Keeping plushies clean in Japan

This time of year often brings about lots of spring cleaning, and one thing that I think can get neglected a little is the plethora of plush toys around the house if you have kiddos -- or even if you enjoy plushies as decor as a grown adult! Because my kids often sleep with their plushies, they're a breeding ground for sweat, skin flakes (eww, but true), and moisture, and if you're not cleaning them regularly it can be unhygienic or trigger allergies.

How you clean plush toys is going to vary a bit depending on the type. Some of them can just be thrown into your washing machine (I usually put them in a delicates bag), but some you need to be careful with. Any that have electronic parts, metal pieces, or decorative items that are glued on are better to spot clean, especially so for ones that are electronic (e.g. younger kids plush toys that make sound/light up) or you'll permanently ruin them.

If your plushies have been purchased here in Japan, they usually have a label on them which indicates washing instructions (like the ones here), which makes life pretty easy -- just follow the directions. 

Since the humidity is already high in a lot of places, ensuring that your plushies dry properly might be even more important than the washing process, or you're going to end up with mildewy/moldy toys that have to be thrown out. I like to leave mine hung up on a clothes rack with the dehumidifier fan function pointed right at them until they're bone dry.