that all bugs have been killed.
Conclusion
The most important thing to remember about washing stuffed animals is to ensure that you’re using the correct method and tools for each toy and its specific needs. If it’s an older or more delicate toy, stick to handwashing. If it’s a completely soft toy, then it can probably be safely thrown in the washing machine. Always air dry, and remember to spot clean thoroughly for stains and odors so that your little one can enjoy their favorite plushie friend once again.
