I purchased a microbead pillow from a hospital gift store. It was a pink and neon green dolphin that was a little dirty from being on the very top shelf in the store.

    When I got home, I read the tag that is attached to it's tail and it read "SURFACE WASHABLE". Good, I thought and was happy that I was going to be able to clean it up.

    So, I wiped the biggest dirt/dust-mixed spot that was right on the top of the dolphin's head with a regular dish cloth, plain dish soap and warm water, and waited for it to dry. About a half hour later, I looked over at the pillow, and noticed the top of it's head was still wet. I thought that was strange since I hadn't soaked it.
     I went in for a closer look and discovered it wasn't still wet - the water left a giant 6-inch in diameter puddle-looking stain right where I had cleaned it! I was so angry!
    It looks like the kind of stain when someone drools on a pillow, that's not covered by a pillowcase, and it leaves a circular shape with darker edges.


    Luckily, I still I had the original tag that I took off the dolphin pillow when I purchased it.  I went on the company's website, which is GANZ (the whole hospital gift shop was stocked with their products), and got their customer 800 number.
    Since they are on the east coast and I'm in California, they were already closed, so I left a message, expecting to be called back like the voicemail said. I was not. So, I called them again during business hours.
    I talked to a woman and told her what happened, I asked, "Why are your care labels giving out incorrect cleaning information? Why does plain water and soap stain your products?"
    "I don't know." She responded - yes, really!
    She asked for the number and name of the pillow which is "H6522 SQUISHY PINK DOLPHIN", which is both on the pillow's tag and on the company's price tag along with the faulty care instructions. She stated that this particular pillow had been discontinued.
    The only help offered was to return the pillow to where I purchased it from. I told her that that would be useless since the hosptial's gift store was not the one who made the pillow.

    So, that's the end!

    This was my first microbead pillow that I was very excited about having, and I, unknowningly, ruined it. Since I've never owned another one of these pillows, I don't know if they will all be stained some way by water, so this guide is a warning.  I suggest you test a small area of your pillow on the underside (if it has one, if it's the same on both sides, try a corner) with soapy water and pray that it dries without leaving a hideous stain.
    My Ganz brand pillow is made with Spandex, which apparently can't be cleaned. Having other Spandex products (those stretchy bookcovers), can vauch for this as well.

    The fact that these pillows can be stained with water is maybe the explanation the tags also read "THIS ITEM IS NOT A TOY. FOR DECRORATIVE PURPOSES ONLY."

    It's meant to be looked at, not used. :-P Whatever! Just be careful with your nice, new pillows!