How to Clean Squishy Toys (and Make Them Last Longer)

How to clean squishy toys? The short answer is simple: wipe them with a mild cleanser and lukewarm water, rinse them clean, and let them air-dry out of direct sunlight. That gentle routine is enough for most squishies, and it is much safer for the toy than soaking, scrubbing, heating, or freezing it. This guide walks through the steps, explains what to avoid, and covers battery and light-up squishies, which should never be soaked in water.

Before you start, remember what a squishy is: a soft squeeze toy, made to be pressed and released again and again. It is not a bath toy, and it is not made to be boiled, microwaved, or frozen. Cleaning should be gentle enough to leave the toy exactly as it was — soft, springy, and whole.

What You Need

You do not need special products to clean a squishy — the simpler the supplies, the better the result. Gather these before you start: a mild, unfragranced liquid cleanser; lukewarm water, warm enough to feel comfortable on your hands, not hot; a soft cloth or sponge that will not scratch the surface; clean water for rinsing; and a clean towel for patting the squishy dry. Avoid harsh cleaners, bleach, strong solvents, scouring pads, and stiff brushes.

Step by Step: Cleaning a Squishy

Cleaning a squishy takes only a few minutes, and it is worth doing regularly — especially if the toy is played with every day or shared between children. First, check the toy: is it torn or split, and does it have a battery compartment, a light, or a charging port? If the toy is damaged, cleaning will not fix it — throw it out. If it is a battery or light-up toy, do not soak it; wipe it only, as described below.

Next, dampen your cloth in lukewarm water, add a small amount of mild cleanser, and wipe the whole surface of the squishy, working gently in small circles. You do not need to press hard. Then rinse in clean lukewarm water, or wipe again with a cloth dampened in clean water, until no cleanser is left on the surface. Cleanser left on a toy can irritate skin, so rinse properly — if you can still feel a soapy film, rinse again.

Then gently pat the squishy with a clean towel. Do not wring, twist, or squeeze it hard to force water out — wringing can tear the toy or damage its shape. Finally, set it somewhere clean and dry, out of direct sunlight, and let it air-dry fully before it goes back into play. Direct sunlight can fade colours and damage the surface, so a shaded spot indoors is best, and make sure the toy is completely dry before you put it away.

Cleaning a Big Squishy

A larger squishy needs the same routine, just a little more time: more surface to wipe and more water to dry — but the method does not change.

A good example is the big cat paw squishy, a 15 cm jumbo paw made to be squeezed with two hands. A toy that size picks up dirt from hands, floors, and bags just like a small one, and it benefits from the same gentle wipe with a mild cleanser and lukewarm water. Wipe the whole paw, including the spaces between the toes, where dirt can collect. Rinse it well, pat it dry, and let it air-dry out of direct sunlight. With a big squishy, drying matters more — give it plenty of time, turn it over once so both sides get air, and do not speed things up with heat, which can damage the surface.

Battery and Light-Up Squishies: Do Not Soak Them

Some squishies have batteries or lights inside them, and these need extra care, because water and electronics do not mix. A battery or light-up squishy should never be soaked in water, and it should never be held under a running tap.

To clean one, wipe the outside only. Dampen a cloth in lukewarm water with a small amount of mild cleanser, wring it out well so it is damp rather than wet, and wipe the surface gently. Then wipe again with a cloth dampened in clean water, to remove any cleanser. Pat dry and let it air-dry out of direct sunlight. Keep water away from any battery compartment, charging port, button, or light. If a battery squishy has already been soaked, do not switch it on until it is completely dry — and if it does not work properly afterwards, throw it out. When in doubt, wipe rather than rinse: a damp cloth cleans well enough, and a soaking only adds risk.

What Never to Do to a Squishy

• Do not microwave a squishy. A microwave heats unevenly and can melt or warp the toy, and it can create hot spots that burn hands.
• Do not heat a squishy. Do not use a hairdryer, a radiator, an oven, or boiling water to clean or dry a squishy. Heat can damage the surface and change the shape.
• Do not freeze a squishy. Freezing can make the material stiff and brittle, and a frozen squishy can crack when squeezed.
• Do not soak a battery or light-up squishy. Water can damage the electronics. Wipe these toys only, with a well-wrung cloth.
• Do not use harsh cleaners. Bleach, strong solvents, and abrasive cleaners can damage the surface and leave residues that irritate skin. Stick to a mild cleanser.
• Do not machine-wash a squishy. A washing machine will batter a soft toy, and the heat and spinning can tear it apart. Clean squishies by hand, one at a time.

If a squishy is so dirty that gentle cleaning will not fix it, or if it is torn, split, or falling apart, the right answer is to throw it out and replace it. A squishy is an inexpensive toy — single squishies at Squishopia are $6, and 3 for $15 — and a new one is a better choice than a damaged one that has been through a harsh cleaning method. Check squishies regularly for tears, choose solid fill, and remember a squishy is a toy, not food.

Shop Squishies at Squishopia

How to clean squishy toys? Wipe them gently with a mild cleanser and lukewarm water, rinse thoroughly, pat dry, and let them air-dry out of direct sunlight. Do not soak a battery or light-up squishy, and never microwave, heat, or freeze a squishy. Gentle cleaning keeps the toy soft, clean, and safe to squeeze — and when a squishy is too worn to clean, replacing it is the right call.

If you are looking for solid-fill squishies in Canada, you can browse our squishy collection — every product is an unbranded white-label squishy with solid filling and no water beads. Single squishies are $6 and 3 for $15. We offer local pickup in Windsor, Ontario, plus shipping across Canada, with free shipping on orders over $49. Visit the Squishopia shop to see the full range.