If you have kids in your life, you likely know what a Squishmallow is: a big, fluffy, cartoonish, animal-like puff of pillow. They’re extra cuddly because they’re so plush — and Squishmallows are ridiculously popular right now. And because most well-loved items tend to get dirty, I reached out to an expert for their advice on keeping Squishmallows clean and snuggle-friendly.

Here’s what Aaron Christensen, a cleaning expert and VP of growth at Homeaglow, had to say about his process on how to spot-clean and wash Squishmallows.

Spot cleaning is the way to go for little stains, so repeat the same process you use on every other fabric.

For larger messes on your Squishmallow, or if you just want to keep it fresh overall, give it a round through the washing machine. “I like to put the Squishmallow in the machine wash every now and again because you never know what germs it’s picking up,” Christensen says. “And if someone is cuddling it close to their face, you want things to stay sanitary.”