Can You Wash Stuffed Animals in Washing Machine

Can Stuffed Animals Go in the Washing Machine?

Many stuffed animals can be machine washed — but you need to check for electronics, music boxes, and delicate embellishments first. Washing the wrong stuffed animal in the machine can damage it permanently. Here's how to decide and how to do it safely.

Which Stuffed Animals Are Machine Washable?

• Safe to machine wash: Simple plush toys made from polyester or cotton without electronics, music boxes, or glued-on parts
• Hand wash or surface clean only: Stuffed animals with battery-operated electronics, music boxes, glued-on eyes or accessories, antique or vintage toys, or very large stuffed animals
• When in doubt, surface clean rather than submerge

How to Machine Wash Stuffed Animals

1. Check for electronics — remove batteries if possible; if the electronics can't be removed, surface clean only
2. Check for loose parts — glued-on eyes, buttons, and accessories may come off in the machine
3. Place in a large mesh laundry bag — this protects the toy from agitation and prevents loose parts from getting caught in the machine
4. Gentle cycle, cold water
5. Small amount of mild, fragrance-free detergent — especially important for children's toys
6. No fabric softener

How to Dry Stuffed Animals

• Tumble dry on low heat with wool dryer balls to restore fluffiness — check every 20 minutes and reshape
• Or air dry flat in a well-ventilated area — squeeze and reshape periodically as it dries
• Make sure completely dry before returning to a child — damp stuffing develops mildew

How to Kill Dust Mites Without Washing

For stuffed animals that can't be washed, place in a sealed plastic bag and freeze for 24–48 hours. The cold kills dust mites without water or chemicals. Then shake out and air for a few hours before use.

Freshening Between Washes

Spray lightly with Febreze Fabric Refresher for a quick freshen between washes. Allow to air dry completely before giving back to a child.

Recommended Products

• OTraki XL Mesh Laundry Bag — protect stuffed animals during machine washing
• Wool Dryer Balls — restore fluffiness during drying
• Febreze Fabric Refresher Spray — freshen between washes without water