The wool used on our animals and slippers is felted by hand and is not synthetic. They can become fuzzy or pilled over time. To remove pill or lint, carefully "shear" with scissors, a lint roller or a shaver, such as this one. Felt is water-resistant, but we do not recommend immersing these items in water. Rather, spot clean them with soap and water. Our felted animals are meant to be loved by big or little kids, but as they are made by hand, they will not withstand excessive pulling or stretching. We do not recommend our felted woolies as dog toys, although your furry friends will be very tempted to make them their own.