How to Wash Weighted Stuffed Animals?

Weighted stuffed animals are loved by children and adults alike for their calming, therapeutic effect. Like any soft toy that gets hugged, carried, and slept with, they need cleaning from time to time. So how do you wash a weighted stuffed animal without ruining the fabric or the weighted filling inside? Here is the method we recommend at Brease.

Spot Cleaning Is the Best Method

To maintain the appearance and durability of your weighted stuffed animal, wash it as little as possible. For a weighted stuffed animal such as our weighted green dinosaur, spot cleaning with a damp cloth should be your first choice and will handle the vast majority of everyday marks and spills. Mix a small amount of mild detergent with water, dip a soft cloth, and gently dab the affected area. Work from the outside of the stain inwards so it doesn't spread, then wipe with a cloth dampened in clean water to remove any detergent. Avoid scrubbing hard, which can damage the fabric or push dirt deeper into the filling.

Because spot cleaning doesn't soak the weighted filling, it keeps the toy in the best possible shape and is gentle enough to use as often as you need.

Machine Washing — Only When Really Necessary

Note: we still do not recommend washing your weighted stuffed animal in a washing machine, as it may alter its appearance — the fabric can look noticeably different afterwards, the filling may feel a bit firmer and slightly clumpy, and the fur may appear less soft. It will still be clean, hygienic, and comfortable to use — it just may not look exactly as it did before. If machine washing is necessary — for example after an accident like vomit or pee — here's the best way to do it.

Always Use a Wash Bag

Place the weighted stuffed animal inside a fine-mesh zipped laundry bag before putting it in the machine. The wash bag protects the seams, the surface fabric, and the weighted filling from the agitation of the drum — and protects your machine too.

Wash at 60°C

Wash the toy at 60°C. This temperature cleans thoroughly and helps keep the toy hygienic, which matters for something that is cuddled and slept with. Use a detergent made for coloured fabrics to preserve the colours, and skip the bleach, which can damage the material and irritate sensitive skin. If your water is very hard, you can add a little fabric softener to the wash.

No Spinning

Turn the spin cycle off. Spinning puts heavy strain on the seams and can shift or clump the weighted filling, leaving the toy lumpy and uneven. Let the machine wash and rinse, but do not let it spin the toy dry.

Drying: Warm Surface, Never the Tumble Dryer

Never put a weighted stuffed animal in a tumble dryer — the heat can shrink the fabric and damage the filling inside. Instead, gently press — don't wring — excess water out of the toy, reshape it, and dry it quickly on a warm surface, such as a radiator, to avoid damp and odour problems. Because the toy hasn't been spun, it holds a lot of water, so make sure it dries all the way through.

Bring the Fur Back to Life

After washing, the fur can look different and feel less soft — but it can usually be revived. Once the toy is completely dry, brush the fur gently with a stiff brush, for example a nylon brush, to loosen any matted areas. Go carefully so the bristles don't catch the threads around the seams, and the coat can end up looking almost like new.

Massage the Filling

The weighted filling may still feel firmer and more clumpy than before the wash — that's normal. Gently massage the body to loosen the clumps and redistribute the filling as evenly as you can, so the toy delivers its gentle, consistent pressure again.

The Bottom Line

Keeping a weighted stuffed animal clean is simple: spot clean whenever you can, and save the machine for when it's really necessary. When you do machine wash, use a wash bag, wash at 60°C with a colour detergent, turn off the spin cycle, and dry on a warm surface — never in the tumble dryer. Finish with a gentle brush of the fur and a massage of the filling, and your Brease companion will stay fresh, hygienic, and ready to comfort for years to come.