how do you clean stuffed animals?

United States
March 24, 2009 6:06pm CST
i found two stuffed animals in an abandoned car at the junk yard and they look brand new but before i do anything with them i want to make sure they are clean.. how do you clean them? in the washer? do you put them in a pillow case and toss them in or what?? i dont wanna have them fall apart and ruin my washer lol.. but my dog already grabbed one and was playing with it and im worried something might be on them that i cant see.. sigh..
5 people like this
23 responses
• Philippines
25 Mar 09
Hi moonlitmagikchild. Yes, you can put them in a pillow case if it's not so big.Just make sure you tie the end tightly before you put it in the washer. I prefer to bring it over to the dry cleaners,though,as I wouldn't want to take the risk of tearing it apart. Have a great day!
• United States
29 Mar 09
they are both small so it shouldnt be a problem i hope
• United States
25 Mar 09
If they are very old toys you may want to try a dry cleaner bag. You can buy dryel at the local store. It gives you the same thing as dry cleaning in your dryer. I've used it for toys that I didn't want to get soaking and wet. After you're done using it I'd then just for good measure spray them down with Lysol because of its chemical compounds. This will get rid of any lice, or other creepy crawlies you don't want in your house. If you get the fragranced Lysol you won't have that smell, and you can then hang them on the line to air out. Good luck. Namaste-Anora
2 people like this
• United States
25 Mar 09
they look brand new which was a surprised considering how i found them.. i will have to go buy some lysol
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Mar 09
Very cool! Yeah, Lysol is a wonderful invention lol. Have fun. Anora
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
25 Mar 09
i have washed them in the washer but found the heat of the dryer ruins the fur on the little guys. what i would sugggest is to wash it in something like a garmet bag or something.
2 people like this
• United States
25 Mar 09
i was wondering if the heat from the dryer would screw it up or not
1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
25 Mar 09
I have always done the pillowcase thing that you mention. It works well. I know a lady who had an OLD stuffed animal dry cleaned and it came through the process very well. I think if I were you, I'd keep it away from the dog until you did something with it. You just never know.
2 people like this
• United States
29 Mar 09
yeah i have put it up on a top shelf.. it surprised me since she isnt one to want to play with stuffed animals so i never thought she would even get into them to begin with
1 person likes this
@nadooa247 (1096)
• United States
25 Mar 09
i would think putting them in a pillow case on delicate cycle and letting them dry under hot son would be disinfecting enough... but i honestly dunno lol
2 people like this
• United States
25 Mar 09
its worth a try.. not like i paid for them lol
2 people like this
@TLChimes (4822)
• United States
25 Mar 09
Put them in a pillow case. Rubber band it shut. Wash it like you would anything else. Dry it on high (still in the case) for at least 20 minutes. Two kinds wont work thought- battery type, and those that have the fibers that can melt. Hope that helps. Oh and you can store the clean ones in a dark bag for a month too. That just kills any bugs that might make it through the dryer.
• United States
25 Mar 09
hmm never knew about the dark bag thing.. cool thanks!
1 person likes this
• Canada
25 Mar 09
i clean them in the washing machine. put them inside a pillow case and tie it closed. then just stick them in the washer and dryer like that. you can also hang them to dry if you want
2 people like this
• United States
25 Mar 09
thats what im thinking of doing.. im glad to know some one has done it so i know it works
1 person likes this
@sharay (2769)
• India
25 Mar 09
First of all, you are lucky to get them for free...we have too many stuffed animals at home from big ones to small ones, but my daughter never uses them much, so there would not be much dirt, so i just brush them off and sometimes, if there is more dirt, i wash it using hands for even if i put it in a toy bag and wash in the washing machine, it might get damaged and also, i dont dry it in the WM, i prefer to hang it up until it gets dried out, for the cotton inside them would get stuck if i squeeze them tight. since you say it seems to be a new toy, you need not use a WM i suppose, if at all you want to put it in the WM, use the toy bag and add some baking soda into the bag along with the toys, they will taek all the dirt out, you can even vaccum them after that...for more details see this link: http://www.essortment.com/home/stuffedanimals_sdew.htm
1 person likes this
@sharay (2769)
• India
25 Mar 09
Sorry...i dont know how that picture got posted here instead of somewhere else
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Mar 09
lol i have had that happen before with a picture just appearing
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
25 Mar 09
I suppose you could buy one of those mesh-type bags made for "delicates" in the washing machine and try it that way. I had a neighbor who once told me that she just threw them in the washer. If they didn't fall apart, her children got them back. If they did, she just threw what was left of them away. I'd have the same concerns as you... that stuffing could potentially clog up the washer by going through those little drain holes and into the hose. THAT could be a catastrophe!!!
@freedomg (1684)
• United States
28 Mar 09
I have washed many a stuffed animal in my washer with no problem but there have been a few that looked to delicate for that and I just used laundry soap and hand washed them in the sink. Most toys are fairly washer safe though. Good luck
@sudalunts (5523)
• United States
25 Mar 09
I think it would be okay to wash them in the washing machine. I have washed some of my stuffed animals in the washer and they came out just fine. After they were washed I put them in the dryer and they came out nice and clean and fluffy. Give it a shot, what do you have to lose, since you found them anyway. I think washing them will be just fine.
2 people like this
@cndn420 (2062)
• Canada
25 Mar 09
when i was younger my mom used to throw my dirty stuffed animals into the washing machine. its probably the easiest way to wash them :)
2 people like this
@parthu28 (498)
• India
25 Mar 09
i generally wash them with a very mild shampoo and then hang them to dry.i wash them with my hands and not in the machine............
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Mar 09
i would do that but i have no place to hang them.. i dont have a line and the bathroom is always closed up and air doesnt circulate good to dry something like that.. hmm
@Jae2619 (1483)
• United States
25 Mar 09
I would get a garment bag and use that instead of a pillow case, the water will move threw it eaiser and better, sometimes the water can pile up in the pillow case. Also for sanitary laundry, add one cup of Lysol Brand Concentrate to your load of laundry, that way it can kill off more of the germs than just washing it would. Best of Luck!
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Mar 09
great idea thanks!
@blion23 (403)
• United States
25 Mar 09
Wash the stuffed animals in a pillow case or something. Do not put them directly in the washer or dryer because it can easily ruin them. Washing stuffed animals is an easy way to persevere the life of them and can easily be used to become your children best friend.
@youless (112496)
• Guangzhou, China
25 Mar 09
If it's not so expensive, I think bring it to the laundry store will be a good idea. If it's expensive to wash it outside, then I will just put it to the washing machine and I think it will be very clean after that. I love China
• United States
29 Mar 09
i would think they would be expensive but i may just call and find out
@Fortunata (1135)
• United States
25 Mar 09
Just chuck them in the washing machine on the gentle cycle, and tumble dry the same way. At least they'll smell better, lol.
• United States
25 Mar 09
I clean my kids favorite ones...you know they ones they won't go anywhere without and get dirty....in the washing machine. Then put them in the dryer. I would put them in by themselves. Not with your regular clothes. If you do your clothes might come out with fuzzies on them. Just check and make sure there are not any rips or tears on them so the stuffing does not come out. If there are any just get some thread and a needle and fix them up before you wash them.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Mar 09
they look brand new so i think they will make it.. and no i wouldnt wash it with anything else since i have had to deal with my new towels shedding and making all my clothes covered in green fuzzy crap lol
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
25 Mar 09
You could try putting them in mesh lingerie bags and then running them through the washing machine on the delicate cycle. Did they not have any tags on them at all that could give you some clue to their care?
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Mar 09
nope no tags
@HelloMickey (1655)
• Hong Kong
25 Mar 09
If you have planned giving those two stuffed animals to your dog as toys, then I would be okay that you can put them into a pillow case before you throw it into your washing machine. It is easy and simple. If you want to keep it yourself, you must add some fabric softener to wash the stuffed animals.
• United States
29 Mar 09
i hadnt really decided.. she did like the one and she never goes for toys so i thought about giving it to her.. or i had thought about just giving them to kids i knew or a thrift store for them to sell to help them out since they seem to be suffering.. they were in such good shape that since i got them for free i wanted to make sure they werent wasted
@CMTS_87 (1339)
• Philippines
25 Mar 09
Bring it to the laundry shop and avail the dry clean service of the shop.
• United States
29 Mar 09
i dont know if i want to spend a lot of money on two small stuffed animals though