Stains and Spills Are Inevitable, so Here’s How to Wash Squishmallows Without Ruining Them

If you have a young child at home—or heck, even know a young child!—then you likely know all about Squishmallows. The super soft, cuddly, plush stuffed toys made their debut back in 2017 and have since taken the world by storm! Available in over 1,000 styles in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors and themes, these huggable, squishy stuffed characters have earned a special place in the hearts of kids and adults across the globe. But many of those same adults are left wondering how to wash Squishmallows without ruining them.

Because these plush stuffies are so dang cute and soft, Squishmallows can often be a favorite toy for little ones to take along 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 loveys can easily become soiled and smelly the second they leave the bedroom. And whether your child uses a Squishmallow as a pillow to lay their head on at night or a cuddle buddy inside or outside of the house, you are going to want to keep that toy clean!

So what do you do if your kiddo got spilled hot chocolate all over their brand-new Clarice the Reindeer Christmas Squishmallow? Can you wash Squishmallows? We are about to lay out for you the best way to get a Squishmallow clean without ruining them!

Related: Meet the Fall-themed Squishmallow Squad

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What are Squishmallows filled with?

Squishmallows are stuffed with a marshmallow-like polyester fiber filling that makes them… well, squishable! Because this stuffing is so super soft, you are able to squish it up and move it around inside the toy, getting the Squishmallow into just the right shape to rest your head. (Or cushion your tush. Or hold it in your hand!)

How to wash Squishmallows

This super special stuffing inside of a Squishmallow means that it should be treated with care when it comes to cleaning the outside of the toy. According to the official Squishmallows website, the toys should only be spot cleaned with a damp cloth on the affected area. If there is a stain on Jakarria the Boba Tea, then it is officially recommended to use a stain remover pen or wet wipe to help remove the stain.

Submerging Maui the Pineapple into the water in a washing machine or bathtub to clean it “will distort the stuffing inside of the Squishmallow and will likely result in a change of texture both on the inside and outside of your item.”

To spot-clean a Squishmallow, gently rub at the soiled spot with a damp cloth. If you are 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 you scrub at the stain. 

Can Squishmallows go in the washing machine?

Officially, the manufacturer does not recommend this method. But plenty of parents—and adult Squishmallow lovers on #SquishTok!—have done that to get Silvia the Unicorn clean 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.

If you know kids, then you know that sometimes spot-cleaning that adorable Elsa plush Squishmallow just isn’t good enough! 

If Elsa is too dirty for a simple wet wipe to clean her up again, then there is a way you can clean the Squishmallow in the washing machine.

First, put the Squishmallow in a zippered mesh lingerie bag or a pillowcase so it is somewhat protected during the wash cycle. Be sure to tie the pillowcase closed. If the Squishmallow squad member who needs a bath is too big for a pillowcase, some parents have shared that they’ve tied it up inside a flat bed sheet!

Next, put the Squishmallow into the washing machine with similar items, like soft blankets, a few towels or bedding. Don’t overload the machine, but you need to make sure that there are other items in the washing drum so that the Squishmallow doesn’t get flattened while it’s in there.

Using cold water and your detergent of choice (but not too much liquid that it will make a lot of suds), run the washing machine on the delicate or gentle cycle. Be sure that you don’t use hot water in the washer because that can melt the polyester stuffing inside the Squishmallow and ruin the toy!

Related: What Do Those Laundry Symbols Actually Mean?

How should a Squishmallow be dried?

Per the official Squishmallow website, air drying is the best method to dry the toy—so don’t pop it into the dryer along with a load of towels to fluff it up. “You should NOT use a dryer, hairdryer, iron, or other handheld heated appliance to dry your Squishmallows,” warn the folks at Kellytoy. That includes the microwave!

However, some Squishmallow fans have put their toys in the dryer, whether in a tied-up pillowcase or by itself. If you are going to try this, remember that Squishmallows don’t like heat, so be sure that the dryer is set to the lowest heat setting possible.

Set the Squishmallow on a tabletop or another flat, clean surface to air dry. You could also put the toy outside on a sunny day to let Mother Nature help it out! Once the Squishmallow is dry, use your fingers to manipulate the stuffing inside the toy and fluff Felexine the Rainbow Fox up until she’s regained her shape.

Now, your favorite Squishmallow squad member is all clean!

Next, check out these too-cute Disney Squishmallows.