Do you have some stuffed animals in need of some cleaning? Here’s the simplest way to clean and disinfect your child’s favorite stuffy!
Although my kids never really got attached to one particular stuffed animal (well, unless you can count the Wubbanubs), they sure do love them.
Especially Jack. His bed is covered from head to toe with different stuffed animals he’s gotten over the years.
Although our boys don’t drag their stuffed animals everywhere, collecting lots of dirt that needs to be removed…they cuddle them a lot.
Especially when they are sick.
We just moved, and as we unpacked their beloved “stuffies” it dawned on us that we really should clean them.
Even though not all of them were clearly “dirty”, they definitely have lots of germs from over the years, and it was time for a fresh start.
Because I am sure that we aren’t the only one with stuffed animals due for a bath, I thought I’d share the simple process for cleaning stuffed animals in a washing machine.
Not all of our stuffed animals were dirty – though some of them definitely looked like this:
Here’s how that guy looks after!
Others just had some blemishes throughout.
And many looked pretty clean but definitely needed some sanitizing.
This process worked for all of them – they came out of the wash smelling fresh and clean!
Note: For toys that contain electronic parts, music boxes, beans, rice, foam beads, or are fragile, this is not the best method. Consider hand washing with vinegar and baking soda instead.
WHAT YOU NEED
- Stuffed animals
- Clean pillow case
- Laundry detergent
- Washing machine
INSTRUCTIONS
Time needed: 2 hours.
INSTRUCTIONS
- Place stuffed animal in pillow case
Using a clean pillowcase, place stuffed animal(s) in a clean pillowcase. Tie it closed securely with a hair tie or rubber band.
- Put detergent in machine
Put a Gain Fling into the empty drum of your washing machine.
If you’re doing a large load of laundry, toss two in. - Pillowcase in washing machine
Place your tied pillow-case into the drum of your washing machine and close the door. Set the machine to cold water and let it run its cycle.
- Air Dry
After you have run the wash cycle, let your stuffed animals air dry. After they’ve dried completely, fluff their fur!
And there you have it – a quick and efficient way to keep your child’s favorite stuffed animal clean and fresh.
Katie is a Colorado-native, BYU graduated, and most importantly, wife to one and mother to three beautiful boys. She is passionate about sharing her experiences with others – especially about pregnancy, breastfeeding, cooking, and crafts. She is currently training to be a Certified Lactation Educator. She loves spending time with her family and helping others find joy in family life.
Chelsea Johnson says
This is a great post! My daughter LOVES her stuffed animals and is like Jack in that she has a ton all around her bed! We’ve washed them directly in the machine before, but we’ll have to try the pillow case method!