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What is the best way to clean stuffed animals?

I have some old stuffed animals that have lost their softness. Can I put them in the washing machine?

Public Comments

1. Depends. Some have fabrics that are not colorfast. You should try it anyway. Remember the Velveteen Rabbit? It just makes them "real" when they get loved to worn out! Better a clean and kind of lumpy stuffed animal than a fluffy one ridden with dust bunnies and germs.
2. You put the stuffed animals in a pillow case then put it in the washer machine, after that, you put the pillow case with the stuffed animals in the dryer and to fluff it up, you put tennis balls in the dryer.
3. I put all my stuffed animals in the washer. They come out well. BUT, do not put them in the dryer! Let them air dry. The heat just wrecks the fur on most of them. Also, if they are really old and stuffed with wood chips they will smell just awful if you wash them.
4. If you cannot actually put them in the washer, you can fluff them in the dryer (no heat - just fluff) with a dryer sheet. This will help get rid of the dust that accumulates on them. Some you can actually wash, others you just need to clean with a damp cloth. Good luck!
5. I wouldn't wash them. I use the Dryel home dry cleaning kit on mine, makes them soft and smell nice. If not I've spritzed them with water and tossed in the dryer with a fabric softener sheet too. If you do wash them in the washing machine toss a few tennis balls in the dryer to beat the stuffing, makes them fluffy again...