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What Not To Do:
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DO NOT wash your items with hot water. This may cause shrinkage.
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DO NOT use a washing machine for your head. This can damage the eye paint.
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DO NOT EVER put items into a clothes dryer. The furs will melt; this is irreversible.
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DO NOT store the items wet or damp. This can cause molding.
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DO NOT store the items in direct sunlight. This can discolour the fur.
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DO NOT EVER attempt to wash your items with bleach or other harsh substances.
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DO NOT use hair dryers to dry your items. The result will be the same as if you put the items in a dryer.
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DO NOT submerge the head in water! Some elements on the head are not waterproof (such as the eyes).
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Never wash in a regular washing machine (some machines can damage synthetic furs.) If you have a newer washing machine with an Intermittent Delicate-Cycle mode or similar, you can use that, but supervise the wash cycle and allow the suit to only wash for 5 to 10 minutes, on the gentlest setting. In the UK, this is usually the "Wool" option.
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Never dry clean. Some fur fabric manufacturers don't recommend dry-cleaning as the steam process can damage some mod-acrylic fibers.
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Never store the item in sunlight or brightly lit areas. Always store the suit in a dry, cool, and dark place. White & lightly coloured synthetic furs especially will yellow over time and coloured furs will fade due to repeated exposure to sunlight or bright fluorescent light.
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Never crawl on abrasive surfaces like concrete, tile, industrial carpet etc. as damage will result to the fur fabric and backing.
What To Do:
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DO brush your items with a slicker/pet brush.
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DO get underarmor to wear underneath your Fursuit.
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DO get a balaclava to help keep the inside of a head clean.
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DO spray the inside of your head and feet with a 50/50 solution of water and rubbing alcohol to help disinfect the inside after each use.
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Spot clean between uses (note: this is ONLY a quick solution and should only be done if you're at a con and never be used as an excuse to not wash your fursuit)!
Before putting your suit on, here are some tips to keep in mind:
A fursuit is not like regular clothing, it takes some care to put it on without damaging the suit.
Before putting your suit on consider a few things:
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A Lycra or Spandex bodysuit (exercise wear such as HeatGear, diving suits or even lycra 'zentai' suits also work well in regards to what to wear underneath your fursuit. Doing so helps you feel cooler and more comfortable in your suit. NEVER go naked under your suit, it may seem like a good idea but it's not. (The oils and sweat from your body will damage the suit, not to mention you may also be given a lawsuit if you're around children).
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A friend to help. It is a good idea to have someone to help you get in and out of suit, especially when you are new to suiting.
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A belt. Fursuit tails are usually held on with a belt so make sure you have one with you, unles it's sewn to your suit, of course.
If you need a hand with putting your suit on, ask a friend to help you (especially if you are new to Fursuiting) Menagerie Costumes have also made a handy guide on how to get in and out of your Fursuit.
Cleaning and care!
With bodysuits, you will obviously get hot and sweat at least a little, inside your head will be no different. To get rid of the odor inside your head, you can use a disinfectant such as a mixture of water and rubbing alcohol, a few spritzes will work, but do not use Lysol or Febreeze, as it can make the foam disintegrate over time.
After wearing your suit, spray the inside of your head with a fabric disinfectant such as a "Fursuit Disinfectant Spray". Place the head upside down with the neck folded open, in order to let it "air out" (you can also prop the mouth open with something to help it dry). It is also a good idea to fold back the cuffs on the feet, spray the inside and allow them to air.Turn your bodysuit inside out, spray with disinfectant solution and then hang it up and allow it to air out.
Give your suit a good brushing with a slicker/pet brush, be sure to concentrate on areas like the armpits and groin where the fur gets matted easily but remember to always take care when brushing your suit because any fur that gets stripped out will not grow back!
Here is a good tutorial by NeonSlushie on disinfecting your suits!
To keep some of the sweat from getting on your bodysuit, you should wear UnderArmor (HeatGear) or something similar underneath your fursuit, for heads, wear a balaclava, you can even wear one if the head already has one built in! Wearing one will help to keep your hair out of your face (if you have long hair), keep you cooler and prevent sweat from getting in the foam of the inside of your head.
Bodysuits, tails, handpaws and footpaws can be washed in the washing machine (using a cold wash only) SOME heads can be washed to, but it's best to check with your maker first.
Washing wise, you can use regular detergent, but Woolite is the best to use because it makes the fur soft and isn't too harsh on the suit fibres. If possible, remove any padding from your fursuit before you wash it. Conditioner can also be used to help keep the fibers soft.
Ways to Wash!
Drying!
NEVER dry a suit in the dryer, doing so can melt the fibers on your suit and completely ruin it. Instead, put it on tumble dry/fluff (if your dryer has it). You can put it in front of a cool fan to speed up the drying process. Handpaws, heads, and other fursuit parts may also be dried this way. For smaller parts, you may also use a hair dryer on the cool setting only (though it would be better if you left it to air dry). Be sure to keep checking back on your suit while it is drying and brush it (using a slicker brush or a pet brush) to keep the fur from matting and help your fursuit last longer.
Lay your fursuit over a "clothes horse" and leave it to air dry. Wet fur is very heavy and may stretch if hung up on a clothes hanger when it's wet (especially if your fursuit has padding, which you are unable to remove when washing).
Be sure to brush your suit before and after it has dried- this will help to keep your Fursuit's fur from getting matted and ripped. Don't forget to brush the places which rub together often while suiting (inner thighs/underarms for example) but keep in mind that these areas may need extra brushing, in order to get rid of the matted fur. Always brush with the fur direction/grain, to determine the fur direction, use your hand and gently brush the fur, the fur will lie the flattest when you are brushing with the grain.
Never store your suit while it is still damp, this can cause mould to grow in your suit and nobody wants that!
Packing and travelling!
For long-term storing, it is best to keep your suit in a cool, dry (and often dark) place. Do not keep it in a place that may get too hot, as the glue on the head may melt. Do not store it
You can hang your bodysuit on a hanger and let the head and other parts sit on a shelf. Storing your suit in a storage container for long periods of time is not recommended, since the fur may crinkle and get oily over time.
When traveling, keep your suit in a plastic container or something heavy duty that cannot be crushed, like a carrying case or Pelican case. If you are traveling by car with your suit, keep it air conditioned, and do not leave it in your car for long periods of time in the sun.
"An easy way to save space while packing is to vacuum pack your suit. The entire fursuit, including the head, may be vacuum packed for at most 24 hours. The head may take about an hour or two to pop back into shape, but it will be perfectly fine. Vacuum bagging will not harm your suit, we have tested it plenty of times while traveling!!" ~ SVC
Remember:
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Store your suit out of direct sunlight as it can discolour the fur.
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Never store anything on top of your head as it may become squashed or bent and may become permanently deformed.
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Rolling up your gloves and stuffing them in your head is a good idea, as it cuts down on space and helps prevent the head from being squashed.
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Always brush with the fur direction/grain.
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Keeping dryer sheets in the head, feet and bodysuit will help keep it smelling fresh while being transported or getting ready for its next outing!
Machine Method:
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Supervise the wash cycle closely.
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Use cold water only.
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Your machine has a Delicate-Cycle, such as "Wool".
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Only wash the suit for 5 to 10 minutes.
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Use the most delicate setting on your machine
Tub Method:
Use caution & care when cleaning around parts like the claws, paw pads, feet pads, buttons, snaps, zippers, hook/loop fasteners, and/or any attached parts.
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Fill the bathtub with enough clean, cold water to soak the body section in.
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Use a very small amount of faux fur-friendly soap (alcohol & bleach free only.) Lathering your hands with a bit of gentle bar soap will also work.
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Gently lather soap in the easy-to-dirty areas, like the armpits and crotch areas.
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DO NOT scrub with a brush or rough cloth.
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AVOID scrubbing areas with tattoo designs, airbrushing, and any special coloured designed areas. These areas should be very gently rinsed clean using the shower head.
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After soaking and cleaning the easier-to-dirty areas for a couple of minutes, drain the tub and rinse with clean cold water.
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Using a dry towel, dab the fur product dry. Avoid rubbing the fur to dry it, and do NOT wring the suit to squeeze water out. Some synthetic furs can deform if rubbed too hard or twisted when wet!
It is also possible to place your wet suit in an empty washing machine and then run use the spin cycle only. It will help spin out excess water and help it dry.
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If you have to lift the suit while its still wet, be very careful not to tear any seams as suits become very heavy when they're wet, especially ones with padding!
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For tails and feet with foam, gently squeeze the water out, or use the spin cycle to help them dry.
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Hang the items indoors only, preferably on a clothes horse over/in the bathtub. A household fan set up to blow cool air on the suit and accessories will speed the drying process. You may gently brush some of the fur with the grain while damp or lightly wet, to help to prevent the fur form deforming & knotting when it dries.
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NEVER use a heater, hair dryer, or clothes/tumble dryer! Using any of these will damage the synthetic fur fibers & parts immediately.
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Once completely dry, gently brush the fur, as explained below.
Cleaning the Head
Cleaning a fursuit head is a very delicate process, and taking extreme care is a must. Fursuit heads contain many types of materials (such as glue and paint) that should never be submerged in water. This is why it's best to take care as much as possible to not get them dirty.
If some spots of dirt get on parts of the head, its possible to CAREFULLY use a damp cloth to wipe the area lightly, with the grain of the fur. Parts like the nose, teeth, and tongue can be cleaned by using a damp cloth, gently wiping them clean of any dirt or dust.
It is highly recommended to weara balaclava underneath your Fursuit head, as it will help to keep the inside of the fursuit head free from dirt and oil from hair and sweat.
From time to time after wearing the head, it is a good idea to lightly spray some of the fabric safe disinfectant in the inside of the head. Be careful to not get any of the spray on the eye area or rubber mouth parts as they can discolour, colour run or shrink.
Disclaimer: These tips have been gathered across many different websites and have been based upon the opinions which are the most popular. Everyone has their own opinions and methods which they use, as they feel it's best for them and their suit/s.
