Supplies Required:
- Sink or Bin
- Laundry Detergent without Fabric Softener (fabric softener will ruin minky)
- A toothbrush (for spot cleans or small plush)
OR larger bristle brush (for bigger plush)
- Clean White Towels (to avoid any dye transfer from towel to plush)
Step 1: Prepare Detergent Solution. Fill clean sink or wash bin with warm (not hot) water. Add a very small amount (tablespoon or less) of laundry detergent (with no fabric softener!)
Step 2: Wash. Dip a clean white towel into your now diluted detergent bin/sink. Use this to spot-clean your plush. You can continue to dip the towel in, rinse, and scrub for the entire plush if needed. Be extra gentle near seams and eyes/noses. Avoid scrubbing decorative embroidery whenever possible.
Do NOT put the entire plush in the sink/bin - you want to avoid soaking the minky, and avoid getting the interior of the plush wet.
Step 3: Rinse. Drain your sink/bin and refill with clean warm water. Use a new white towel to rinse all areas cleaned.
Step 4: Dry. Use a new, clean, white towel to dry your plush by pressing on the surface to absorb water, or by rubbing gently. You can use paper towel to further absorb as much of the water as possible.
It is not recommend to put your plush in the dryer, however, if you must do so, use a clean white pillowcase and dry on no heat / lowest heat setting possible. Heat will mess with the fibers of the minky, cause it to set wrong, tangle, or matt. Do not use dryer sheets.
Step 5: Brush. Use your toothbrush (for small plush / small areas) or bristle hair brush (larger plush) to gentle brush the minky. First, brush against the nap - the "wrong" way Most often, if your plush is held vertical, the nap runs towards their toes/the ground. So brushing against the nap would be brushing from the bottom up, towards the head/sky.) Then, brush the minky with the nap to set it in the correct position.
Step 6: Dry. Again. Your plush should be slightly damp/mostly dry at this point. It is best to let the minky set in a warm, dry, sunny spot, now that it's been brushed down into the correct position.
And now you're done! While it is time consuming to wash a plush this way, hand made plush are designed to be cherished and last as long as possible. Following these care instructions will prolong the life of your plush and preserve the softness of the minky.
