How to Wash BELOVED STUFFED ANIMAL??!!

I've washed dozens of stuffed animals over the years, and I haven't really had any bad results. My older son's Lambie is in really old shape, though, so that one gets special treatment - after he comes out of the washer (or you could hand wash) I roll him in a dry bath towel which squeezes the water out (sort of like you would do with a sweater.)

Good luck! I completely understand that some loveys can't be risked. We have such stories about the adventures of Lambie - the time he almost was confiscated by airport security, the time we lost a whole day of vacation driving back to get him from a hotel, the time grandma had to fedex him . . . :-) It's worth it, though. You're a good mom to care!

I wash my son's "lovey" every week because it gets so gross. You can put the stuffie in a delicates bag if you're worried. If you have a front-loading washer, it should be pretty gentle anyway. You can put them in the dryer, no problem.

Honestly, I put pillows and down comforters in the washer too (I have a toddler who occasionally accidentally pees on them) and as long as you put some tennis balls in the dryer with them, they don't get lumpy either.

I've washed many stuffed animals in sweater bags and just put them through the normal cycle and they come out fine. they come out fine from the dryer too.

After washing a precious teddy bear and baby doll from when I was a baby 40 years ago, I placed them in front of a fan and rotated them every now and then until the stuffing was completely dry. They turned out great. I washed them in pillow cases tied shut.

I wash my son's stuffed animals as well, but only when they need it. Once every couple of weeks, to keep the allergens down, I toss a few of them in a large ziploc bag and put them in the freezer overnight. Like one mom posted, at least four hours will be sufficient. It kills the dustmites, and hleps prolong the life of the toys!

I throw all animals and plush toys in the washing machine and dryer (unless there are mechanical or electric parts, of course) when I launder their clothes. And I've never had any problems at all. Most of our plush toys have tags that say "surface clean only," but that does not stop me from machine washing.

I Have washed stuffed animals many times. They all most always come out fine. The stuffing may need some adjusting but the good outways the bad. She will still love it even if it gets a bit lumpy. If it is small it won't even do that. My daughter has a bear she has had since she was a baby and it has gone through both the washer and dryer several times. I also forbid her to have it at the dinner table or outside to help it from getting too dirty or lost. She does take it on long car rides though.
Best of luck
Peggy

Hi M.,
I have a home daycare and I regularly put all the stuffed animals and rag type dolls in the washer and dryer. They usually turn out clean and just fine. You can't just leave them dirty!. Just look it over before washing to make sure there are no seams coming loose, or you will have stuffings all over the washer. Even my grown-daughter's cabbage patch doll used to go into the washer and dryer. It should be fine.
M..

Hot water, hot dryer. If she can tolerate the dirt she can tolerate the possible matting. When my kids wet the bed everything goes in the washer, all animals included. Just make sure to snatch it while she sleeps (unless she wakes up in fits and needs the animal for love) otherwise you might get a three hour drama of sobing in front of the washer. My two year old would hold vigils in front of the washer waiting for her cat. I had to distract her to get the cat into the dryer. It's worse now that we have a front loader. Child number two now stands in front of the washer screaming "DOG!! DOOOOOGGGG!!!" if he floats over to the door. She has a shorter attention span though. Good luck!

Hi M.,
I am also concerned about the dirt and allergens so every 3-6 months I wash all the soft toys on a really warm gentle cycle spin them on a fast spin then let them air dry this usually does the trick while they are wet I spray them with febreeze allergen fighter and so far I have had no problems with them getting ruined you can usually tell by the texture of the fabric how well they might fair in the tumble dryer unfortunatly this is the only real way to get rid of dust mites,best of luck.
J.

M.,
I am not sure if these ideas will work, but I found them in a book that I have.
You can clean a stuffed animal toy, by rubbing a little cronstarch onto the toy, wait about 5 minutes, and then brush it clean. Or place the stuffed animal or a few, into a bag, sprinkle cornstarch into the bag, close it tightly and shake, now brush the pretend pets clean.

Wash fake fur stuffed animal in the washing machine set on gentle cycle, then put the stuffed animals into the clothes dryer along with a pair of old tennis shoes and a fabric softener sheet and they will come out fluffy and with silky soft fur.

good luck!
J.

Lately I've been throwing the stuffed animals into a pillow case and of course tying it shut. Stuff typically comes clean. I let mine air dry, but I've also been ok, putting it in the dryer. How "soft" it's going to be after the "bath" typically depends on the item.

I would wash it just to get it clean, if she decides her beloved stuffed animal isn't worth playing with after it's clean then don't let it bother you. As far as reducing the allergies part of it, I'm not much help. Sorry!!

Good luck,
K.