If you have a toddler at home – or hell, even know a small child! — then you probably know all about Squishmallows. Super soft, cuddly and cuddly plush toys made their debut in 2017 and have taken the world by storm ever since! Available in over 1,000 styles in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors and themes, these huggable and stuffed characters have earned a special place in the hearts of children and adults around the globe. But many of those same adults are left to wonder how to wash Squishmallows without damaging them.
Because these squishy plushies are so cute and soft, Squishmallows can often be a favorite toy for little ones to grab when they leave the house. After all, the Squishmallows website itself says that the cuddly pillow characters are perfect as “couch companions, bedtime buddies and travel teammates.”
But if you know kids, then you know that their girlfriends can easily get dirty and smelly the moment they leave the bedroom. And if your child uses a Squishmallow as a pillow to lay their head on at night or a cuddle buddy inside or outside the house, you’ll want to keep that toy clean!
So what do you do if your child has spilled hot chocolate all over their new Clarice the Reindeer Christmas Squishmallow? You can wash Squishmallows? We’re about to show you the best way to clean a Squishmallow without ruining them!
Related: Meet the fall-themed Squishmallow Squad
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Michelle Parkerton
What are Squishmallows filled with?
Squishmallows are filled with a marshmallow-like polyester fiber filling that makes them… well, squishable! Because this stuffing is so super soft, you can squeeze it and move it inside the toy by inserting the Squishmallow into only the right shape to rest your head on. (Or cushion your lip. Or hold it in your hand!)
Michelle Parkerton
How to wash Squishmallows
This super special stuffing inside a Squishmallow means it needs to be handled with care when it comes to cleaning the outside of the toy. According to the official Squishmallows website, the toys should only be cleaned with a damp cloth on the affected area. If there is a stain on the Jakarria Boba Tea, then it is officially recommended to use a stain remover pen or wet tissue to help remove the stain.
Submerging the Maui Pineapple in water in a washing machine or tub to clean it “will distort the filling inside the Squishmallow and likely result in a change in texture both inside and outside of your item.”
To clean a Squishmallow stain, gently rub the dirty area with a damp cloth. If you’re using a stain remover pen (or even a dab of mild laundry detergent), then use another section of the damp cloth to rinse off the residue after scrubbing the stain.
Can Squishmallows go in the washing machine?
Officially, the manufacturer does not recommend this method. But many parents – and adult Squishmallow lovers on #SquishTok! – they did this to clean up Silvia the Unicorn again. Just know that doing anything other than spot cleaning a Squishmallow is at your own risk and is not recommended by the manufacturer, Kellytoy.
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If you know kids, then you know that sometimes cleaning stains from that adorable Squishmallow Elsa plush just isn’t good enough!
If Elsa is too dirty for a simple wet wipe to get her clean again, then there is a way you can clean Squishmallow in the washing machine.
Michelle Parkerton
First, place the Squishmallow in a zippered mesh laundry bag or pillowcase so that it is somewhat protected during the wash cycle. Be sure to tie the face to the closed pillow. If the Squishmallow team member who needs a bath is too big for a pillowcase, some parents have said they’ve tied him up in a flat sheet!
Next, put the Squishmallow in the washing machine with similar items, such as soft blankets, some towels or bed linen. Don’t overload the machine, but you do need to make sure there are other items in the wash drum so Squishmallow doesn’t flatten out while he’s in there.
Michelle Parkerton
Using cool water and your detergent of choice (but not too much liquid to make a lot of suds), run the washer on the delicate or gentle cycle. Be sure not to use hot water in the washing machine as this can melt the polyester filling inside the Squishmallow and ruin the toy!
Related: What Do Those Laundry Symbols Really Mean?
How should a Squishmallow be dried?
According to the official Squishmallow website, air drying is the best way to dry the toy, so don’t put it in the dryer with a load of towels to fluff it up. “You should NOT use a blow dryer, hair dryer, iron, or other portable heated appliance to dry your Squishmallows,” warns the folks at Kellytoy. That includes the microwave!
Michelle Parkerton
However, some Squishmallow fans put their toys in the dryer, either in a tied pillowcase or by themselves. If you’re going to try this, remember that Squishmallows don’t like heat, so make sure the dryer is set to the lowest possible heat setting.
Place the Squishmallow on a table or other flat, clean surface to air dry. You can also put the toy outside on a sunny day to let Mother Nature help! Once the Squishmallow is dry, use your fingers to manipulate the stuffing inside the toy and puff Felexine, the Rainbow Fox, until it snaps back into shape.
Now your favorite team member Squishmallow is clean!
Then check out these super cute Disney Squishmallows.