Quick answer

Clean your Doomlings plushie by hand-washing it in cool water with a small amount of mild detergent, gently squeezing the memory foam filling rather than wringing it, and air-drying it fully before the next cuddle. Spot-clean small marks first, and brush the velvet exterior once dry to restore softness. Skip the dryer and harsh chemicals, which flatten the stretchable velvet and break down the foam.

Why the velvet exterior and memory foam change your cleaning approach

The 10-inch Doomlings plushies are built with a stretchable velvet exterior over super-soft memory foam, and that combination reacts differently to water and heat than a standard cotton stuffed toy. Velvet fibers crush and mat when they are scrubbed or tumble-dried, while memory foam loses its bounce when it is soaked for too long or exposed to high heat. That is why the routine below favors short, cool, gentle washing over a long soak or a machine cycle.

What you need before you start

Gather a mild liquid detergent, two clean towels, a soft-bristled brush or a clean toothbrush, and a basin or sink of cool water. Avoid bleach, fabric softener, and enzyme-heavy stain sprays, since these can dull the velvet pile or leave residue in the foam. If your plushie has a hang tag or a small accessory attached, remove or protect it before the plushie gets wet.

How often should you actually wash it?

A Doomlings plushie that lives on a shelf or travels in a bag usually needs a full wash only every few months. Spot-clean visible marks as they happen, and give the plushie a full hand-wash when it starts to look dull, feels stiff, or has been handled by many people. Over-washing is the most common way people shorten a plushie's softness, so treat a full wash as occasional maintenance rather than a weekly habit.

Step-by-step Doomlings plushie cleaning routine

  1. 1. Check the plushie and spot-clean small marks first: Look over the velvet exterior for loose dirt, crumbs, or small stains. Dab a tiny amount of mild detergent onto a damp cloth and press it into the mark, working from the outside of the stain toward the center so it does not spread. Checkpoint: if the mark lifts with a light press, you may not need a full wash at all.
  2. 2. Fill a basin with cool water and a small amount of mild detergent: Use cool, not warm, water and only a few drops of detergent. Swirl the water so the detergent is evenly mixed before the plushie goes in. Hot water and too much soap are the two fastest ways to dull the velvet and leave residue in the memory foam. Checkpoint: the water should feel cool to the touch and look only slightly soapy.
  3. 3. Submerge the plushie and squeeze gently, never wring: Place the plushie in the water and press it softly with both hands so the soapy water moves through the filling. Keep the wash short, around two to three minutes. Wringing or twisting stretches the velvet and can tear the foam, so squeeze instead of twist. Checkpoint: stop as soon as the surface looks clean rather than soaking it longer.
  4. 4. Rinse in cool water until no suds remain: Drain the basin and refill it with clean cool water, then press the plushie gently to push soapy water out. Repeat with fresh water until the water stays clear and no bubbles appear when you squeeze. Checkpoint: leftover detergent is the main cause of a stiff, crunchy plushie after drying.
  5. 5. Press out water with a towel instead of wringing: Lay the plushie on a clean towel, fold the towel over it, and press down with your palms to absorb excess water. You can also roll the towel gently. Do not twist the plushie or hang it by one limb, which can distort the shape while it is heavy with water. Checkpoint: the plushie should feel damp, not dripping, before you move on.
  6. 6. Air-dry away from direct heat and sunlight: Set the plushie on a dry towel or a drying rack in a well-ventilated spot and let it air-dry completely. Turn it over once or twice so both sides dry evenly. Keep it away from radiators, hair dryers, and direct sun, all of which can harden the foam and fade the velvet. Checkpoint: drying can take several hours, so plan the wash for a day when you do not need the plushie right away.
  7. 7. Brush the velvet and fluff the filling once dry: When the plushie is fully dry, use a soft-bristled brush or clean toothbrush to gently lift the velvet pile in one direction. Then squeeze and knead the plushie with your hands to redistribute the memory foam and bring back its soft, squeezable shape. Checkpoint: if the plushie still feels cool or damp in the center, let it dry longer before brushing.

Doomlings plushies in the store

  • Lucky Plushie: Lucky Plushie is a 10-inch Doomlings plushie with a stretchable velvet exterior and super-soft memory foam filling. The velvet and memory foam construction is why this plushie should be hand-washed in cool water and air-dried instead of machine-washed or tumble-dried.
  • Eugene Plushie: Eugene Plushie is a 10-inch Doomlings plushie with the same velvet exterior and memory foam filling. Because the materials match, the same washing and drying steps apply to Eugene as to Lucky, so you can clean both in one session.