Yes, you can wash Jellycats, but how you do it depends on the care label and how precious the plush is to you.

Quick Scoop: Can You Wash Jellycats?

Most Jellycats are designed for surface or gentle washing only, and the official guidance is to follow the sew‑in care label first.

From around 2025, many new Jellycats use labels that say something like “30 degree Celsius wash only; do not tumble dry, dry clean or iron,” but older ones may still say “surface wash only.”

Think of it this way:

  • If it’s a rare/collectible Jellycat or very old plush → treat it gently and avoid full soaking.
  • If the label clearly allows a cool machine wash → you have more flexibility, but still need to protect it.

Safest Option: Surface Wash Only

Surface washing is the lowest‑risk method and is often the recommended default for Jellycats.

How to surface wash a Jellycat:

  1. Mix a little mild detergent with lukewarm or cool water in a bowl.
  1. Dip a soft cloth or sponge in the solution, wring it out so it’s damp, not dripping.
  1. Gently dab and wipe the dirty areas, avoiding harsh scrubbing.
  1. Use a second cloth dipped in clean water to wipe off any soap residue.
  1. Pat with a towel to remove extra moisture, then let it air dry completely.

Many boutique guides emphasize avoiding full submersion and avoiding tumble dryers to protect the fur and stuffing.

Hand Washing: For Really Grubby Jellycats

If the care label (or the retailer’s advice) allows more than surface cleaning, a gentle hand wash is the next step.

Gentle hand‑wash method:

  1. Fill a sink or basin with cool or lukewarm water and add a small amount of mild, non‑toxic detergent.
  1. Submerge the Jellycat and gently squeeze/massage the soapy water through the fur, focusing on stained spots. Avoid twisting or wringing.
  1. Rinse thoroughly with cool, clean water until no soap remains.
  1. Gently press out excess water with your hands, then press it in a towel to soak up more. Don’t twist or ring it out.
  1. Reshape the toy and lay it flat on a clean towel to air dry in a warm, ventilated place, away from direct heat or strong sun.

Some care guides suggest using a hairdryer on low and at a distance to help fluff up the fur once it is mostly dry, but this should be done carefully to avoid heat damage.

Machine Washing: When (and When Not) To

This is the big forum debate: can you put Jellycats in the washing machine?

What the careful guides generally say:

  • Always check the sew‑in label first; that’s your ultimate rule.
  • If the label allows a 30 °C or cool machine wash, use a gentle cycle and mild detergent only.
  • Many retailers and care articles still recommend not machine washing most Jellycats, or doing so at your own risk, because it can affect fur texture, stuffing and internal structure.

If you do machine wash despite the risk:

  • Put the Jellycat in a pillowcase or mesh laundry bag to protect it.
  • Use a delicate or wool cycle, cold or 30 °C, with a small amount of gentle detergent.
  • Never use a tumble dryer; always air dry.

Some Jellycat “soothers” and comforters are specifically labeled as suitable for cool machine wash, which makes life easier for parents of babies.

Drying and Fluffing Tips

Drying is as important as washing for keeping a Jellycat soft and non‑musty.

  • Air dry only: lay the toy flat on a clean towel and turn it occasionally so it dries evenly.
  • Avoid radiators, direct sunlight and tumble dryers, which can harden or warp the filling and damage the fur.
  • Once dry, you can gently brush the fur with a soft clothes brush or even your fingers to bring back some fluffiness.
  • Some guides recommend a hairdryer on low/cool from a distance to re‑fluff, but never blast it with high heat.

Imagine a much‑loved Bashful Bunny going from “stringy and damp” to “fluffy again” after a careful towel press, overnight dry, and a light brush—that’s the goal.

Forum Vibes & “Real‑Life” Experiences

Parenting sites and Jellycat fan forums often show two camps: cautious label‑followers and “I’ve washed ours on a gentle cycle and it was fine” veterans.

Common themes from those discussions include:

  • People with very sentimental/rare Jellycats tend to stay with surface or hand washing only.
  • Some report success with machine washing in a pillowcase on a delicate cycle, but they usually add “do this at your own risk.”
  • For newborns’ comforters, many parents prioritize hygiene and follow the cool‑wash‑only labels more regularly.

So in 2026, the “trending” advice is: you can wash Jellycats, but be as gentle as possible, check that label, and treat machine washing as a carefully controlled exception, not the default.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.