washing guide
A key part of keeping your fursuit looking nice and lasting for many years is properly cleaning it. Now, it may seem daunting to throw thousands of dollars into the water, but washing your suit is not only easy and safe, but it is also essential!
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DO NOT USE HEAT!!!
The fur and glue used to construct your fursuit are extremely sensitive to heat and MELT at high temperatures. For this reason, we recommend using cold or room temperature water, 20°C to 30°C MAX.
Also, NEVER use a drying cycle or tumble dryer on your suit!
​​Disinfect
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It is important to ALWAYS disinfect your fursuit after use, whether it be after 10 minutes or 2 hours.
Sweat and oils can build up during frequent use and degrade the foam and materials in your suit, causing mold or bad odors to form.
We suggest using a 70% alcohol to 30% water mix to disinfect your suit. (You can add scents for a nice smell, but make sure they contain no dye!)
You can also buy premade fursuit sprays at Dealers Den, Artist Alley, Etsy, or similar shops.
We make our eyes using sublimated mesh, so they are both water- and alcohol-proof.
For really tough to remove stains we use the Bissell Spot & Stain detergent, it works wonders on white fur
HEAD​​
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Our heads can be completely submerged in water for cleaning. The eyes are fully waterproof, and everything else is made of plush and foam materials.
To clean the head, mix a small amount of washing detergent into water in a bucket or tub and let the head soak for about 30 minutes. Gently scrub areas that come into contact with the most sweat, like the forehead and neck. Also, scrub the outside of the head if there are any visible dirt spots or scuff marks; the most touched area is usually the nose and muzzle.
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After a thorough soak and scrub, empty the bucket, but do not pick up the head fully! The head will be really heavy with all the water soaked inside, and abruptly picking it up could cause areas to rip or unstick (especially the ears). Gently move the head out of the bucket and lay it flat on the base (back of the head), then squeeze out as much water as possible.
It really helps to have a Bissell extractor vacuum (widely known as the Little Green Machine or carpet cleaner) to get out as much water as possible. It's not exactly necessary to have one, but it is REALLY helpful for cleaning, especially later on.
Once you have gotten as much soapy water out as possible, repeat the process using only clean water to rinse. You want to fully wash the soap out to avoid leaving a greasy texture behind.
After you're done cleaning, it is best to brush the suit and leave it sitting on or near a fan to help it dry quicker and circulate air around it. Periodically check every few hours to flip the head around and give it a brush.
Once the head is dry, you may give it a spritz with a fursuit spray to keep it smelling nice and fresh.
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If you are worried about fully soaking the head or your head is constructed in a way that it cannot be fully submerged, we heavily suggest getting an extraction vacuum machine (carpet cleaner machine).
We recommend mixing the Bissell Spot & Stain with a dash of fabric softener into the water, spray the head, scrub it in, and then vacuum out the soapy water.
Once finished with the wash, repeat the process with regular water to remove the soap; this may take 2-4 cycles.
Then repeat the drying process as described above.
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TIP: It's crucial to keep brushing the suit every few hours to prevent the fur from clumping together, which can give it a wool-like texture.
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BRUSHING
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Brushing is essential to keep your suit looking fresh, clean and healthy!
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• For brushing the head and suit, we suggest using a soft brush on the shaved parts of the face.
• For medium pile fur we suggest a regular slicker brush, but use it upsidedown as to not rip out fur.
• For extremely long fur, we recommend a wide-tooth comb.
BODYSUIT
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It isn’t crucial to perform a full wash after every single use! Overdoing it can damage the suit. However, after longer suiting sessions (meets, cons, outings), you WILL need to wash it—nobody wants to be stinky.
For the bodysuit, you can simply machine wash it. We recommend using washing pods with a small bit of fabric softener.
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• We do not recommend using Woolite on our suits because:
“Woolite is designed to gently clean delicate fabrics, including wool, silk, and synthetics, while preserving their fibers. However, Woolite is a mild detergent that may not be as effective at breaking down heavy grease or body oils compared to regular or enzyme-based detergents.”
This means that oils from your skin and sweat could get left behind on the fur.
• We also do not recommend using any type of washing powder or harsh detergent since these detergents work better in warm water, and fursuits must be washed cold.
• And DO NOT overdo it with fabric softener! It will make the fur waxy.
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Take all padding out and flip the bodysuit inside out so the backing of the fur is on the outside.
•Use a cold and gentle setting with a low or no-spin cycle (20°C-30°C). We usually set it to around 400-600 RPM just to remove some water.
Once it's done, flip it right side out, if the suit feels dry and light enough you can hang it to dry. If it’s still very wet or heavy, lay it flat to dry, and periodically brush it every couple of hours (again, it is crucial to brush it to keep the suit looking nice and to help it dry faster).
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WARNING: Extremely wet suits will be very heavy, and the extra water weight could cause the fur to stretch and get damaged. So it is best to NOT hang them up, dry heavy suits on a flat surface or a drying rack.
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If your machine doesn't have the suggested settings or your suit doesn't fit inside, you can soak it in a tub or bucket the same way as the head. Use a pod + fabric softener in a tub full of cool, room-temperature water and let the bodysuit soak while flipped inside out.
Agitate the water by scrubbing and squeezing the suit to work in the soap, paying extra attention to sweaty areas like armpits, lower back, and crotch. Let it soak for about an hour.
Once finished, drain the soapy water and begin rinsing with clean water. This could take 3-4 cycles.
Drain as much water as possible by squeezing NOT twisting, fur is non-stretch, and twisting could cause balding or popped seams.
Now, the suit will be extremely heavy with water. We suggest laying it flat on a drying rack and using fans. Hanging it up while still wet could stretch and weaken the fur backing.
Brush and flip it periodically.
Once dry, you may store it on a hanger. Avoid folding, as this can crease the fur.
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TIP: For drying the suits we recommend doing it in a well-ventilated room or outside in the shade. Long exposure to sun may bleach or yellow the suit, especially on white furs. So if you live in a super sunny country it’s best to not dry your suit directly in the sun
PADDING
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The padding (if you have any) can be washed the same way, either in a machine or a tub. You can use a slightly stronger spin cycle on cold for the padding since it's only foam and fabric.
Once finished, hang it up to dry.
We recommend using a machine since padding isn’t as delicate, but you can still use the tub if desired.
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HANDPAWS AND FEETPAWS
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The handpaws and feetpaws can be washed the same way, either in a machine or by soaking.
Since our handpaws can’t be flipped inside out, we recommend putting them in a washing bag or pillowcase so none of the fur gets caught in the machine’s grooves.
Once finished, brush and hang them to dry.
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For feetpaws, be a little more careful, as there are a lot of glued pieces. Our newest paws are 3D printed with TPU material, which does not retain water, so these will dry really quickly! We recommend soaking them in water and extracting excess liquid with an extraction vacuum—this is the safest way to wash them.
• Pay special attention to the Crocs inside; you can use a sponge with detergent to scrub the interior.
We have yet to test machine washing TPU, so this guide will be updated once we have more feedback.
You can also gently squeeze out excess water or pat them dry with a towel.
Then, brush and set them to dry near a fan.
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If you have foam feetpaws they can be washed in the machine with the same instructions as the bodysuit.
TAIL
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The tail is generally made only of fur and polyfill, so it doesn’t need to be washed as often as other parts since it rarely comes into contact with sweat.
Some tails are larger and may drag on the floor, making them dirty. We suggest first using an extraction vacuum to clean the tail, but if that doesn’t work, you can machine wash it or soak it.
Since polyfill can clump and shift, repeated washing may cause the tail to deform and require restuffing (this happens most frequently at the base of the tail. This is normal!). This is why we suggest washing it only when necessary!
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If you decide to fully wash it, repeat the same process as the body. Some larger tails may come with a zipper to remove the stuffing, making washing easier.
Once cleaned, brush and set it to dry.
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TIP: For extra tough stains you can use diluted bleach and hand scrub the dirty area, make sure to rinse it out really well!
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EXTRA PARTS
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Arm sleeves, leg sleeves, wings, and any plush extras can be washed the same way as the other parts mentioned in this guide.
For leather parts, we recommend applying a very small amount of baby oil every couple of months to prevent cracking—don’t overdo it!
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STORING
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Now that everything is nice and clean, it’s time to store the suit away. The best place is in a closet, away from direct sunlight, pets, or children.
Hang the bodysuit on a wide-shoulder hanger (tuxedo/suit hanger), as these are more sturdy. Everything else can be stored on a shelf or in a box, but try to avoid wrinkling or folding anything. If you must, it’s better to roll rather than fold fur.
Optionally, you can get a garment bag if your suit won’t fit in a closet—this will protect it from dust.
TIPS
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Always wear under armor with your fursuit—it helps with sweat and keeps you cooler and more comfortable.
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Invest in a good-quality balaclava.
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Disinfect regularly.
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Don’t wear your suit when wet—wait for it to fully dry.
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Regular brushing will keep your suit looking nice.
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You can put a few drops of scented oil on a cotton pad and place them inside the hands or feetpaws to keep them smelling fresh.
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Be careful when brushing, and use the brushes we recommend!
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Fursuit drying machines can be purchased online to make cleaning quicker.
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Avoid excessive heat! Don’t leave your suit in a hot car or near a heater, as extreme heat can damage the fur, foam, or glue.
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Use fabric softener sparingly—too much can leave residue on the fur and reduce softness over time.
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Check for loose seams regularly and repair small issues before they become big problems.
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Be mindful of storage pests! If storing for long periods, keep an eye out for moths or other pests that might be attracted to fur and fabric.
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If wearing outdoors, watch for dirt, mud, or grass stains—spot clean as soon as possible to prevent stains from setting.