Cleaning old stuffed animals

megahof · December 2012

My mom just brought over my stash: about 15 or 20 stuffed animals of all shapes and sizes that I collected from when I was a baby until later than I'd like to admit. They've been in her attic for almost 15 years because I asked her to hold on to them "for when I have a baby of my own." Well, I've got one of those now, so Mom wants to clean the attic.

They're all clean in that they've never gotten wet or moldy, but I think they're pretty musty and dusty. What do you think is the best way to clean them? Could I just put them in the washer on cold gentle cycle and tumble dry them on low?

runrinserepeat · December 2012

Yeah, I'd throw one in the washer to see how it holds up.

ssimon621 · December 2012

If I remember correctly, my mom used to put my stuffed animals in a pillow case and then wash them. I washed a couple stuffed animals for DD when she was really small and I just threw them in the wash with her other clothes. I also wash her wubbanubs (pacifier with the beanie baby attached to it) in one of those lingerie bags.