Washing and Caring for Plush Toys

There is really only one rule, and almost everyone breaks it at least once.

Never tumble dry

Heat is what destroys plush fur, and it destroys it permanently. The fibres curl, mat together and lose the loft that made the toy soft in the first place. No amount of brushing afterwards brings it back. This is the instruction on every Snuggle Buddies tag and it is the one that matters.

Air-dry instead, away from a radiator and out of direct sun. A toy of this size takes a day or two to dry fully, which is longer than you want when a child is asking for it — which is the real argument for having a second one in the cupboard.

How to actually wash one

Put the toy in a zipped garment bag or a pillowcase tied shut. Cold water, delicate cycle, a small amount of mild detergent and no fabric softener — softener coats the fibres and makes plush fur feel waxy rather than soft. The bag stops ears and limbs being stretched by the drum.

Because Snuggle Buddies have no hard parts, there is nothing to crack and nothing to work loose in the machine. Toys with plastic eyes or internal sound boxes are a different matter and should be surface-cleaned only.

Spot cleaning between washes

Most marks come out with a damp cloth and a drop of mild soap, working from the outside of the mark inward so you do not spread it. Press rather than rub — rubbing is what mats the pile.

For something sticky, let it dry completely first and then work it out with a soft brush. Wet sugar smears; dry sugar flakes off.

Bringing matted fur back

If a toy has already been through a dryer, you can recover some of it. Dampen the matted area lightly, comb it through with a soft pet brush or a wide-toothed comb in short strokes, and let it air-dry. Repeat rather than forcing it in one go.

You will get perhaps three-quarters of the original loft back on a once-dried toy. On a twice-dried one, considerably less. It is worth doing and it is not worth relying on.

Before you close the tent flap

Cold water, a garment bag, no softener, no dryer. Four habits, and a plush toy stays soft for as long as a child wants to carry it.