Washing a Stuffed Animal

My daughter is 3 1/2 and has a stuffed lamb as her "lovey".
I have washed it in a pillow case quite a few times and it
comes clean but nothing like brand new. I resorted to hunting down another stuffed animal lamb for her in case the one she has would fall apart. I found one on ebay.

Hi C.! I would give Mr. Lion a little bath in a basin by hand with cool water and woolite or something else as gentle as that. Then, I would blot him dry with a bath towel. That's how I take care of my daughter's "kissy bear".
J.

I always wash my children's stuffed animals in a pillow case and it has worked very well. I would try to wash it on a day where you can dry it outside though. You can't put it in the dryer, so the tricky part is washing it and having dry for bedtime and naptime!

Hi C.,

I can't say that my daughter has yet declared a "lovey", but she did go through a short stage with "bearly bunny" (a bear in a bunny suit--quite cute). Anyway, we did throw him in the washer and dryer and he came out well. I have heard about the pillow case from multiple other people who swear it works very well. I did, however, have a back-up as I knew where I could get another one to replace it. I would suggest purchasing another just for back-up. You never know when your son's lion might get accidentally ripped or lost. Good luck!

I'd get on ebay and buy 2-3 extras and switch them out periodically. That way, when Mr. Lion needs a bath, he won't miss him...

Hi C.,

My mom had this problen with my sister. The stuffed dog was beyond washing. She just got another similar dog. Told my sister they were giving the dog a bath. They put it in the washer together. My mom had the replacement come out of the dryer. She said "Look how nice, clean & fluffy he is!" My sister had no problems accepting the new stuffed animal.

I am not routinely recommending that you lie, but this can work if your child is young.

I still had my stuffed animals from when I was a child. I wanted to pass them onto my son, but I wanted tthem to be clean. I put all of them in the washing machine on the regular cycle. I decided what ever didn't make it I would throw out. (Making my decision on what to keep easier). Everything survived! I was shocked. Anyway, my point is; if my 20+ year old stuffed animals could survive your lion should. Also, I've washed all my son's stuffed animals multiple times now & they are all still ok.

Wow! I've been there. My son has a stuffed bug that he would never sleep without! It's a Gund, I think, with a squeaker and a rattle in some of the feet but he goes IN the washer & dryer & is fine -- going on 6 years now. Too be extra safe, you could buy a mesh lingerie bag & use that.

Hello. Although you did get much advice..and I didn't read all of it, I wanted to mention something...If you are worried about dust mites...our allergist suggests freezing the stuffed animal for about 24 hours. I know it sounds funny, but that's what I've been told to do periodically. Hope this helps!

Hi C.. I have a couple of thoughts. I would not put it in the washer as it will be saturated and lose it's shape. Perhaps one of those dry cleaning bags but keep the stuffed animal in the dryer for smaller intervals of time. Or, how about spraying him with a cleaner that doesn't require rinsing and then let it air dry... shake and fluff. Or sprinkle with baking soda and shake (eliminate odors and absorb any grease). How about a gentle lightly wet washcloth? Maybe you could also find a new Mr. Lion and keep them together before retiring the old one. Again, just thoughts.... it could be a combo of the above such as wipe him with the washcloth, put it in the dryer with the stuffed lion in a pillow case. Good luck and be gentle.

Put him in the pillow case and put a knot in the end, and wash it. I always used the regular cycle because it helps spin the water out of a stuffed animal. Then put him in the drier, still in his "sleeping bag". He should be fine. He'll come out fluffy after going thru the drier. the pillow case, however, will be very wrinkled from the knot in the end. :-)

I know what you mean. My son has many animals like that. Go ahead and put it in a pillow case and throw it in the washer. You can put it on a normal cycle. Dry the animal in the pillow case in the dryer. The animal will come out looking great. Don't worry, it shouldn't hurt the animal. I have never had that happen and I have washed many of stuffed animals over time! Good Luck

We have washed our beloved "Lamby" and "Ruffy Dog" countless times and they're still hanging in there, though restitching has been necessary due to unrelated incidents.

My almost 3 year old has a white teddy bear that she would never go to bed without- Most stuffed animals are ok to wash- even though the tag says to surface wash only. We washed bear at least once a week. He is pretty ratty now, but it took a long time to get that way. I would wash it with a delicate detergent, like dreft, and put it in a pillowcase to keep it from getting snagged on anything. I would also recommend you find a back-up. That way you can swap them out when they need to be washed, and if (God forbid) anything were to happen to one of them you would be safe. Good luck!

Hi C., I have washed more stuffed animals than I can count...my youngest switched "loveys" every year or so. Here's the thing, wash it with a small load of like colors in cold water then let it air dry. Never put it in the dryer (the heat will make a fluffy animal look like lambswool!). Using the gentle cycle is a good idea, and if you are really worried putting it in a pillow case isn't a bad idea either. Good luck!

Hi C.

We have "quack quack" a duck who my daughter must have in her crib for every nap and bed time. He has survived washer and dryer countless times!!!

I would suggest first trying Eucalan, which is wonderful for washing (no kidding!) woollens (again, no kidding: put the woollens in the washing machine with just a very small amount--a bottlie will last for years--squeeze through, let soak for 30 minutes, don't rinse, it's very gentle and all-natural). Try this with your beloved's lovey-it's so gentle and doesn't involve agitating in the machine, so the little lion won't get all matted like they usually do even with the pillowcase trick. I looked online and KnitPicks had the best price and lowest shipping.

Best of luck!

Hi C.,
Aww, that's so cute! I've successfully washed all of my little one's stuffed animals and they've all turned out just fine. We have a Golden Retriever who constantly puts them in his mouth, so they get washed a lot. I never dry them in the dryer though. I think his lovey will be ok. :)

~C.
My crafty, kid-friendly blog: http://daisyandpear.blogspot.com

First off, this is his security! Wash after he is in bed and fast asleep!
These attachments come and go. But do not throw anything away! You may be sorry for it later!
I think the whole thing is normal. They let them go in their own time.

Is there washing instructions on the tag? If so, I would follow those. If not, a lingere bag with a zipper and the gentle cycle on hot works fine. I have put animals through the dryer without problems. One other thing I would recommend...get a back up just in case!! Since he is so little you should still be able to find the same toy. My son left his at daycare over a long weekend once and I thought one or both of us would loose our minds. I purchased an identical one the very next time I saw one, and washed them both. Occassionally substitue one for the other so that they smell the same.

Depending on the quality of the toy it should be fine in the washer but if he has a mane it will most likely get matted.
You can try to hand wash it or also put it in a bag with baking soda and shake it. The baking soda will help get the dirt off of the toy.

When I wash my kids stuffed toys, I place them in a pillowcase that is tied shut. Then I place in the washing machine and dryer on the normal settings. I have never had any of the toys damaged or disfigured from the washing.

I have the same problem w/ my son's Curious George stuffed animal! I do wash it, just thrown into the mix, not in a pillow case and he comes out fine! I do not dry him, simply because that would take longer and my son would freak about him being away that long. LOL You should be fine, but if you're super concerned, throw the lion in a pillow case. Good luck!

My son has a snowman. He is 7 and still sleeps with this snowman. It was looking like you know dirty snow like the stuff that falls off the bottom of your vehicle. Last week my son had the flu and vomited in is bed and on snowman. I put him (look we say him instead of it when referring to snowman) anyway I put him in this net thing that is supposed to be for washing delicates and I washed him on gentle cycle and hung him to dry. He looks great and thank God he didn't fall apart. Good Luck