Before washing a stuffed animal, examine it carefully.
Are there parts that need to be removed first?
Are strings that need to be secured?
Stuffed animals are similar to pillows in that they wash much better if laundered in a machine that does not have an agitator.
If you have a top loader, you could always take a large load and wash them at the laundromat.
Washing with an agitator tends to make the animal ball up due to the agitator displacing the batting.
After determining your stuffed animal can be washed, place it in a mesh laundry bag.
The mesh bag gives it an extra level of protection from snagging or being pummeled too much in the machine.
You can use a warm or cool wash but steer clear of hot. If items are glued on, the hot water might dissolve some of the glue.
Tips:
Lots of stuffed animals come with machine washing instructions. Read them before making final decisions.
Do your best to get the stuffed animal dry within a day to prevent mildew growth.
It’s best to wash the stuffed animal when it won’t be missed. If your child can’t fall asleep without it, don’t wash it during naptime.
Warnings:
If washed too often, the toy can wear out its fabric.
Too much sun exposure will fade some stuffed animals.