Care guide
Loved hard. Kept soft.
Toys that get hugged every night need a little care. Choose a material to see exactly how to clean it, dry it and keep it looking new.
- Clean
- Spot-clean with a damp cloth and mild soap. Items marked machine-washable go in a mesh bag on a cold, gentle cycle.
- Dry
- Air-dry flat, then fluff the fur with a soft brush. Never tumble-dry plush with glued details.
- Avoid
- Bleach, fabric softener, hot water and radiators — they flatten fur and weaken seams.
- How often
- Spot-clean monthly; deep clean every 3–6 months for daily cuddlers.
Deep clean
The six-step plush bath
For plush marked machine-washable or hand-washable on the sewn-in label.
- 01
Check the label
Look for the wash symbol. No label or glued parts? Spot-clean only.
- 02
Remove accessories
Take off ribbons, clothes, clips and any battery or sound units.
- 03
Bag it
Place the plush in a mesh laundry bag or pillowcase tied at the top.
- 04
Wash cold & gentle
Cold water, gentle cycle, a small amount of mild detergent. No softener.
- 05
Squeeze, don't wring
Press water out with a towel. Wringing breaks the stuffing into lumps.
- 06
Air-dry & fluff
Dry flat in the shade, turning every few hours, then brush the fur up.
Quick rules
Do this, not that
Do
- Brush plush fur in one direction with a soft baby brush
- Rotate display pieces away from windows every season
- Keep original boxes flat and dry for resale or storage
- Store plush in breathable cotton bags, not plastic
- Wash hands before handling limited editions
Don't
- Use a hair dryer or radiator to dry plush
- Stack heavy items on top of plush in storage
- Put vinyl figures in the dishwasher (yes, really)
- Use tape or glue on seams — ask the Plush Hospital
- Leave toys in hot cars; heat warps vinyl and melts glue
Label decoder
What the care symbols mean
- 30°
Machine wash, cold
Gentle cycle at 30 °C or below.
- HAND
Hand-wash only
Lukewarm water, gentle squeeze.
- SPOT
Surface clean
Damp cloth only; do not submerge.
- FLAT
Dry flat
Lay flat in the shade to dry.
- NO TD
Do not tumble-dry
Heat damages fur and glued parts.
- 3+
Age grade
Contains small parts under 3 years.
Storage & display
Where toys are happiest
A cool, dry, shaded room is ideal. Keep humidity between 40 and 55% to protect fabrics from mildew and stop vinyl going sticky. For long-term storage, wrap plush in acid-free tissue and pack them loosely — they need to breathe.
- 40–55% humidity
- Out of direct sun
- Loose, breathable packing
Plush Hospital
Seams split? We'll stitch them.
Our in-house repair team fixes split seams, loose eyes, flattened stuffing and worn fur on any plush — even ones you didn't buy from us.
| Treatment | Turnaround | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Seam repair | 5–7 days | from $12 |
| Re-stuffing & fluff | 7–10 days | from $18 |
| Eye or nose re-attachment | 5–7 days | from $15 |
| Full restoration | 3–4 weeks | Quoted after inspection |
Safety first
Age grades and safety checks
Every product page lists its age grade and the safety standard it has been tested against. Toys for babies use embroidered features instead of plastic eyes, and all stuffing is new, clean polyester fibre. If a toy is damaged — a loose eye, a split seam or exposed stuffing — take it out of play until it is repaired.
- Embroidered faces on all 0+ plush
- Small-part warnings on every blind box
- New, clean polyester fibre filling
Can I wash a plush with a squeaker or sound box?
Remove the unit first if there's an opening. If it's sewn in, spot-clean only.
My plush fur looks matted. Can it be saved?
Usually! Brush gently while slightly damp. For heavy matting, the Plush Hospital offers a fur refresh.
How do I remove dust from flocked figures?
Use a clean, dry makeup brush or a can of compressed air at a distance. Never wipe flocking with water.