How to clean a plush musical toy?

Question

My daughter has this toy that she can NOT sleep without. It's been about 4 months since she started sleeping with it and it is starting to stink.

But, I am not sure if I can put it in the washer and dryer or if I should clean it another way. Any help?

Something similar to this is what I am talking about: http://cgi.ebay.com/BUNNY-RABBIT-PINK-MUSICAL-PULL-STRING-SOFT-DREAMS-3-6-9_W0QQitemZ300173760989QQcmdZViewItem

Answer 1

I had the exact same problem when my daughter was younger. She had a clown one that you pulled and it played music.  Here is the trick.  You can wash them in the washing machine.  Hang to dry. Whatever you do, DO NOT pull it until it is completely dry.  I would wait like 3 days maybe.  I learned the hard way.  The first one she had I pulled before it was dry and when I did that it let all the water get into the music box and it didnt work anymore.  So I went and bought her a new one, as she too didnt sleep well without it.  My aunt actually told me how to wash them cause she has 3 kids that had many of these pull toys.  

I washed the 2nd one, dozens of times, letting it dry for 3-4 days (if it is warm and sunny out, hang it outside, they dry in half the time) and it still works.  

If you dont want to take the risk of washing it, I would just maybe wipe it with a wet wash cloth and spray it with some febreeze or oust.  

Answer 2

I'm not sure if you could actually wash it in the washing machine.  You could probably get a wash cloth and wet it and kinda wash over it , let it dry and brush it to fluff it up.  Then spray with febreeze.

Answer 3

I would put it in the washing machine on a gentle cycle (on the setting used for knits); then dry it in the dryer on 'tumble dry' with no heat.

Answer 4

This might sound odd but give it a try, Put some salt (reg. salt) in a paper bag, put the toy in with it and shake it around for a few min. salt actually helps with dirt on fabrics such as plush toys and also atrificial flowers. After shake the extra salt off of toy and maybe spray with some fabreeze

Answer 5

I would hand wash it to be safer then sorry. You don't want to damage your daughters toy. So If it was me I would hand wash it. So i didn't ruin it.

Hope this helps

Answer 6

I've always heard (with toys like that) to just put some mild, preferably non-toxic, soap on a cloth, rub it on the toy and then rinse the cloth with soap off until it's just water and rub the soap off.

I usually just clean it with warm water and skip the soap part, but to be cleaner I'm guessing that's what you would do.

Also, I wouldn't spray any toys with febreze, just do to the fact that your baby will probably be sticking it in her mouth and I'm sure she won't like the taste of febreze residue