Your plushie is bound to get dirty.

Whether you bring them everywhere and give them big squeezes several times a day or they tend to stay in one place, natural wear and tear will occur.

Dust builds up. Drinks spill. Hands get sticky. Stuffies get dropped.

Tears, bald spots, and dirt are all signs of a well-loved stuffed animal, but another sign is how you clean up those scuffs. There are do's and don'ts to keeping your stuffie looking, smelling, and feeling like new. Depending on the care instructions that come with your little friend, certain soaps and tools will work better on their material. Also, maintaining some day-to-day care can prolong their life without having to do any radical maintenance. 

DO Read the Plushie's Care Instructions

Step one when cleaning up the dirt and grime on your stuffed animal is to read their care instructions, often found on a tag on their backside. This tag will provide a roadmap of the best way to care for your plushie.

Different symbols will let you know if putting your friend in the washing machine is safe or if they need a gentler, hand-wash approach. If they are washing machine-safe, the symbols should also tell you the recommended water temperature and cycle type.

Beyond the washing machine, you'll also need to know if you can put your plushie in the dryer or if they should be air-dried. If the symbols aren't there, hopefully there are some written instructions, and failing to find that, it's a good idea to avoid using heavy machinery when washing your stuffie. 

The tag should also tell you what material your plushie is made of. This can help you determine what tools to use, such as different kinds of brushes, soaps, and other cleaners. The more you know about your stuffie, the better you can care for them!

DON'T Just Wash Your Plushie When It's Visibly Dirty

Depending on how you show love to your plush, they might not have any visible stains or dirt to wash away. But even if you just leave your buddy out on display, dust will build up in the fur, and they'll lose their fluffy shine and get matted down.

Consistent care of both your house and your stuffie can help prevent the need to do anything drastic to breathe new life into them. Something as simple as the occasional shake and fluff can eliminate a layer of dust. It's best to do this outside if it's been a while. A lint roller can also trap the dust that's settled into your plushie rather than putting it back into the air.

If your squishy friend still needs extra love after that, grab the right brush for your plushie's material (microfiber for cotton, nylon for fur, wire for really matted fur), and patiently run the brush through the fur, like getting tangles and knots out of a child's hair.

Reinforce weak-looking seams with a needle and thread before the seam breaks and you're dealing with loose thread easily pulled at by children or cats. Minor repairs and cleaning can prevent more extensive cleanups in the future.

DO Use More than Your Washing Machine

Even if your buddy is safe in the washing machine, not all grime and dirt require heavy-duty machinery.

If a stain is small or on a less visible part of your stuffed animal, hand washing can help preserve your stuffie's quality. You can also use a less visible part of your pal to test how their material will react to your chosen soap. Even if you completely submerge your plushie in the bathtub, a hand wash won't be as abrasive on the plushie, and spending less time in the water means a quicker dry time and less chance of water really soaking into the material.

It's also possible to dry your friend without using the dryer. Leaving your stuffie out to air-dry or using a hairdryer (set to cool) or fan is kinder on their seams than tumbling around in a machine.

If you usually use fragrance sheets in your laundry, baking soda can help neutralize strong odors, and then you can shake off the excess like dust or use a hand vacuum on a low setting. The more you can do without relying on big tools, the better your chances of maintaining your plushie's longevity.

DON'T Use The Laundry Detergent You Use Everyday

The detergent and soap made for skin, clothes, and dishes are meant to break through heavier grime—sweat, food, rain—than what your stuffie likely has covering them. The chemicals used in these everyday cleaners are far too abrasive for your buddy's soft insides.

Either find a mild soap, soaps with natural ingredients and no fragrance, or water down your hand soap to cut through some of the soap's harsher components. If you use bar soap, work the bar into a lather before rubbing it into your plushie. Dip a cotton swab or microfiber cloth into your soapy water to minimize the amount of soap you use.

Other important DON'TS when it comes to stuffed animal care include:

• DON'T use hot/warm water.
• DON'T throw your stuffie into the washer/dryer without putting them into a mesh bag or pillowcase.
• DON'T use the hairbrush you use on yourself on your plushie. Have a designated brush just for them.
• DON'T use any cycles on your machines more intense than gentle.

DO Shower Your Plushie With Love 

It's always intimidating to receive something new and not know how rough you can be with it, especially a plushie, which is meant to take on a lot of playtime and love. But with the tips above, it's easy to play with, hug, and squeeze as much as you need without worrying about permanently damaging your soft little buddy.

As rough as you want to be with your stuffie, be gentle when it needs a cleanup. Finding the right tools for the material that makes up your pal is essential, and if you can, avoid using the washer and dryer. Doing so will ensure you a long life with your plushie.