If you have a Squishmallow, you know how incredibly cute and huggable these little stuffed creatures can be. They don’t belong in a box, they deserve to be played with and slept with day in and day out. Unfortunately for a Squishmallow, this means they can easily become dirty with all of the activity they see.

If you want to safely wash your Squishmallow, you’ve come to the right place. Read ahead for the full guide. 

How To Clean Your Squishmallow? 

There are two effective ways we’ve found to wash a Squishmallow. You can hand wash, or you can opt for a washing machine. It is important to note that the Squishmallow manufacturer only recommends handwashing, but based on our research it appears that many people have had success with a washing machine, too. 

How Do I Handwash My Squishmallow? 

There are three essential steps in handwashing your Squishmallow and making the shine once again. 

1. Read the instructions and understand what the manufacturer recommends. As mentioned above, the Squishmallow creators do not endorse using a washing machine but based on what we’ve read many have used a washing machine to great effect.
   
   If you are more cautious we recommend following this handwashing approach for a more gentle, safe approach. After all, if you were a Squishmallow would you want to be thrown in a washing machine? We didn’t think so.
2. To begin, grab your favorite stain remover and test in an inconspicuous place. We recommend this Oxi Clean stain remover as our favorite product. Spray a small amount of the stain remover on the dirty area and using clean rag, gently scrub the area.
   
   If any color from the Squishmallow comes off with the stain remover, stop using the stain remover and rinse with cold water. If this happens we recommend finishing cleaning with cold water only as using stain remover will discolor your Squishmallow.
   
   Squishmallows are delicate so keep that in mind during the cleaning process.
3. Using a dry towel, pat down the Squishmallow and allow it to air dry for 24 hours. You want to ensure there is no moisture that would cause mold or mildew down the road so fully drying your Squishmallow is key.
   
   Air drying is best but if you are in a rush, you can use your dryer on the lowest heat setting possible. Keep in mind that if your Squishmallow gets too warm, the heat can shrink the fabric so we would recommend air drying first and foremost. But if you need to dry quickly, an electric or gas dryer could be used.
   
   Under no circumstances should you use an iron or any other form of intense heat on your Squishmallow. This is almost guaranteed to discolor or deform your Squishmallow due to the intense heat. 

Can You Clean A Squishmallow In A Washing Machine? 

Although the manufacturing instructions indicate that Squishmallows are not designed for the washing machine, the Squashmallow community has found that a washing machine can be used if certain steps are followed. 

If you use a washing machine, use the most delicate cycle available on the machine. In addition, use only cold water so avoid any shrinking. 

The Best Way To Wash A Squishmallow Using A Washing Machine

1. Place your Squishmallow in a delicates laundry bag. If you do not have one of these available, you could also use a pillow case. The important part here is to not wash your Squishmallow alone. If you do, they could easily get beat up or damaged during the washing process. Washing machines are not easy on Squishmallows.
2. Add the delicates bag with the Squishmallow inside to your washing machine. Like we mentioned above, be sure to use only cold water and the most delicate cycle available to you. Do not use warm or hot water as this can cause serious shrinking of your Squishmallow. 
3. After washing, place your Squishmallow into the dryer (still in the delicates bag or pillow case). Make sure to use the lowest heat setting available. If you are not rushed we would still recommend air drying to extend the life of your Squishmallow. 
4. If tumble drying, add a few dryer balls to the dryer before starting the cycle. This will help your Squishmallow look fluffy and new again 

How to Remove Stains From A Squishmallow? 

If you’ve washing your Squishmallow and notice that there are still stains that have not come out, here is what we recommend. 

Grab your favorite stain remover and spray a small area. This will be your test area to see if it works. Gently scrub the area with a clean rag. If there is no discoloration and the stain is removed, continue spraying the rest of your Squishmallow, or the stained area in question. 

If the stain remover discolors the Squishmallow, stop immediately and finishing washing with cold water.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS 

• Never use intense heat on your Squishmallow. This includes irons, hot dryers, or anything else that could melt or shrink your beloved stuffed animal. 
• If you place your Squishmallow in a washer or dryer, always use a delicates laundry bag to protect your Squishmallow. 
• If possible, always air dry your Squishmallow. This will extend the life of your favorite stuffed animal. 
• Spot treat your Squishmallow instead of fully washing if applicable. Again, this will extend the life of stuffed animals. 
• We recommend only using a stain remover and not using soap on your Squishmallow. It is very hard to remove soap fully from a Squishmallow, so using only stain remover and water is the best solution we’ve found. If your Squishmallow is exceedingly dirty you can try detergent but proceed cautiously. 

Wrapping Up 

Squishmallows are wonderful toys but of course with use they will get dirty. Although the manufacturer says not to wash a Squishmallow, the methods we’ve outlined here are the best ways to get your Squishmallow looking fresh again.