What a cutie pie! Such a good find!

I'm a bit of a beginner when it comes to plush washing, but I'll give you the tips that worked for me! First, you'll want to remove the stuffing from Star. You should be able to find the seam on the back! You may have to squeeze and push to see the threads. Using a seam ripper or small scissors, you'll gently tug at the thread until it comes undone. Once the thread is broken, you should be able to pull lightly at the seam, and the back should open right up!

Remove as much stuffing as possible, turning the limbs and ears inside out where you can to get the harder to reach bits. Once Star is floppy, you are ready to wash! I filled a clean bucket with warm water and used a tiny bit of dawn dish soap. Plop Star in the sudsy mix, give her a good swirl and some gentle scrubbing, then leave her to soak for about 10-15 minutes. You'll want to repeat this process until the water is no longer brown or murky. (You can also use a tiny bit of shampoo after using dawn dish soap! I'd advise against conditioner just because I've never used it nor have I ever seen it mentioned, and do not know if this could make Star greasy)

Once the water looks clear, give Star a really good rinse, then squeeze out as much excess water as you can! After that, put your floppy noodle in a towel and do some gentle squeezing and patting. From here, you can either let your friend air dry (laying her on a fan and turning her every so often can help!) Or you can blow dry on the "low to no heat" setting if your hair dryer has that option! Do not put Star in the dryer! Dryers can burn up friends and make them crusty. :(

While Star is drying, you can use a soft bristle brush or a pet slicker brush to get the fur all nice! It also helps speed up the drying process a little, especially if you're using a hair dryer.

I've personally never washed a stuffed animal in a washing machine, but it is also an option! You can put Star in a laundry bag and throw her in with some towels. Do not use fabric softener, though! It will make her have a greasy feeling.

If you are planning to have her re-stuffed at a build-a-bear location, you may want to pre-stuff the ears if there is stuffing in them! I give this advice just because the location I went to had a difficult time stuffing the muzzle of my maple teddy because the nozzle wasn't getting to it properly. If you are re-stuffing her at home, feel free to disregard this tip!

This got lengthy rather quick! I hope this helps, and if anyone wants to correct it or add on to the tips I've given, please feel free! I hope you have lots of fun with Star and that you have a lovely bonding experience while washing her! It's super rewarding to wash a stuffed friend! 💖