I wash my kids best buddies all the time- taggies, so it's like washing a shirt. And i wash the occasional friend when he looks dirty, but can I take all of their stuffed animals, bag them in pillow cases, and put them in the washing machine? I'd throw a few blankets in there too for extra padding.
I didn't think about the weight. I do have a front load. I decided to do one blanket and one bag filled with animals. We shall see how it goes. I have three more bags of animals.
For the large stuffed friends, I'm going to spray them with free breeze.
OK, first load appears fine. There were 10 animals in it! I've done 2-3 before, but never this many.
I've washed stuffed animals many times. I don't even bother with the pillow case. I just throw them in and wash on gentle.
ETA: I have never done an entire load of just the animals. I usually put a couple of them in with the comforter when it needs washed. I agree with others that an entire load of just stuffed animals might be pretty heavy.
I did, but not all at once. Too heavy for the machine to spin when water-logged.
I've done it using a lingerie net bag, putting a couple of stuffed animals in it. Then toss in the washer on gentle with other clothing. Then into the dryer on low.
These were stuffed animals that were not BIG. And they did not have those plastic button eyes or noses. Just normal stuffed animals that everything is sewn on.
I have a top loader, HE washer.
But yes, those things get real heavy in the washer when they are soaked.
If it's a top-loader I wouldn't. Any time I throw more than 3-4 animals in, the machine winds up off balance from the weight of them when they are soaked.
(I usually just toss a few in with a regular load of laundry... I don't put them in bags or pillowcases unless they have things that could come off/get tangled.)
I'm not sure how front-loaders would handle it.
Maybe try a laundromat, with a large capacity machine.
We wash stuffed 'friends' and then let them air dry.
My washing machine (Maytag Cabrio) has a 'bulky' cycle, but I don't think I'd risk putting all of them in. I have to agree with the other posters that this might be too heavy for the machine.
I think a few at a time is the best way to go!
My daughter only has one machine-washable lovie so it gets solo rides inside a pillowcase; however, I wanted to note that if a toy has plastic eyes, I'd cover them by tying a washcloth or hand towel firmly over the head to pad the eyes. I realized the first time we washed this lovey that the eyes were plastic (set into the head, not sewn on and not buttons) and if the toy is spinning in the washer and/or dryer. the head could hit the sides and the eyes could get cracked. The thickness of a pillowcase or lingerie bag wouldn't protect those plastic eyes from a direct hit on the metal drum while spinning, I'm sure.
Yep, I wash my girls friends all the time.
Just put a couple in a bag at a time and then some other washing in there too.
It depends.
Some stuffed stuff is only surface washable (not meant for machine washing).
Other stuff washes in the machine just fine (but be careful of the dryer) and some things will survive the washer/dryer just fine.
They need to agitate or they won't be clean, the action or rubbing against other things and the water swooshing through are what removes the dirt.
I'd say the less in the washer the better. Of course you don't want it overbalanced so adding the stuffed animals all at once might be the way to go.
