We always suggest giving our Whale Teddy nothing more than a light and gentle surface clean. Simply wipe away the stain with a wet cloth and then leave to dry. More stubborn stains can be treated with a natural stain remover like baking soda. If you insist on machine washing the Whale Teddy, put it inside a pillowcase, to provide extra protection, and then wash at the lowest temperature setting and gentlest spin setting available.