Cleaning large soft toys

[Ponyclubmum]

I have a few soft toys in the attic that I'd like to give to DS, but they've been up there for years and are dusty and smelly.

I'm sure they're all meant to be surface washed with a damp sponge, but I just can't be arsed with that and I want to get them REALLY clean after years of living in the attic. Can I put them in the washing machine? Maybe on the hand wash setting? A couple of them are life size dogs, with long shaggy hair - could they damage the machine at all?

Anyone?!

Washing machine

Washing machine, possibly in a pillow case if they will fit,

You could take them to a laundrette if worried about your own machine. Their machines are bigger, too.

Thanks. Yes they should fit in a pillow case, that's a good idea. :)

I'd be worried about knackering up a laundrette machine though...

Also if you have room, put them in a plastic bag in the freezer for 24 hours to kill any dust mites.

Ok, agree with the pillowcase idea. I've always done toys in my own machine, never had a problem. Stick in a colour catcher, maybe?

Really StuntNun? I wish I could, but only have small drawers in the freezer and it's full to bursting.
I think I'll do them in my machine, in pillow cases, with a colour catcher. Then they'll probably have to go out on the washing line for a few weeks to get dry (not bloody likely in this weather)!

Thanks for the help. :)

Use a handwash/ woollens/ delicate cycle but don't spin. Then of you have an airing cupboard, pop in there overnight.

Ooh good tip SleepyFergus my DS2's Winnie the Pooh Piglets are machine-washable but they take ages to dry.

I washed the surface wash only giant crocodile from nursery (take on holiday teddy - it's bloody huge ) because it was disgustingly grey, stank and was sticky. Washed in the handwash cycle with wool/silk detergent & a towel to stop it bashing around too much, dried sat on top of radiator in the sun. It was fine and looked like a new croc - funnily enough his holiday story was about having a bath