How Can I Wash a Stuffed Animal?

I have my kids wash their own lovies when they have a bath. I then just let air dry.

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I put my daughters stuffed animals inside a pillow case and tied it closed, then just ran them through the washer on the gentle cycle and tossed them in the dryer. If any parts came off (eyes, for example), they were easy to locate and put back on.

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definitely a pillow case. I always let the animals air dry but Im sure the dryer would be ok.

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I see you have gotten a multitude of answers but I wanted to add. Don't use fabric softener! Fabric softener will mat down the fur.

I put my daughter's animals in on the gentle cycle with regular laundry detergent and vinegar in the rinse cycle (vinegar will remove residue left from the soap). Dry on low in the dryer. No dryer sheets!!!

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I have done it before. I threw it in the gentle cycle alone with warm water and let it air dry, it was good. And, I would stop spraying toxic chemicals on it. ;)

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Wash it in the machine, but put it in a lingerie bag to keep the "delicate" parts from getting pulled. If there are no "mechanical" parts, it is fine to get it wet and just dry it on "low" for a longer period of time to keep the fur from "shrinking" and distorting. We do my son's stuffed animals once a month or so.

Definitely clean it though, can't even imagine the drool and germs on it!

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I agree with another response. We bought/have 4 of the same stuffed toy for my oldest daughter. We even left one at the grandparents house for ease of tranfer or just in case. What I did in the beginning was throw it in a pillow case and wash it that way. Now, I just throw them all right in the machine as is and tumble in the dryer. Haven't had a problem yet. I even do that with your pillow pets, they come out nice and fluffy :)

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It should be just fine. I've washed numerous stuffed animals belonging to my sons, and at least half of them say NOT to machine wash on the tags -including the "pillow pets." Due to colds, stomach bugs, etc. sometimes it's either wash or the garbage! I was also afraid the first time around, but I washed it on the delicate cycle (or if your washer has a "hand wash" cycle like mine -even better) -make sure it's on COLD water for the whole wash cycle and use either Woolite or just some Oxyclean or baking soda. Put it in the dryer with a couple of tennis balls on a very low heat -or even air fluff until most of the moisture is gone and then you can air dry it the rest of the way (although I dry mine in the dryer all the way through). So far we haven't lost one! I've washed two pillow pets several times, a large stuffed elephant that specifically says, "DO NOT MACHINE WASH" on its tag and both of their special loveys very often.

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I put our stuffed animals in pillow cases and wash one gentle cycle. air dry only. only one got ruined but it was because it's expiration date had long gone :) (meaning an old old old stuffed animal)

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Yes, I just recently put a huge teddy bear that is bigger than my son in the washer, was a bit reluctant like you were, but it washed ok (just put the cycle on large so you have enough water in it to not damage any parts)

I also dried him and he is brand new. I think he may have gotten a little bit smaller but not significant for my child to notice.

put it in a lingerie bag and wash with your delicates.

I put the stuffed animals in an old nylon and put it in the washer & dryer. The nylon keeps everything, like whiskers, together & not rubbing against something in the dryer.

I have a dog with many toys and she loves them, but of course, they do get a little dirty. I wash them in the washing machine on the GENTLE cycle and let them air dry. They do fine and look really nice after they are clean again. I DON't put them in the dryer.

Check for tags with washing instructions. Check a manufacturer site for washing instructions, too.
Some stuffed animals are surface wash only - that means a washing machine will destroy them.
If the toy has become a beloved toy - don't be afraid to get duplicates for emergencies (lost, stolen, fallen apart).

Maybe wash it in a pillow case? I wash all my kids stuffed animals and they have been fine, just toss them in on gentle cycle. I dry them in the dryer too to prevent inside mildew or that hard crusty feeling from things being air dried.

You got alot of great answers. I put my daughters animals in a pillow case. Tye it off and put it in the gentle cycle. When you put it in the dryer put it on a low setting. If you want leave it in the pillow case. Our dryer has a shelf that you can dry things on without it tumbling. My dryer has a extra low delicate setting and that is what I use. My daughter has a favorite dog named Lenny. This poor thing has been puked on, spit up on, you name it. I just wash him cause I can't take the smell and worried about bacteria. She has had him since she was 4 months old and she is now 3. I don't use a dryer sheet but I do put a very little bit of fabric softener in just so that he smells nice and keeps him soft. Use maybe 1/4 or less. And after almost 3 years he is still in great shape.

I have washed every stuffed animal my kids have had in the washing machile then thrown into the dryer they all came out as new no issues,you can put tthem in a pillow case or wash it by hand in the bath tub or sink thne let air dry

We always washed "Puppy".. a WHITE stuffed puppy!
I actually had a large net bag with a draw string, but yes a tied up pillow case works just as well.. Cold with light detergent..

I found out a few years ago a neighborhood dry cleaners will clean 1 stuffed animal per child! I thought that was so sweet. Wish I had known while our child was little..

Most stuffed animals (except chapos that you get rom a fair) can be washed and dryed. However, since this one is so special just hand wash it (fill sink with detergent and give it a good saok and scrub), then let it air dry. When it's almost all dry, put it in a hot dryer for a bit to be sure it's 100% dry. PUt him in a lingerie bag when you dry him to protect the wiskers.

put it in a white pillow case and wash it on gentle and let it air dry (should be done for bedtime if early enough will be dry by naptime if you throw in the dryer tumble setting)

I wash my stuffed animals all the time. The fur gets a little matted but we don't mind. and my daughter has fun, brushing it out for the next few weeks.

I put them in a mesh "delicate" garment wash-bag, and have a front-loading washer. I use very little soap, hot water, and the delicate cycle.

I put a new, clean, tennis ball in the dryer with it, to get the shape back. I keep a ball on hand for only these types of uses.

I've always used the pillowcase too but how does the soap get in there if it's tied shut?