Sprite Washing Test

I recently had a customer ask me if my Pocket Sprites are washable. I was embarrassed to have to write back and say "I don't know"! Usually I just tell folks that spot cleaning is okay, but throw in the washer at your own risk. Pocket Sprites make a sweet baby gift, so of course folks want to know if they are washable. Silly me, I'd never thought to just wash a few myself and see what happens!
So I did a little test. I chose these two Sprites. The brown fox is made of an angora/wool blend and the fuzzy cream bear is made of polyester "sherpa" polar fleece. Both are stuffed with polyester fiberfill and have hand-embroidered faces.

This shot is pre-washing, the way they look "brand new".

This is how they looked after a trip through the washing machine.

I washed them in a top-loader washing machine with regular eco-friendly detergent, on cold water and gentle cycle,along with a small load of mixed clothing. Aside from collecting a little lint, they don't look much different! The fox's face is a tad bit fuzzier than "brand new".
I air-dried them, which took a few days. If I washed them in the summer, I'd put 'em out in the sun for a day or two, which I think would dry them nicely.
Now I can say with confidence that my Pocket Sprites are indeed machine washable, cold water, gentle, and NO DRYER. Yay!