A teddy bear waiting to be washed

How to clean stuffed animals

Little ones love their stuffed animal friends, and these inseparable bonds shouldn’t be broken because of a stain.

When your child’s special friend falls victim to stains or other soils, you’ll need to step in and save the day. Tide can show you how to remove stains from stuffed animals so your kids and their furry friends can get back to doing what they do best.

If you want to spot treat and hand wash a stain, it’s easy, using just a few simple tools. Start with an HE detergent like Tide HE Turbo Clean Liquid Laundry detergent diluted with water in your sink or tub. HE detergents are perfect for cleaning stuffed animals because they create minimal suds, making rinsing a breeze. Using a clean toothbrush, gently brush the stain and blot with a clean towel.

But hand washing isn’t your only option for how to clean a teddy bear! If Teddy’s care label allows, you can machine wash him safely in a mesh bag. So, how to clean stuffed animals in your washing machine? Follow along!

Cleaning Stuffed Animals

Step 1

Check to make sure you’re dealing with washable stuffed animals by checking the care label

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Fabric care labels
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Step 2

Ensure that there are no electronics, batteries, or foam filler balls in the toy

A teddy bear waiting to be washed
Step 3

Use an HE detergent designed to reduce suds

Step 4

Place the toy in a mesh bag and wash on a gentle cycle in cold water

Wash on the usual cycle
Step 5

Hang to dry

Hang to dry