To make a squishy not sticky, wash a rubber one with mild soap, rinse off every trace of the soap and let it air dry completely. That should remove stickiness that comes from dirt, skin oil and leftover soap. If it feels oily, stop using it. If it stays tacky once clean and dry, and it wasn't sold as sticky, stop using it too.
That last part matters. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission tells consumers to stop using a squishy that feels oily or unusually sticky, has a strong chemical odor, is leaking, can be torn apart easily, has an unknown maker or lacks required safety information. This post is common cleaning advice plus what our squishy toys listings say. We haven't tested any of the methods in it.
Is your squishy supposed to be sticky?
Check these three things before you clean it:
- Has it gone bad? If it turned oily or gooey, is leaking, or feels stickier than it did out of the package, stop using it. Don't wash it. The same goes for a toy with no maker's name or a strong chemical smell.
- Is it sold as sticky? If a named maker's listing or package calls it sticky, it is meant to feel that way. Clean it, but don't powder it. No package or listing to check? Treat it as not sold as sticky.
- What is it made of? The steps below are for rubber. Wipe plastic eye-poppers, gel pads and foam with a damp cloth instead of holding them under water. If you don't know, wipe it. Our guide on how to clean squishy toys covers rubber, plastic, foam and gel.
How to make a squishy not sticky in 3 steps
- Wash it. Roll it between your palms under lukewarm water with a drop of mild dish soap.
- Rinse off all the soap. Keep going until it stops feeling slippery. Leftover soap leaves a film of its own.
- Air dry it on a plate, out of direct sun. Flip it halfway through so the underside dries. Skip the towel, because towels can leave fibers on rubber. Judge the feel only once it is completely dry.
If it was only dirty, it should feel better now. If it is still tacky and it wasn't sold as sticky, stop using it.
How to make squishies not sticky without cornstarch or powder
Wash it with mild soap, rinse off all the soap and air dry it completely. That uses no powder, and it is where we would stop. You will see other fixes suggested online:
- Cornstarch: a tip that shows up in short videos. It is meant to coat the surface so the toy feels dry for a while. It doesn't change what is causing the stickiness.
- Baby powder: another coating. Keep powder away from young children's faces.
- Baking soda: a dry powder too, but abrasive. We'd skip it.
- Dry shampoo: we wouldn't spray it on a toy a child handles. It isn't made for that.
Here is why we don't recommend a coating. A clean toy that is still oily or tacky is showing one of the signs on the CPSC's list. Powder would hide that sign without fixing it.
Why is my squishy sticky?
A squishy is usually sticky for one of three reasons:
- It is made that way. Splat balls are the common example.
- It is dirty. Skin oil, sunscreen and snack residue from hands can leave a tacky layer, and dust, pet hair and lint cling to it. Washing should fix this one.
- It is breaking down, or it is a fake. The CPSC says to stop using any toy that is sticky, discolored or beginning to deteriorate. Washing can't be expected to fix this one.
Separately, the CPSC warns that fake squishies may contain too much lead or banned phthalates. That is one more reason to skip a toy with no maker's name.
Why is my squishy sticky after washing?
The likely causes are soap residue, towel lint, or a toy that isn't dry yet. Rinse it again until it stops feeling slippery, then air dry it fully without a towel. If it is sold as sticky, some stickiness after washing is normal. If it is none of these and it still feels oily or tacky, stop using it.
How to clean a sticky squishy ball
Rinse a sticky squishy ball with water and let it air dry. Skip the powder, because powder takes away the sticky feel. These three of ours are sold as sticky:
- The brain squishy splat balls are soft, sticky rubber, three to a pack.
- The baseball squishy splat balls are rubber with a sticky texture, about 2.5 inches across, three to a pack. Their listing says water only: rinse and let them air dry.
- The Colorful Squishy Eggs 6-pack is six 2.5-inch egg balls in a stretchy, rubbery material, sold as sticky.
For real grime, our general advice for rubber is a drop of mild dish soap and a good rinse. That is ours, not a listing instruction. If a ball like these feels less sticky than it did, dust and lint may be the reason.
One CPSC line says "unusually sticky" and another says simply "sticky". Neither mentions toys sold as sticky. Ours are made that way, so this is our reading, not the CPSC's: sticky from day one is normal, and a change is the warning. If you would rather follow the alert to the letter, choose a toy that isn't sticky. See are squishies safe for the full checklist on materials, ages and choking.
How to stop squishies being sticky again
Keep the dirt off. Store squishies in a zip bag or small pouch, away from dust and pet hair, and have kids wash their hands before play. Keep them out of hot cars and direct sun too. The CPSC warns that squishies can get dangerously hot there and may burst.
When to stop using a squishy
Stop using it if it is torn, leaking or crumbling, can be torn apart easily, smells strongly of chemicals, feels oily or gooey, has no maker's name, or stays tacky after a wash when it wasn't sold as sticky. If any squishy leaks or bursts, take it away from the child, avoid touching what came out, and wash hands. If a child still puts toys in their mouth, skip squishies altogether.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you wash a sticky squishy?
Yes, a rubber squishy can be washed with mild soap and water. Rinse off all the soap and let it air dry completely before anyone squeezes it. Plastic, gel and foam squishies are the exceptions: wipe them with a damp cloth instead. Don't wash one that has turned oily or gooey. Stop using it.
What to do with a sticky squishy?
Check first whether a named maker sold it as sticky, because then it is meant to feel that way. If not, wash it, rinse it and air dry it. If it still feels oily or tacky when it is clean and dry, stop using it. The CPSC lists oily or unusually sticky as signs to stop.
How to make rubber less sticky?
For a rubber toy, wash off the surface with mild soap, rinse well and dry it fully. That should remove dirt and residue. It won't fix rubber that is breaking down, so stop using a toy that stays oily or tacky.
How to make a squishy sticky?
We don't know of a safe way to turn a regular squishy into a sticky one. A sticky ball that feels less sticky may just need cleaning, so rinse off the dust and lint with water and let it air dry. Don't powder it, because powder takes away the sticky feel.
Browse the rest of our squishy toys collection.