how i wash plushies
by taavi :)
step 1: read the tush tags. does it say machine washable or hand wash only? this is important information to know! if it doesn’t have a tag, or if the tag doesn’t say anything about washing, just assume it’s hand wash only.
step 2: if it’s hand wash only, read this. if it’s machine washable skip to step number 5. time to figure out how wet the plush can get. if your plush is full of rice, beans, nut shells, etc, it’s best to not get them very wet. if your plush has a voice box, it’s best to not get them wet either. if it’s just a normal plush with stuffing and nothing else, you can usually get them as wet as you want! be careful with handmade ones though. if your plush can’t get very wet, or if you only want to give them a light cleaning, move on to the next step. otherwise, skip to step number 4.
step 3: this is for light cleaning, or plushies that can’t get very wet. you want to take either a damp cloth or some baby wipes and gently wipe them down. if they have stains use a very very small amount of dawn dish soap with a damp cloth to “rinse” it off. let the plush air dry in front of a fan or an open window. since you did not get the plush super wet, it shouldn’t take too long to dry. after they are dry, gently brush their fur with the same kind of brush that you would use for a dog or cat. do NOT share brushes between plushies and people or animals, because this can get oils and dandruff on the plushie.
step 4: this is for hand washing plushies that can get super wet! fill up a sink or bathtub with enough water for the plushie to comfortably soak or float in it. make sure you use cold or warm water, NEVER use hot water! hot water can potentially damage the plush! when your plushie is soaking in the water, add some dawn dish soap to your hand or a cloth. gently scrub the plush everywhere! if there is a stain that’s not coming out, try using vinegar instead of soap! WARNING: vinegar smells bad, so after using it you will have to wash the plush again with soap. after your plush has been scrubbed, rinse them off! gently squeeze the plush while rinsing them off to help get soap out. once all the soap is out, you can gently squeeze until most of the water is out as well. do NOT twist the plush as you squeeze them, this could disfigure them. after the plush has been washed, it’s time for them to dry off! lay them on a towel and set them in front of a fan or open window. you could alternatively set them outside in the sun, but be careful that you don’t get them dirty again! as they air dry, you should regularly rotate them so that all sides get a chance to dry off. air drying can take a long time, especially if the plush is bigger or very wet still. i normally leave plushies to air dry for a minimum of 24 hours, just to be safe! after the plush has dried off, you should gently brush them with the same kind of brush that you would use for a dog. do NOT share a brush between plushies and people or animals. doing that could transfer oils or dandruff to the plush.
step 5: this is for machine washing your plush! it’s important that you only put a plush in the washing machine if the tag says that it’s okay! if the tag says hand wash only, the washing machine could damage your plush! machine washing a plush is pretty similar to washing clothes in the washing machine. the main difference is that you might want to put the plush inside a pillow case to wash it. if the plush has hard eyes, they can get scratched up in the washing machine, so the pillow case should protect it. using your normal laundry detergent should be fine! make sure the washing machine is using cold water too, because hot water can potentially damage plushies. if the plush has any stains still, it’s time to try hand washing them. see step number 4 for hand washing these plushies. after the plush is washed it’s time for them to dry. first gently squeeze out the extra water, but do NOT twist the plushie. NEVER put a plushie in the dryer. it will most likely damage their fur. instead you should let the plushie air dry in front of a fan or an open window. maybe even set them outside :) it can take a while for a plush to air dry, but if you use the fan method and rotate them every so often, it should be dry within a day! unless it’s really big or super wet. after the plush is dry, it’s time to brush their fur! use the same kind of brush that you would use for a dog or cat. you should NEVER share a brush between plushies and people or animals, because it could transfer oil or dandruff to the plush.
NOTES
you can use any soap to wash your plushies. i just prefer dawn dish soap, because i’ve noticed that it’s very good at cleaning them up and removing stains!
if you have any questions feel free to ask me! i’m not very good at explaining things so i might’ve missed something! :)