How to wash a teddy bear without ruining it

A loved plushie gets grubby. It is dragged across floors, chewed, cried on and taken to school. The good news is that almost every plushie can be cleaned at home. The bad news is that the wrong method can flatten the fur, clump the stuffing or melt anything glued on. Here is how to do it properly.

First, check the label

Look for the sewn-in care label, usually on the bottom or a back seam. Every Plushy Wushy plushie also lists its care instructions on its product page. Three things to look for:

• Surface washable / spot clean only: no soaking. Use the spot-clean method below.
• Hand wash: cool water and gentle soap, no machine.
• Machine washable: our Baby & Toddler range is, on a gentle 30°C cycle.

If there is no label at all, treat it as hand wash only, which is the safest choice that still gets it properly clean.

Spot cleaning (for everyday marks)

This is the method for most plushies, most of the time, and it is the only safe option for giant teddies and anything with a battery, music box or glued-on parts.

1. Mix a few drops of mild liquid soap (baby shampoo is ideal) into a bowl of lukewarm water.
2. Dip a soft cloth, wring it out until damp rather than wet, and dab the stain. Do not scrub: rubbing pushes dirt deeper and roughens the fur.
3. Rinse the cloth in clean water and dab again to lift the soap out.
4. Blot with a dry towel and let it air dry in the shade.

Hand washing (for a proper clean)

1. Fill a basin with cool water and a teaspoon of gentle detergent or baby shampoo.
2. Submerge the plushie and squeeze it gently several times, like a sponge. Never wring or twist; that is what clumps the stuffing.
3. Drain, refill with clean water, and squeeze again until no more suds come out.
4. Press it between two dry towels to get as much water out as possible.

Machine washing (only if the label allows)

Put the plushie inside a pillowcase or laundry bag, tie it shut, and wash on the gentlest cycle at 30°C or below with a little mild detergent. Add a couple of towels to balance the drum. Skip fabric softener: it coats the fibres and makes plush feel greasy rather than soft.

Drying: the step that ruins most plushies

Heat is the enemy. A tumble dryer or a hot iron can melt synthetic fur into a stiff, matted mess, and direct midday sun in a Pakistani summer can fade the colours in an afternoon.

• Air dry somewhere airy and shaded, turning it every few hours.
• Prop larger plushies up so air reaches every side, or the inside stays damp and smells.
• Allow a full day, two for anything over 40 cm. It must be completely dry inside before anyone hugs it.

Fluffing the fur back up

Once dry, brush the fur gently in one direction with a soft, clean hairbrush or a wide-toothed comb. For curly fleece like our Cocoa Curly Teddy, use your fingers instead, so you separate the curls rather than straightening them. A few good squeezes will redistribute the stuffing.

Giant teddies

A 4 or 5 ft teddy will not fit in a basin, let alone a washing machine, and it would take days to dry. Spot clean as needed, vacuum it now and then with an upholstery brush on low suction, and give it some fresh air (in the shade) every few weeks.

How often?

Spot clean as soon as you see a mark. Give a daily-cuddle plushie or a baby’s lovey a full wash every few weeks, or after any illness. Shelf plushies only need a dust and a fluff now and then.