How to wash stuffed animals safely

My daughter loved her teddy bear, and has slept with him every night since birth actually. That teddy bear has seen it all, it has been covered with any kind of food you can think of, drinks, vomit, etc.

When I washed the teddy the first time, I simply threw it in the washer, then the dryer. That was not a good idea as the teddy lost some fur and smellt funny after.

Then a friend of mine told me how to safely wash a stuffed animal.

Put the stuffed animal in a pillow case.

Close the pillow case with a rubber band or anything else you can think of.

Put it in the washing machine and wash like always.

Then put it in the dryer, still leave it in the pillow case.

It did come out looking like new.

I have washed that teddy so many times now, it still looks great.