How to wash a handmade crochet toy without ruining it

Handmade amigurumi are more washable than you think — you just cannot treat them like a bath towel. Here's the routine we recommend for every plush that leaves our studio.

Cotton amigurumi

Fill a bowl with lukewarm water (30 °C / 86 °F max) and a drop of gentle wool wash or baby shampoo. Submerge, squeeze — never wring — and let it soak for five minutes. Rinse in clean cool water.

The drying trick

Roll the toy in a clean dry towel and press to absorb water. Never wring — it will distort the stuffing forever. Then reshape by hand and lay flat on a fresh towel out of direct sunlight. Air-dry only. Twenty-four hours, tops.

What not to do

No washing machine. No tumble dryer. No radiator. No hairdryer. Amigurumi are patient creatures — let them dry on their own schedule.