How to Clean Stuffed Animals...

I toss them in the washer no matter what - use the gentle/delicate cycle and if they seem very delicate, a lingerie bag. For the fluffiness to return I give them a run in the dryer on low heat.
So far all of our stuffed animals have survived this treatment - even the once that said surface wash only.

Now if they have electronics in them, that's going to be a problem. I have had a few stuffed animals that I have had to give an eletronicectomy, and pull out the unit. I just add a little stuffing and sew up the opening if I have to do this... usually it does not lower their appeal as lovies.

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This is JUST my experience- but 15 years ago - my 3 children and I had a really scarey house-fire ( NO injuries - thank God- but lots of smoke and water damage) I was advised by the fire dept. AND my insurance company to throw away all stuffed animals and buy new - ( were they KIDDING???? ) -- because- they solemnly assured me that the animals couldn't be washed in any way. I looked at the faces of my childrn and thought- ''well- lets try''-- I washed each and every one ( even great big ones - and ones that said surface clean only) in a washing machine - with regular laundry detergent and fabric softener - and didn't loose a one- none fell apart- none shrank or became little lumps - they were FINE--- so try with a few to start with- that are less 'precious'- and see what happens ---
just my suggestion- but that's what I'd do- for sure-

Blessings,
J.
aka- Old Mom

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I pretty much do what all the other have tried wash and dry all of the stuffed toys have done fine that way.. if the smell is an issue baking soda and vinager will get the smell out.. it's what I use on my DD cloth diapers.

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In our house all stuffed animals are washed and dried on hot as often as possible and I've never read the cleaning instructions on any of them. My daughter's allergies are set off by any dust so everything goes through the wash. I've never had a single problem with any of the stuffies and she's almost 10! I don't evern wash them on delicate and they are all happy healthy stuffies:)
-B

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I just tie up my regular stuffed animals inside a pillowcase so that they don't get beat up as much and put them through the washer and dryer.

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Throw the animal in a lingerie bag or pillow case and wash on cold, delicate cycle! Then you can either throw it in the dryer on low or hang to dry :)

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I throw them in the wash in a lingerie bag, even when they say "Surface-Clean Only," then try to dry them outside in the sun. Good luck!

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When it's a choice between throwing the stuffed animals away and throwing them in the washing machine I throw them in the washing machine. They don't always come out "perfect" - the fur might not be quite as soft, or the hair might get messed up - but we still have a lot of these animals around and the kids still love them.

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I have put many stuffed animals in the wash machine, despite those warnings and none have suffered. I don't put them in the dryer. I do them with a few clothes to balance the load and on a gentle cycle.

Those treasured animals are so important!
C.

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My daughter has a little stuffed poodle that she can never be seperated from. consequently it gets dirty alot. i just throw it in the washer and dryer. it says surface clean but it has never hurt it.

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Try putting them in a pillowcase, use a rubber band to close it and wash on the gentle cycle. I've done this many times with stuffed animals (and even put them in the dryer)and so far I haven't lost any.

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I also have a bed wetter and have had to wash his bear multiple times. The only problem I've had is a seam came loose. I told him the bear needed surgery and he picked out the repair color. A little less fluffy now (8yrs) but still is his favorite lovey. Good luck.

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Try gathering up some other stuffed animals and throw pillows, etc. and put them in a langerire laundry bag and washing them on gentle in a non-agitator style wash machine. If you or a friend don't have have one, go to the laundry mat. That would also be a good time to wash big comforters, quilts, etc. and if this weather holds out like they say it will, just dry them in the sun. That also helps to bleach out remaining smells and stains. And who doesn't love an outdoor dried comforter to snuggle up with at night time?

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put it in a pillow case , tie the case in a loose knot and throw into the washer. the washers that do not have agitators are easier on the animals. Good Luck
Paula

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Hi,
I have a 6 year old bedwetter.. like Zoe said for sure use the enzyme cleaner soak the animals in it.. then throw in the washer.. the enzyme clearner is what gets the pee smell out :)
L.

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That's easy!!! :)
As long as they have no electronics inside I have been throughing them in the washing machine on gentle cycle. And the dryer 2 cycles on high to make sure insides are good and dry. I have been doing this with my daughters teddy for 2 years. It is still intact and I've done this with all of my daughters stuffed animals. I have no idea why they put surface wash only on a toy they know you will need to wash. I think they are afraid they will come apart in the wash and ruin your other clothes with bits of dacron every where.

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We have thrown many of stuffed animals in the washing machine, Delicate light agitate. I thrown them in a pillowcase tied up. and then same in the dryer very light tumble dry in a pillowcase. they do just fine. We have only had to throw one stuffed animal that made music away from being puked on.

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we wash on delicate in the washing machine...havent ruined anything yet!

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I've washed stuffed animals in the machine along with clothes on a warm water setting. Dried them the same way on a low setting which I use for clothes anyway. With a top loader I put them in a pillow case. With my front loader I don't.

My daughter and I have only "lost" one animal, a bear from the Dollar Store. It's fur matted which revealed that the puffs of fur were set far apart. This matted bear is still my granddaughter's favorite stuffed animal. She won't use another bear that is exactly like the matted one.

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S.,

I remember having the raccoon care bear as a child, and I think it was a surface wash as well. I also remember my dad putting it in a pillowcase, knotting the open end, and tossing it all into the washing machine. Maybe try that?

If it's a Build-a-Bear critter you can take it back to the store and they will restuff it for free. Just tell them it had an accident.

Hope this helps,
M.

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I always throw the poor little victims in the washer if they are well loved anyway and don't have delicate stitched on embellishments. Ours have all survived. If you don't trust your washer, you might just hand wash and only submerge the dirty areas. Use a little gentle soap and hot water. Good luck!

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I throw my daughter's stuffed animals in the washing machine all the time and then they go in the dryer - sometimes they still are totally clean. They look more worn, but she loves them just the same.

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I always wash stuffies in a tied up pillowcase on delicate. They go through the dryer that way too. I did have an elephant shrink once, but I've never lost an eye or a rattle.

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I wash stuffed animals in a pillow case. Toss it in a pillow case and tie it in a knot. This protects the fur and also helps prevent tearing in the wash. It goes through both machines in the case and comes out as good as new!!

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Ditto on the washing machine, unless they're electronic talking stuffed animals. Geeze, disney, can't you figure out a way to have the interior talking part be removeable? All of ours go in the machine (hey that pillowcase is a great idea, btw, gotta try that), except one talking "Stitch". He gets cleaned with the carpet cleaner.

Since pee is the problem, I'd use and enzymatic cleaner (like Kids'n'Pets, but they're all the same enzymes...so brand doesn't matter much).... spray it/douse it/squirt it... let it sit overnight to dry, and then use a scrub brush and detergent+water or a carpet cleaner extension.

Good Luck.

PS... MY favorite stuffed bear that I've had from day one, has now been washed in the machine at least a hundred times. Yup, 30 years of lovin' and washin'. He's a little threadbare on the seams, and my mum had to sew his nose back on twice. But aside from those few minor surgeries, he's still going strong.

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My son threw-up on his favorite stuffed animal. I took the chance and put it in the washing machine with a bunch of towels on gentle then let him air dry. Everything came out just fine.

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I think I would start with a heavy dose of Dryel. A lot of the spot cleaner and a two or three of the sheets and dry normally. If you don't already have the Dryel set. I would only buy one or two. I say two because of the bags you may need two dryer bags. Then purchase the refills of the Spot cleaner and Dryer sheets, depending on how many stuffed animals.

I think it would depend on what they are. We had a stuffed animal that was a musical wind up toy and I finally had to put that in the washing machine after one of my kids spilled chocolate pediasure on it, and I didnt find it til the next day, it was all soaked in.. I scrubbed and scrubbed that thing! We have also had lovie blankies that had a music box in them (electric) and I washed those in the washing machine (kinda in hopes that they WOULD stop working, but no luck) They still work.. 3 years later!!
You might try using some kind of all surface cleaner. (I would use Awesome from the dollar tree I think) Just dillute it down and spray it down til it is wet on the surface (it wont likely soak in far if it is a stuffed animal) and just let it sit for a while (like 5 minutes?) and then take a wet rag and wipe it down really well, and probably wrap it in a towel and squish it up to make sure you get all the water out, and I guess it that doesnt work... This is something my grandparents do so something does have the "store" smell, or even "old" smell. she will take baby powder and cover the stuffed animal with baby scented powder, a little at a time, and just squish and let go and squish and let go.. and it works the powder into the stuffed animal. My son has had a bear that he got when he was about 3 months old, and it STILL has a faint baby powder scent.
You might be able to do the same thing with fabreeze or something like that too. I would just make sure that the surface is really clean before trying to make it smell better.

Handsoak in a solution of water with 3 caps of hydrogen peroxide, it works wonders for pee. But tyr a test patch first, not sure what material your dealing with. Good luck!

I have no idea how to go about it but I believe vinegar kills the bacteria in urine. You might soak them in a water vinegar mixture and then squeeze them and sun dry them? Not really sure as we haven't made it to that milestone yet.