How to clean and care for your squishies (foam, gel, maltose)

A well-kept squishy can see you through years of small breaks. But every material has its own rules: what saves a gel can ruin a foam. Here is the complete manual, material by material.

Golden rule number one: identify the material

Before cleaning anything, work out what you have: PU foam (light, compresses fully, slow return), TPR gel / jelly (dense, slightly tacky, instant return), or maltose (stretchy, like a paste). If in doubt, see our texture comparison.

Cleaning a PU foam squishy (slow rise)

⚠️ Never apply water directly: open-cell foam absorbs water like a sponge, takes days to dry and can go mouldy from the inside.

• Dust and crumbs: tap it gently or use a soft brush, a make-up brush works well.
• Light mark: a barely damp microfibre cloth, dabbing rather than rubbing hard.
• Greasy mark: a touch of mild soap on the damp cloth, then "rinse" with a second clean damp cloth. Air dry, away from radiators.

Prevention: clean dry hands, no prolonged sun exposure (foam yellows naturally under UV), and press with the pads of your fingers, never with your nails.

Cleaning a gel squishy (TPR, jelly)

Good news: gel is the easiest to look after, and the result is almost magic.

• Sticky and picking up everything? That is normal: gel gathers dust and lint. Hold it under cold water for 30 seconds, rubbing gently with your fingers.
• Drying: in the open air on a clean surface. Once dry, it recovers its original silky, faintly tacky feel.
• Avoid: hot water, which can warp the gel, harsh soaps, and above all sharp objects — a cut in a gel cannot be repaired.

This method applies to the transparent mochi, the cat paw jelly and the gummy bear.

Cleaning a maltose squishy

Maltose is the most delicate, because its surface is meant to stay soft and slightly tacky.

• Always handle with clean hands — that is 90% of the maintenance.
• Ingrained dust: a quick rinse in cold water, then dry immediately with a soft cloth.
• Storage: in its box or a dedicated pouch, away from heat (maltose softens in the sun) and separate from other squishies.

The five mistakes that kill a squishy

1. Putting it in the washing machine or dishwasher (yes, we have been asked 😅).
2. Leaving it on a windowsill in high summer.
3. Lending it to the dog — no material survives teeth, and a squishy is not a pet toy.
4. Piercing it "to see what is inside".
5. Putting it away wet in a closed box.

When should you replace a squishy?

Foam that no longer swells back, a cut gel or maltose that tears: it has had a good life. A fine excuse to try new textures in Our Favourites, or to go for a pack to share.

Unsure how to care for a particular model? Write to us via the contact page and we will get back to you quickly.