HOW TO SURFACE-WASH STUFFED ANIMALS THAT CAN’T GO IN THE WASHING MACHINE

If you’ve determined that your stuffed toys can’t be put in the washing machine, they’ll need to be washed by hand or spot-treated. Use a mild soap or HE detergent that doesn’t cause a lot of suds - this makes for easier cleaning that doesn’t leave behind soap residue.

Mix a small amount of soap or detergent with warm water and wet a washcloth in your prepared liquid. Use the damp washcloth to clean your toy by gently moving it in a circular motion until the whole thing is clean. You can use a second clean washcloth dipped in warm water to go back over the stuffed animal as many times as necessary until the cleanser has been “rinsed” off.

If you have stains that need to be removed, you can use a toothbrush to gently scrub the toy with warm water and soap.

It is best to air-dry your toy after this cleansing process or use a hair dryer to speed things up. Most plush animals that are too delicate to be machine-washed are likely to be too delicate to be put into a commercial clothes dryer.