Cleaning a stuffed animal?

Question

I have a plush doll of Molly from the Big Comfy Couch. She's very old and in need of cleaning.

My mom suggested putting her in a pillow case and washing her in the washing machine. I'm afraid she won't hold up.

She has yarn hair and plastic bead eyes. Her clothes are removable, but her socks and pleather shoes are not.

Her "skin" is quite dingy, and her clothes have stains that wouldn't come out, despite previous washings.

Is it safe to wash her in the washing machine? Would a dry cleaner be able to clean her safely? Is there any sort of surface cleaning that I could do to clean her "skin"? And what can I do to get the stains out of her clothes?

Answer 1

~~I never washed stuffed animals in the washer. I take a mild soap like (Dove) and water just like you were going to bathe yourself. Go all over her and then with a dampened wet cloth rinse well. You can blow dry to keep it soft and fluffy. It makes them come out nice and clean, and the smell really good again!~~