How to Clean and Store Gonks

Before you clean: read the label

Gonks are made from a mix of fabrics, faux fur, wire, weighting and sometimes electronics, so there's no single rule. The care label tells you what's safe. In general:

• Weighted gonks (filled with sand or pellets) are usually spot clean only. Washing can split seams or leave the filling damp.
• Light-up gonks must never be submerged. Remove the batteries and wipe the outside only.
• Plush toy gonks are sometimes machine washable on a gentle cycle. The label will say so.
• Handmade woollen gonks are best hand washed in cool water, if at all.

How to clean a gonk

Dust and fluff

Give the gonk a gentle shake outside, then brush the beard with a soft clothes brush, wide-toothed comb or clean old toothbrush, working from the top down. A hairdryer on a cool setting, held at a distance, helps lift flattened fur. Avoid heat, which can melt or frizz synthetic fur.

Spot clean marks

Mix a little mild washing-up liquid with warm water. Dampen a cloth, wring it out well, and dab the mark without rubbing. Rinse with a cloth dampened with clean water, blot dry with a towel and leave the gonk to air dry completely away from direct heat.

Washing a washable gonk

If the label allows machine washing, put the gonk in a pillowcase or laundry bag, use a gentle cycle at a low temperature and skip the tumble dryer. Reshape it while damp and let it dry naturally, then brush the beard.

How to store gonks

1. Clean and dry them first. Packing a damp gonk can lead to mould and smells.
2. Remove batteries from light-up gonks to stop them leaking.
3. Check for damage: split seams, loose noses and leaking filling. Repair or retire damaged gonks, especially if there are children at home.
4. Stuff the hats with acid-free tissue paper so they keep their shape and don't crease.
5. Wrap each gonk loosely in tissue paper or a cotton bag, which lets fabric breathe.
6. Pack them upright in a sturdy box, largest at the bottom, without squashing.
7. Label the box with the season, so you can find your Halloween gang in October.

Where to store them

Somewhere cool, dry and dark is ideal. Lofts and garages can get damp in winter and hot in summer, which isn't great for fabric, glue or faux fur. If the loft is your only option, use plastic boxes with lids to keep out damp and pests, add a sachet of silica gel, and check the boxes once in a while. A cupboard or under the bed is better if you have the space.

Natural wool gonks can attract clothes moths. Store them clean, in sealed bags or boxes, and consider a natural moth repellent such as cedar.

Storing giant gonks

Giant gonks take up a lot of room. Wrap them in an old duvet cover or large garment bag to keep dust off, store them standing up if possible, and don't stack heavy things on top. Some giant gonks have removable hats or bodies, which makes them easier to pack.

Bringing gonks back out

Unpack them a day or two before you want to display them so they can relax. Give each one a shake and a brush, check for damage, and pop fresh batteries into light-up gonks. Then it's time for decorating.

Quick checklist

When to retire a gonk

If a gonk's seams have split, its filling is escaping, or parts are loose, it's time to repair it or let it go, particularly if young children or pets could get hold of it. See are gonks safe for children? And if you're looking for a replacement, browse our hand-picked gonks.