Squishy Butter
The microwave trend keeps coming back on social media, and so do the burn warnings. Here is what regulators say, what heat actually does to a squishy, and what to do instead.
No. Never microwave a squishy toy. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has warned about a social media trend of heating squishies in the microwave, which can cause serious burns. Heat also melts and ruins the foam, so there is nothing to gain and a lot to lose. [1]
Why people try it
Videos claim that a few seconds in the microwave makes a squishy softer, warmer or bigger, and some show the toy puffing up. What they do not show is the toy a minute later: polyurethane foam that has been heated past its limit collapses, goes hard or gummy, and can trap pockets of very hot air and steam under the skin. That is how the burns happen. Somebody squeezes a toy that looks normal and the hot interior bursts onto their hand.
What the CPSC actually says
In its August 2026 consumer alert the CPSC repeated an earlier warning about serious burn hazards from squishy toys and social media challenges, and added that squishy toys can "become dangerously hot when left in direct sunlight, inside a hot vehicle, near a heater, or in another high-temperature environment". [1] The message covers all heat, not just microwaves: a squishy left on a car dashboard in summer is the same problem in slow motion.
What heat does to the foam
- Slow rise dies. The open cell structure that makes a squishy rise slowly collapses when heated. It does not come back.
- The skin splits. The painted or printed skin expands at a different rate from the foam and cracks, which is how filling and foam crumbs get out.
- Chemicals come out faster. Warm foam releases more of the solvents left over from manufacturing, the same emissions regulators measure in new squishies. [8] Heating a squishy in a closed microwave then opening the door concentrates that in your face.
- Fillings can rupture. Gel and liquid fillings expand and can burst hot. Water bead fillings are already a serious ingestion hazard on their own. [3]
Safe ways to bring a squishy back
If the goal is a softer, slower toy, heat is the wrong tool. Leave the squishy uncompressed at room temperature, out of the sun, for two or three days and turn it once a day. Clean it with a barely damp cloth, never a soak. Our squishy care guide has the full routine, including how to repair a small tear with flexible glue. If the foam has already gone hard or crumbly, it is finished; a replacement costs less than a burn.
If someone gets burned
Cool the burn under cool running water for twenty minutes, remove anything stuck near it only if it comes away freely, cover loosely, and seek medical help for a burn larger than the person's palm, a burn on the face or hands, or any burn on a child. Do not put ice, butter or oil on a burn. This is general first aid guidance, not medical advice; if in doubt, call your local emergency number.
FAQ
Can you microwave a squishy toy?
No. The U.S. CPSC warns that microwaving squishy toys can cause serious burns. Heating melts and degrades the foam and can make the surface hot enough to burn skin on contact.
Can a squishy melt in a hot car?
Yes. The CPSC says squishy toys can become dangerously hot when left in direct sunlight, inside a hot vehicle, near a heater or in another high-temperature environment. Heat also ruins the slow rise for good.
Is there a safe way to make a squishy soft again?
Rest it uncompressed at room temperature for a few days, out of the sun. That is the only method that helps. Heat, water baths and oils damage the foam.
Are heat-safe squishies a thing?
Some sensory products are sold as microwavable heat packs, but those are not slow rising foam squishies. Never heat a squishy unless the manufacturer of that exact product says it is designed for heating.
Want a squishy that cannot be heated, torn or swallowed? The butter squishy game is free in your browser and rises slowly every time. For the wider safety picture, read our full guide: are squishy toys safe?
References
Every claim above comes from one of these sources. The URLs are shown in full so you can check them.
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Consumer Safety Alert: CPSC Warns Consumers About Fake and Counterfeit Squishy Toys; Reiterates Warning About Serious Burn Hazards. 5 August 2026.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2026/Consumer-Safety-Alert-CPSC-Warns-Consumers-About-Fake-and-Counterfeit-Squishy-Toys-Reiterates-Warning-About-Serious-Burn-Hazards - U.S. CPSC. Water Beads Information Center.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Water-Beads-Information-Center - Jo M, Kim YH. Quantitative evaluation of hazardous VOC emissions from tactile toys and investigation of emission drivers. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 2026. PubMed 41806665.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41806665/