My daughter has a stuffed rabbit named BunBun. BunBun has been through two stomach flus, one spilled smoothie, and roughly four years of being dragged everywhere by the ear. BunBun was gray when we bought him. He is now a shade I would describe as “old oatmeal.”

I threw him in the washing machine once. He came out with one eye missing and his stuffing migrated entirely into his left leg. I had to perform emergency surgery with a needle and thread while my daughter watched with the intensity of a hospital drama viewer. Never again.

Check the Tag Before Anything Else

Some stuffed animals are machine washable. Most are not, regardless of what the tag promises. The tag on BunBun said “surface wash only” — and the one time I ignored it, BunBun almost did not survive. Read the tag and believe the tag.

If the animal is old or handmade, assume surface wash only. The stitching on older toys weakens over time, and a washing machine will tear seams that looked fine in your hand.

The Pillowcase Method for Machine-Washable Ones

If the tag says machine washable, put the toy inside a mesh laundry bag or a tied pillowcase first. Use cold water, the delicate cycle, and the smallest amount of mild detergent. Hot water melts the glue that holds eyes and noses in place — you learn that the hard way when you open the machine and find a plastic eyeball staring up at you from the drum.

Skip the dryer entirely. Heat ruins synthetic fur — it mats and clumps like a wet cat. Squeeze out excess water gently, reshape the toy with your hands, and let it air dry near a fan. If it needs fluffing, a hair dryer on the cool setting works wonders.

Surface Cleaning for Everything Else

Mix a teaspoon of gentle laundry detergent or baby shampoo in a bowl of cool water. Dip a clean white cloth in the soapy water and wring it out until it is damp, not wet. Gently wipe the toy in small circles, working section by section.

Follow immediately with a second cloth dipped in plain water to remove the soap. Then a dry towel to blot up moisture. Damp, not soaked — if water seeps into the stuffing, it dries slowly and can grow mildew inside. Nobody wants BunBun to smell like a basement.

Deodorize Between Washes

Put the stuffed animal in a sealed plastic bag with a tablespoon of baking soda. Shake gently, let it sit overnight, then shake or vacuum off the powder outside. Baking soda pulls out the stale-drool-and-cracker-crumb smell without any liquid. Works on any plush, from teddy bears to throw pillows.

For a fresh scent, add a few drops of lavender oil to the baking soda before sealing the bag. Just enough to smell clean — not enough to announce itself from across the room.