Whether you belong to the wildlife, food, seaworld, mystery, nature or prefer an assorted Squishmallow squad, you know how important it is to wash and care for your fun buddies.
For starters, Squishmallows are relatively pricy. Of course this depends on how deep your pockets are, and your go-to hunting joints. All the same, adding new toys to your old collection makes more sense than getting replacements regularly because of improper care.
Secondly, Squishmallows are squishy and plush. Besides giving you satisfaction as toys, they are useful as pillows for you and your little ones. If this comfort matters, then you probably want them to last for as long as they can.
Lastly, each Squishmallow character tells as story. For example, a Squishmallow can be a representation of your favorite food, fruit, pet or sea animal. Some collectors use Squishmallows to mark special events in their lives. For example, you might have one for your 18th birthday, or the day you got engaged and so on.
The longer a Squishmallow lasts, the more it gives you memories to hold onto. And even when a Squishmallow is old and no longer in great shape, you can still keep it depending on your perception of the event it marked in your life.
How to Wash a Squishmallow
Washing your Squishmallow is not something you should do regularly. Generally, less washing promotes the longevity of the toy. And even more, it gives you a chance to maintain the fluffiness and luxurious feeling.
Spot Cleaning
To minimize washes, spot cleaning should be your first option for removing dirt. Spots and stains can form on your toy after comes into contact with spills or dirty surfaces.
If you have babies and they love to play with the Squishmallow, you might find yourself dealing with tougher stains. For example, children might use pens to write on the toy, or stain it with playdough.
When spot cleaning, choose a stain remover depending on the toughness of the stains. Dish soap or regular detergent works effectively for ordinary stains.
- Put a bit of liquid or powder detergent on a cloth and use running water to dampen the cloth. Rub the stain repeatedly with the cloth until it clears.
- Next, dampen a dry section of the cloth with water and rub the cleaned section again repeatedly. This helps to clear the soapy residue which attracts dirt easily if left to dry on the fabric.
- Alternatively, use a soft brush such as a toothbrush to apply liquid detergent or dish soap on the stain. Scrub the stain gently with the brush until it clears. Use a damp microfiber cloth to remove excess soap from the fabric.
- If the stain is tough, try to remove it with baking soda paste. Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with water to form thick paste. Use a toothbrush to apply the paste on the stain and let it dry. As the paste dries, it should draw out the stain.
- Another approach is to spot clean with stain remover wipes or just wet wipes. Spot cleaning wipes are mostly for travelling because they provide instant results. Even so, you can use them on Squishmallows, other toys, or even regular laundry to clean spots instantly.
- If stain remover wipes do not work, try a spot remover pen or any other stain remover that works on polyester fabric.
- Finish up by allowing your Squishmallow to air-dry. If you find the results unsatisfying, you can proceed to wash the entire toy.
Washing a Squishmallow in the Washing Machine
Squishmallow’s Twitter account recommends that you wash the toys in the washing machine. You can also learn this information by reading the care tag on your toy. Follow the steps below to wash your Squishmallow in the washer safely.
Step 1: Put the Squishmallow in a pillow case or laundry bag and tie it properly. If you are wondering whether you can throw it directly into the drum, the answer is you shouldn’t! This approach ruins the fluffiness of your toy as gets tossed against the surface your washer’s drum. If you decide to place it directly in the washer, wash it together with similar items. If washing multiple big-sized Squishmallows, consider using a laundromat.
Step 2: Wash your Squishmallow in cool water and regular detergent. Do not wash in hot water as this can ruin the stuffing.
Step 3: Dry in the tumble dryer using the low heat setting. A good tip is do add dryer balls in the drum to maintain the fluffiness of the toy.
Can you Wash a Squishmallow without a Washer?
If you do not have a washer and your Squishmallow requires additional washing after spot cleaning, use a damp cloth to hand wash the toy.
Step 1: Preferably, dampen a white microfiber cloth or towel with a solution of water and detergent. If you use a colored cloth, ensure that it is color-fast.
Step 2: Use it to clean the entire toy section by section. Rinse the cloth in the cleaning solution and wring out excess water. Use it to clean the toy repeatedly until you remove all the dirt.
Step 3: Rinse the cloth in clean water wring out excess water. Use it to rinse out the soapy residue from the toy.
Step 5: Air-dry the toy.
What are Squishmallows?
Squishmallows are plush and soft stuffed animal toys. They come in multiple varieties ranging from sea animals to pets and animals that represent food stuffs among others.
Squishmallows are made of polyester fabric and filling is also made from polyester. This makes them non-toxic, even for playing with kids.
The toys come in a wide range of sizes starting from 3.5 to 24 inches.
How to Fluff Squishmallows
If your Squishmallow is growing old and losing its shape, hug and fluff it with your hands. Alternatively, throw it in the dryer with the no heat settings and air fluff it. Both of these methods should give you decent results.
As a last resort, you can open one of the seams of your toy and remove the stuffing. Fluff the fibers with your hands, place them back in the outer fabric and sew it properly. This is known as a Squishmallow surgery.
If the older filling only seems to fluff up a tiny bit even after all the effort, replace it with new filling for your squishy buddy to feel new again.
Generally, opening and restuffing a Squishmallow or anything of its kind should not be hard. Inspect the seems thoroughly to identify the hand-stitched section on one of the edges. Cut and pull the thread carefully to make an opening then hand stitch nicely once you are done.
How to Care for Squishmallows
- Avoid washing Squishmallows regularly. Instead, spot clean the areas that get dirty.
- Spot clean with color-fast cloths.
- Cut-off any hanging threads on your Squishmallows to protect them from opening along the seams.
- Hug and fluff Squishmallows regularly or after washing.
- Replace stuffing after it completely loses the fluff instead of throwing away the toy.
