Squishmallows have allured people of all ages. Whether it is a teenager looking for a plush toy for her TikTok video or an aged person looking for a stuffed animal, Squishmallows are everywhere. In fact, Squishmallows have become a part of our daily life.
However, a consistent attachment with your plush toy may invite dirt and stains, which can also emit an awful odor if left untreated.
So are Squishmallows washable? Can you wash Squishmallows with detergent? Or, more specifically, how do you clean a Squishmallow?
If you are wondering how to wash your favorite Squishmallows, you have landed on the right page. This article will provide cleaning tips to keep your Squishmallows clean and fresh all the time.
How to Wash Squishmallows
Squishmallows are adorable fluffy toys that feature a soft outer covering. However, this adorable nature makes them irresistible, resulting in overuse that leads to dirt and stains.
So how do you clean a Squishmallow?
Thankfully, you can wash Squishmallows without breaking a sweat and use a washing machine for the job. However, you must ensure that you use recommended products like detergents to avoid damage to your favorite Squishmallow.
Things you’ll need:
- A pillowcase depending on the size of your Squishmallow
- A washing machine
- Detergent
Once you’ve set up everything, you can begin washing your favorite Squishmallow and clean it even from stubborn stains.
Here are the steps you need to follow to wash your Squishmallow:
1. Put Your Squishmallow Into the Pillowcase
Pillowcases are perfect for accommodating your Squishmallows and preventing minute fibers from detachments. Additionally, a pillowcase acts as a barrier between the soft squishy toy and other washing materials to avoid damage.
However, if you have a large Squishmallow, you can also use a bed sheet to wrap your squishy toy by tying opposite corners. Additionally, always ensure that you never wash your Squishmallow alone, and it would be best to add other products like bedding, pillow covers, and comforters.
2. Ensure a Gentle Wash Cycle
Since Squishmallows are soft and fluffy, washing them on a gentle cycle is the best way to clean them without compromising the material. Additionally, ensure that you use cold water with a recommended detergent to prevent damage.
3. Use the Dryer to Tumble Dry
Once your cleaning cycle is over, you might wonder, “can you put a Squshmallow in the dryer.”
Thankfully, you can put your Squishmallow into the dryer and set the drying cycle to low and gentle for drying purposes. However, ensure that your Squishmallow is inside the pillowcase and that you never apply heat during the drying process.
You can also air-dry your favorite Squishmallow according to your needs.
4. Massage Your Squishmallow!
After every wash cycle, Squishmallows tend to lose their fluffy nature and charm. In short, you will have to give a lot of squishes and hugs to get the fluff back.
Likewise, you may also have to separate the stuffing with your hands to bring your Squishmallow to its original state. Thankfully, getting the fluff back is an engaging process, and even your child will love this activity.
How to Wash a Big Squishmallow?
As we mentioned earlier, using a pillowcase is one of the best ways to clean your Squishmallow in a washing machine. However, a pillowcase may not suffice your needs if you have a plus-size Squishmallow.
If that is the case, you can use a bedsheet to wrap your Squishmallow and tie the opposite ends before washing. This technique will protect your Squishmallow’s delicate fabric and avoid damage.
However, some plus-size Squishmallow models may not fit standard washing machines. So you will have to employ the spot cleaning method to clean your favorite Squishmallow.
Furthermore, you can also visit a laundry service and use the industrial large capacity washing machines to wash your Squishmallow. However, ensure that you wrap your Squishmallow with a bedsheet to avoid damage before washing.
How to Remove Stains from Squishmallows?
Squishmallows are very popular among children, with animal and bird figures racking up more craze among the younger generations. Besides children, teenagers also find Squishmallows adorable, and many avid collectors belong to this age.
According to the latest report, Gen Z fans used social media platforms like TikTok to increase Squishmallow’s popularity. For instance, @mootopia is a TikTok creator that has revolutionized Squishmallows to a whole new level in mid-2022.
However, Squishmallows are not immune to stains, and consistent attachment can make things worse. Thankfully, you can employ various tactics to remove stains from your squishy toys.
Besides machine washing, spot cleaning is one of the most efficient ways of cleaning a Squishmallow as it minimizes washes and cleans dirt and stains with minimal damage. This cleaning method is extremely useful for Squishmallows used by children.
So how do you remove dirt from Squishmallows? Here are the steps you can follow to remove dirt and stains without damaging a Squishmallow’s fibers.
- Prepare a solution of detergent and water, and use a damp cloth to rub the solution on your Squishmallow. Repeat the process until you remove the stain.
- Use a dry cloth to clean the rubbed section to avoid detergent residue.
- If a cloth fails to remove the stains, you can use a toothbrush to rub the stain using the solution.
- If the above methods fail, you can create a baking soda paste mixed with water. After making a thick paste, use a toothbrush to apply this solution to the affected area and let it dry.
- You can also use wet wipes to spot clean your Squishmallows. Wet wipes are readily available and are perfect for traveling.
- You can also use professional stain remover products like stain remover pens or other removers. These removers work fine on polyester fabric and are readily available in the market.
Does Washing Ruin Squishmallows?
Although you can wash Squishmallows to remove stains, you will have to curb your washing habits to increase the lifespan of your favorite Squishmallow.
Squishmallows have special fabrics and fillings to make them fluffy and squishy all the time. However, when you wash Squishmallows regularly, they lose their fluffiness, resulting in a loss of shape and functionality.
So how can we avoid overwashing? Spot cleaning is one of the best alternatives to machine washing as it helps you get rid of stains and dirt with minimal fuss. Furthermore, spot cleaning is convenient and requires fewer tools and solutions to remove stains.
In short, it would be best to avoid machine washing as much as you can to sustain your Squishmallow’s fluffy properties.
Other Things You Should Know About Washing Squishmallows
Can You Vacuum Squishmallows?
Vacuum sealing is an efficient way of storing large objects, including big stuffed toys like Squishmallows. In short, you can keep Squishmallows inside space bags and use a vacuum cleaner to create a vacuum seal.
However, ensure that you store your Squishmallow in favorable conditions to avoid damage from weather elements and pests.
Are Squishmallows Machine Washable?
Squishmallows are perfectly safe for machine wash. However, ensure that you use a pillowcase or a bedsheet and wash your Squishmallow on a cold and gentle cycle to avoid damage.
Furthermore, you can also use the dryer to dry out your Squishmallow.
Wrapping Up- Are Squishmallows Washable?
Although Squishmallows may look delicate, you can use a washing machine or the spot cleaning technique to clean a Squishmallow. However, you have to ensure that you follow specific things to sustain the qualities of a Squishmallow before washing.