How to wash a weighted stuffed animal

A weighted stuffed animal gets held, carried around and sometimes shared. So sooner or later it gets dirty, and that is all part of it. Washing it needs a little more attention than washing a regular stuffed animal, because it has a heavy filling. With a few simple steps, you keep it fresh and soft without damaging it.

Where do you start?

With the care label. That sounds obvious, but with a weighted stuffed animal it really is the most important thing. The manufacturer knows how the fabric, the seams and the filling react to water, heat and spinning. The Dutch aid guide Vilans Hulpmiddelenwijzer and a British children's therapy service give the same advice for weighted aids: follow the manufacturer's care instructions.

The label usually shows one of these three options:

• spot clean only, with a slightly damp cloth;
• hand wash;
• washing machine, with the temperature and programme stated.

Every stuffed animal is made differently. What is fine for one stuffed animal can damage the seams or the filling of another. So the label on your stuffed animal always comes first.

Can the stuffed animal go in the washing machine?

If the label allows it, that is fine. These tips will help:

• Use a laundry bag or an old pillowcase that you tie shut. That protects the fabric and the seams.
• Follow the temperature and programme on the label. If nothing is stated, choose cold or lukewarm water and a low spin speed.
• Mind the weight. A weighted stuffed animal gets even heavier when it is wet. For weighted blankets, people are advised to check the maximum load of their washing machine. With a heavy stuffed animal, it does no harm to check this too.

If the stuffed animal cannot go in the machine, choose hand washing or spot cleaning. A torn seam can release small pellets. In 2004, a plush toy was recalled in the United States because the seams could tear and expose small plastic pellets. With a filling like that, a strong, intact seam really matters for safety. You can read more about pellets and glass beads in what is inside a weighted stuffed animal?

How do you wash it by hand or spot clean it?

If the label says hand wash, stick to the temperature and detergent stated there. If no temperature is given, choose cold or lukewarm water, as is also recommended for weighted blankets. Do not keep the stuffed animal under water for longer than necessary. Gently squeeze out the water, without wringing or twisting. That way you spare the seams.

Can the stuffed animal only be spot cleaned? Then dab a stain with a slightly damp cloth and a little mild soapy water. Rub gently. Then remove the soap with a clean, damp cloth. That way the filling stays as dry as possible.

Does your stuffed animal have a removable cover? Then you usually wash only the cover, following the label inside the cover. Keep the inner part with the filling dry, unless the label says otherwise. That often makes a stuffed animal with a removable cover extra easy to keep clean. You can read what to look out for when choosing the fabric and cover in materials: which fabric and cover should you choose?

How do you dry a weighted stuffed animal?

Let it air-dry flat, on a rack or a dry towel. Turn it over now and then. Do not hang it up by an ear or a paw: the wet weight then pulls on the seams. A heavy filling dries slowly, so give it time. Only use the stuffed animal again once it is completely dry, inside too.

Do not use a tumble dryer unless the label explicitly allows it. And do not put it on the radiator or in bright sunlight to speed up drying. We could not find reliable sources on how plastic pellets in a weighted stuffed animal react to heat. So slow air-drying is the safest choice. You can read why heat and weighted stuffed animals do not go well together in can a weighted stuffed animal go in the microwave or on the radiator?

How often do you wash a weighted stuffed animal?

That is up to you. Wash the stuffed animal when it is visibly dirty or smells musty. If a child uses it a lot, or takes it outside, that will be more often than for an adult who uses it on the sofa. Every wash puts a little strain on the fabric and the seams. Spot cleaning a stain in between washes keeps the stuffed animal fresh and spares it at the same time.

How do you handle shared use in the classroom or in care?

If several children or clients use the same stuffed animal, hygiene becomes more important. The simplest solution is a separate stuffed animal for each person. If that is not possible, choose a stuffed animal with a removable, washable cover and agree how often it is washed. Write down who uses the stuffed animal and when it was last cleaned and checked.

Be careful with loose protective covers around the stuffed animal. In a Swedish study in nursing homes, the researchers deliberately did not use hygiene covers around the weighted blankets, because of the risk of suffocation. You will find more tips for teachers in a weighted stuffed animal in the classroom. You can read what to look out for with quality marks and strong seams in quality marks and safety. You will find other questions about care and use under choosing and using.