Washing your Fursuit
This is the most important step in fursuit care, washing it! Washing a fursuit can be very scary, throwing thousands of dollars and love into water. But, it is a key step in making sure your fursuit looks nice, new, and lasts many years to come! Not to mention, washing the fur is great for the fabric! It makes the fur softer and fluffier! It also helps you from being one of "Those" suiters who smell and no one wants to hug! Keeping it soft, fluffy, and fresh is important! Be sure to follow these steps carefully! As it is possible that something can happen to your suit if you are not careful.
NOTE: If any pieces have airbrushing, please be careful, and contact your maker about washing your suit. Water can make it bleed, or fade. Also be sure to ask your maker about washing special items like masks and feet paws.
If your suit is made out of a material other than faux fur, message your maker about washing!
All of these tips are things I have learned from different makers, and experience. It it always a good idea to ask your maker about washing! Results can always vary!
Using any of these tips, I have not had any problems except airbrushing fading. So I know they work! But again, Always ask your maker!
Machine Washing
Watch the Episode on this, here! It has demonstrations!
The easiest way to keep your suit clean, washing machines! However, lots can happen here too. ONLY USE WASHERS ON COLD SETTING. AND NEVER USE A DRYER. Heat ruins the fur used on your costume as it is made from plastic, so do not use heat in any way. Use it on cold setting only, and also gentle or normal settings recommended. If you have an agitator washer, we recommend talking to your maker before throwing it in there. As sometimes agitator washers can cause damage. Otherwise, top or front loading machines can be used, but again, cold settings only. This way of washing can be for Bodysuits, Handpaws, Feetpaws (Some, not all), and Tails. If there is any foam in your suit, I recommend talking to your maker, and/or removing any foam possible. If foam is put into the wash, dry it as thoroughly and quickly as possible to prevent mold from growing! If your padding is polyfil, it can be put into the washer! But make sure it is dried quickly and thoroughly. It is not recommended to put a mask into the washer. (You generally only see makers do that. We have tried it before with success, but we do not recommend everyone tries it.)
To use your washer for your fursuit, follow these steps:
-Give all items a nice brushing, this way any tangled or matted fur does not get worse in the wash.
-Turn bodysuits inside out. Sleeves and leggings can also be turned inside out if possible. Put hand paws and feet paws into a mesh washing bag, or pillow case. This helps if any paw pads or claws come loose they are in the bag and not lost in the machine.
-It has been said that any detergent will work, but some have also said that gentle detergents work the best and are the most safe. Regular hair conditioner can be used as a fabric softener. If you want a nice smell added, buy scent crystals which are in the laundry section of stores. (Crystals only! Not the pellets! Pellets will leave residue! Also only use liquid detergent, the detergent pods are not good for suits, the plastic from those can get stuck in the fur)
-Once you have double checked the settings, you can start the washer, and then it's the waiting game! Make sure the spin cycle has done it's job, if not, put it back in on spin cycle.
-Once it has finished, pull pieces out, give them a good shake (fluffs up the fur and helps loose fur balls come off the items) turn everything right side out (Or you can leave it inside out to dry the backing, either way works) and then hang them up to dry. (Using a washing machine helps a lot when it comes to water, it spins out most of the water so drying time is much faster.)
-Be sure to thoroughly brush all items right after hanging them up and/or turning them right side out, that way the fur dries straight and in the correct direction. Be sure to go and brush the items every 30 minutes to an hour to help keep it fluffed as well as help the fur dry straight. This step is VERY important. If you don't brush while drying, the fur will look nasty, so always brush! Brushing also helps aid the drying process.
-Some people have said that dryers with no heat settings can dry, but I personally never have as some people have had damage still happen to their suits. If you want to use a dryer, please test on a fur scrap first!
-To dry your suit, hang it up with a fan (or two) blowing onto the outside, and if possible, have a fan on the inside. This keeps all the air circulating and will help it dry much faster! (I highly recommend buying a Scuba Suit hanger dryer. They are like magic with bodysuits!)
-For pieces other than body suits, make sure hand and feet paws are propped open, and have a fan blowing onto them, move them around every hour or so to make sure everything dries. Same for the tail, move it around, or have it on a hanger to make sure it dries thoroughly. (A dryer from Ottershark is highly recommended for heads, hand paws, and feet paws!)
-You want to many sure all pieces are dried thoroughly and quickly! While items are drying check them, move them around, brush the fur, etc.
-Feel around the item, make sure you do not feel any moisture, continue to dry any area you still feel it. If they are dry, you are done! Good job!
-Machine Washing your Mask: It is possible to machine wash a mask, HOWEVER. It is also quite risky! Our recommendations are: NO agitator, Must use gentle cycle, cold water only, spin cycle is a must, We personally recommend only foam heads at this time. Before even thinking about throwing your head into a washer, please message your masker! Ask what concerns they could have, if they think it could stand being machine washed, and if the eye paint or any airbrushing could bleed. If they give you the ok, go ahead and put your mask into the washer! If your eyes can be easily removed, I also recommend attempting that. Be sure to remove any possible accessories like earrings or such before tossing in. Once you feel your suit is ready, put the mask into the machine. Make sure it is not too squished in the drum. Put in detergent (and scent crystals if you use them). Make sure it is on Cold settings only! No heat! Use a medium, or light spin, I do not recommend a high spin. Make sure it is a gentle cycle. We have one on our machine called Hand Wash, that is what we used on our masks. Then you can start it! If possible, check on your mask when you can. Either by opening it or if you have a window door just give it a look as it tumbles. If your machine does not spin the mask by itself due to the weight, put in a couple of towels as they will even out the weight and it can do the spin cycle. Once it is finished, check your mask. If it is still heavy with water, you need to attempt another spin. Check for popped seams, missing teeth, or paint bleeds. If everything looks ok, brush your mask and put it onto fans immediately! Use as many fans as possible, you want to get that foam dried out ASAP. Check on the mask every hour or two, brush it and check the moisture content (check if the fur is wet, squeeze thick foam areas to see if you feel any water). To be safe, and to make sure all foam is dry, keep the mask on the fans for a full 24 hours, even 48 hours wouldn't hurt. Once it's dried, take it off the fans, examine again to check for damage, brush it, and it's done! Congrats, your mask survived the washing machine!
Tub Washing
Watch the episode on this, here! It has Demonstrations!
This is another way to help keep your suit clean, and it is much more gentle than your machine. This also helps give you control on areas that may need more attention. If your suit has hand stitching, or is fragile, then hand washing is the best way to go. Some makers recommend hand washing over machines. Again, foam should be kept out of the water unless maker says it is ok, or you can dry it quickly. Masks should not be submerged in water. Some feetpaws can be washed this way, but again, ask your maker.
Follow these steps for hand washing:
-Fill up a tub or sink (sink for smaller items) with cool or room temperature water. It cannot be hot, but not ice cold, as you want it comfortable for your hands. Fill up the tub enough that any items can be submerged.
-Put a good amount of detergent into the water (Depending on how much you're washing), you also can put the hair conditioner in there too. Use your hands to agitate the water and activate the soap suds.
-Bodysuits can be washed inside out, or right side out. Ask your maker about this. Either way is fine, any other pieces can be washed right side out.
-Put items into the water and completely submerge all items.
-Use your fingers to gently scrubs out every inch of the fur, don't miss a spot! Don't be too rough, remember this fur can't grow back. Some areas may need special attention such as hand paw palms, armpits, between the legs, neck and rear. These areas mat during wear and some cases can get sweaty. So be sure to clean them well. If you wash inside out, then be sure to reach your hand in where the fur is and scrub out spots like the under arms and between the legs where fur easily gets matted. This helps de-tangle it and helps get anything out of the fur.
-After scrubbing everything, let it sit and soak for a few minutes. This step is optional. You may scrub again after letting it soak. (You will notice a color change in the water. This is good! It means the dirt and nasty stuff has come out!)
-Once you feel it has been scrubbed enough, drain the tub and try to squeeze out as much soapy/dirty water as possible. However, be careful, do not twist any piece as it could stress seams and the material. Just squeeze it with your hands.
-After it is drained out, use the shower head if possible to rinse out the suit. Rinse it thoroughly! If you do not have a removable shower head, fill the tub back up and squeeze the items and use your fingers to scrub it some more to help get the soap out. You will need to fill the tub as many times as you need, be sure to get ALL the soap out! Your fur will feel nasty if you don't, and you will need to rinse again. Also be sure the water is no longer changing color, if it continues to change color, your suit is still dirty! If it is, repeat the above process until the water is no longer changing colors.
-Once again, try and squeeze out as much of the water as possible. Due note that the pieces will be Extremely heavy! DO NOT HANG THEM while they are soaked with water! It could ruin your suit by stretching. Also be very careful when picking it up, it will be heavy and could stress seams easily.
-If your washing machine has a "Drain/Spin" setting, you can use it to help get rid of some of the water! Even in agitator washers, this setting does not use the agitator, it only spins the water out. We highly recommend doing this if you hand wash any items. It helps the drying process A LOT. You can ask your maker about this step if you have any questions!
-If you do not have a washing machine with that setting available, then it is up to you to get out as much water as possible! Again, do not hang it while it is heavy with water, it will stretch the material and could ruin your suit. After squeezing as much water as you can out, lay pieces down on a towel with a fan blowing onto them, every 20 to 30 minutes take the pieces and attempt to squeeze out more water. This drying process takes a VERY long time, I recommend finding a place with a washer to help with the spin cycle.
This is another way to help keep your suit clean, and it is much more gentle than your machine. This also helps give you control on areas that may need more attention. If your suit has hand stitching, or is fragile, then hand washing is the best way to go. Some makers recommend hand washing over machines. Again, foam should be kept out of the water unless maker says it is ok, or you can dry it quickly. Masks should not be submerged in water. Some feetpaws can be washed this way, but again, ask your maker.
Follow these steps for hand washing:
-Fill up a tub or sink (sink for smaller items) with cool or room temperature water. It cannot be hot, but not ice cold, as you want it comfortable for your hands. Fill up the tub enough that any items can be submerged.
-Put a good amount of detergent into the water (Depending on how much you're washing), you also can put the hair conditioner in there too. Use your hands to agitate the water and activate the soap suds.
-Bodysuits can be washed inside out, or right side out. Ask your maker about this. Either way is fine, any other pieces can be washed right side out.
-Put items into the water and completely submerge all items.
-Use your fingers to gently scrubs out every inch of the fur, don't miss a spot! Don't be too rough, remember this fur can't grow back. Some areas may need special attention such as hand paw palms, armpits, between the legs, neck and rear. These areas mat during wear and some cases can get sweaty. So be sure to clean them well. If you wash inside out, then be sure to reach your hand in where the fur is and scrub out spots like the under arms and between the legs where fur easily gets matted. This helps de-tangle it and helps get anything out of the fur.
-After scrubbing everything, let it sit and soak for a few minutes. This step is optional. You may scrub again after letting it soak. (You will notice a color change in the water. This is good! It means the dirt and nasty stuff has come out!)
-Once you feel it has been scrubbed enough, drain the tub and try to squeeze out as much soapy/dirty water as possible. However, be careful, do not twist any piece as it could stress seams and the material. Just squeeze it with your hands.
-After it is drained out, use the shower head if possible to rinse out the suit. Rinse it thoroughly! If you do not have a removable shower head, fill the tub back up and squeeze the items and use your fingers to scrub it some more to help get the soap out. You will need to fill the tub as many times as you need, be sure to get ALL the soap out! Your fur will feel nasty if you don't, and you will need to rinse again. Also be sure the water is no longer changing color, if it continues to change color, your suit is still dirty! If it is, repeat the above process until the water is no longer changing colors.
-Once again, try and squeeze out as much of the water as possible. Due note that the pieces will be Extremely heavy! DO NOT HANG THEM while they are soaked with water! It could ruin your suit by stretching. Also be very careful when picking it up, it will be heavy and could stress seams easily.
-If your washing machine has a "Drain/Spin" setting, you can use it to help get rid of some of the water! Even in agitator washers, this setting does not use the agitator, it only spins the water out. We highly recommend doing this if you hand wash any items. It helps the drying process A LOT. You can ask your maker about this step if you have any questions!
-If you do not have a washing machine with that setting available, then it is up to you to get out as much water as possible! Again, do not hang it while it is heavy with water, it will stretch the material and could ruin your suit. After squeezing as much water as you can out, lay pieces down on a towel with a fan blowing onto them, every 20 to 30 minutes take the pieces and attempt to squeeze out more water. This drying process takes a VERY long time, I recommend finding a place with a washer to help with the spin cycle.
Hand Scrubbing Pieces
Watch the episode for this, here! It has demonstrations!
This will be for items that cannot be submerged, like masks, feet paws, and some tails. If any pieces have foam this is the best way to wash them!
Remember to always scrub gently, this fur cannot grow back! So don't scrub too hard or pull it out! Some will come out, so do not be alarmed, but if huge amounts do then you need to be more gentle.
-Start by getting a small bowl and put in a very small amount of detergent and cool water. Or, you can mix detergent and water in a spray bottle. Mix them together to activate the soap suds. Also if possible get a mist-spray bottle and fill it with cool water, make sure the soapy water and regular water spray bottles are separate! (You can also add a small amount of hair conditioner if you'd like to this mix!)
-Get 3 hand towels. One for soapy water (This is optional, as you can just use your fingers instead), one for just water to help rinse, and one for drying. Be sure to keep them separated so you don't get them confused.
-If possible, mostly for following eyes, put paper towels on the outside, and inside to protect the eyes from soap and water. Always be aware around the eye area, as some paint used on eyes can be ruined by water and/or soap. If you have regular 2D eyes, use something to still cover them, and always be aware of them.
-Try to wash only one section at a time. Start by lightly misting water onto the section you're wanting to wash. Do not spray too much! Work the water into the fur gently with your fingers.
-Dip the washing towel into the soap water and squeeze it. Then gently scrub the area of the mask.Or if using the bottle, gently spray some soapy water onto the area you're cleaning. Then gently scrub the soap into the fur fibers with a towel, or your fingers (make sure your hands are clean!).
-Lightly spray the area with water again and then use the water only towel to gently scrub the soap suds out. This step may take time, but it is important. Be sure you get all the soap out! Also be sure to not spray too much when trying to get the soap out, you don't want the water to reach the foam. (If it does, dry it out ASAP after washing)
-Once you know all the soap is out, take the drying towel and dry off the section. Run your fingers through it to make you cannot feel anymore soap, then brush the area and move on to the next. If you still feel soap, repeat this process until it feels soap free!
-To wash the neck, you can hand wash this way, or use a sink. we highly recommend using a sink, or tub if you're careful. To do this, fill up a sink with cool water, then dunk the neck fur into the water (Be sure to not dunk any foam areas!). Work the fur with your fingers and kinda squeeze around the fur, this will help loosen up the dirt and oils.After getting it wet, set the mask on the side of the sink, and squeeze the water back out of the neck into the sink. You will notice the water change color, again, it is dirt and sweat. Squeeze as much water out as possible then drain the sink. Refill the sink, but this time add a small amount of detergent to the water. Dunk the neck into the soapy water, gently scrub with your fingers to work the detergent into the fur. Squeeze around the fur while it is submerged as well, and then squeeze it out again. Do this a couple times, and again, the water will change. Once you are satisfied with cleaning, squeeze out as much soapy water as possible and refill the sink again with cold water. Use this water to rinse out by using your fingers to scrub the fur as well as squeezing and dipping it back in. If the water is still changing color you need to use soapy water again. Do this until the neck is clean. When you are done, squeeze the fur and get as much water as possible out (Be careful! Do not stress seams! Squeeze gently, and don't twist it!). I recommend letting it sit on the side of the sink with the fur kinda draining excess water back into the sink for a few minutes, then squeeze it again. The fur will be heavy with water, and will take time to dry! (Highly recommend an Ottershark head dryer for this, as the fur will need to be hanging freely down to dry thoroughly without soaking the rest of the head! You can also set it on another fan if needed.)
-Once the whole mask is washed, take the drying towel over it all again just to be sure, then brush out all areas, and set it in front of a fan or on a head dryer to help speed up the drying process.
-Be sure to go and brush it every 30 minutes to an hour, to get the fur to dry in the correct direction. The fans will be blowing it all around! This can also help you check for more soap.
-After it has dried, run your fingers through it again, if any soap was left over the fur will feel oily, if there is soap remaining then simply mist spray the area and use the towel again to help rinse it.
-Once you know it is all dry, and soap free, give it a gentle brush and it's all clean!! Great work!
-To clean the inside of masks, you can use gentle soap and a hand towel to wipe out the inside, just be sure to not use too much soap! And be sure it all comes out. You also can use alcohol, as explained below. If it is fabric inside your mask, you can use a very small amount of detergent. But again, make sure it all comes out!
-If it is fabric inside, I recommend using a detergent and water mix (make sure the soap is very diluted). Put it in a spray bottle and spray inside, then use a damp towel and spray bottle with only water to wipe it out. You can also use a towel with soapy water instead of a spray bottle.
-If a resin, or other hard material is used, you can do the same, but make sure you wipe it out thoroughly.
All these steps also work for feet paws. Use a gentle mist sprayer, the 3 towels, and scrub gently. Just ignore the parts about eyes and the steps are the same! If your feet have ankle cuffs that are Only fur, you can use the sink tips to wash those out too! This can be used on tails that may have foam as well. Just be sure you do not get too much water in one area, or it could soak into the foam. If this happens, get it dry ASAP to prevent mold from growing!
This will be for items that cannot be submerged, like masks, feet paws, and some tails. If any pieces have foam this is the best way to wash them!
Remember to always scrub gently, this fur cannot grow back! So don't scrub too hard or pull it out! Some will come out, so do not be alarmed, but if huge amounts do then you need to be more gentle.
-Start by getting a small bowl and put in a very small amount of detergent and cool water. Or, you can mix detergent and water in a spray bottle. Mix them together to activate the soap suds. Also if possible get a mist-spray bottle and fill it with cool water, make sure the soapy water and regular water spray bottles are separate! (You can also add a small amount of hair conditioner if you'd like to this mix!)
-Get 3 hand towels. One for soapy water (This is optional, as you can just use your fingers instead), one for just water to help rinse, and one for drying. Be sure to keep them separated so you don't get them confused.
-If possible, mostly for following eyes, put paper towels on the outside, and inside to protect the eyes from soap and water. Always be aware around the eye area, as some paint used on eyes can be ruined by water and/or soap. If you have regular 2D eyes, use something to still cover them, and always be aware of them.
-Try to wash only one section at a time. Start by lightly misting water onto the section you're wanting to wash. Do not spray too much! Work the water into the fur gently with your fingers.
-Dip the washing towel into the soap water and squeeze it. Then gently scrub the area of the mask.Or if using the bottle, gently spray some soapy water onto the area you're cleaning. Then gently scrub the soap into the fur fibers with a towel, or your fingers (make sure your hands are clean!).
-Lightly spray the area with water again and then use the water only towel to gently scrub the soap suds out. This step may take time, but it is important. Be sure you get all the soap out! Also be sure to not spray too much when trying to get the soap out, you don't want the water to reach the foam. (If it does, dry it out ASAP after washing)
-Once you know all the soap is out, take the drying towel and dry off the section. Run your fingers through it to make you cannot feel anymore soap, then brush the area and move on to the next. If you still feel soap, repeat this process until it feels soap free!
-To wash the neck, you can hand wash this way, or use a sink. we highly recommend using a sink, or tub if you're careful. To do this, fill up a sink with cool water, then dunk the neck fur into the water (Be sure to not dunk any foam areas!). Work the fur with your fingers and kinda squeeze around the fur, this will help loosen up the dirt and oils.After getting it wet, set the mask on the side of the sink, and squeeze the water back out of the neck into the sink. You will notice the water change color, again, it is dirt and sweat. Squeeze as much water out as possible then drain the sink. Refill the sink, but this time add a small amount of detergent to the water. Dunk the neck into the soapy water, gently scrub with your fingers to work the detergent into the fur. Squeeze around the fur while it is submerged as well, and then squeeze it out again. Do this a couple times, and again, the water will change. Once you are satisfied with cleaning, squeeze out as much soapy water as possible and refill the sink again with cold water. Use this water to rinse out by using your fingers to scrub the fur as well as squeezing and dipping it back in. If the water is still changing color you need to use soapy water again. Do this until the neck is clean. When you are done, squeeze the fur and get as much water as possible out (Be careful! Do not stress seams! Squeeze gently, and don't twist it!). I recommend letting it sit on the side of the sink with the fur kinda draining excess water back into the sink for a few minutes, then squeeze it again. The fur will be heavy with water, and will take time to dry! (Highly recommend an Ottershark head dryer for this, as the fur will need to be hanging freely down to dry thoroughly without soaking the rest of the head! You can also set it on another fan if needed.)
-Once the whole mask is washed, take the drying towel over it all again just to be sure, then brush out all areas, and set it in front of a fan or on a head dryer to help speed up the drying process.
-Be sure to go and brush it every 30 minutes to an hour, to get the fur to dry in the correct direction. The fans will be blowing it all around! This can also help you check for more soap.
-After it has dried, run your fingers through it again, if any soap was left over the fur will feel oily, if there is soap remaining then simply mist spray the area and use the towel again to help rinse it.
-Once you know it is all dry, and soap free, give it a gentle brush and it's all clean!! Great work!
-To clean the inside of masks, you can use gentle soap and a hand towel to wipe out the inside, just be sure to not use too much soap! And be sure it all comes out. You also can use alcohol, as explained below. If it is fabric inside your mask, you can use a very small amount of detergent. But again, make sure it all comes out!
-If it is fabric inside, I recommend using a detergent and water mix (make sure the soap is very diluted). Put it in a spray bottle and spray inside, then use a damp towel and spray bottle with only water to wipe it out. You can also use a towel with soapy water instead of a spray bottle.
-If a resin, or other hard material is used, you can do the same, but make sure you wipe it out thoroughly.
All these steps also work for feet paws. Use a gentle mist sprayer, the 3 towels, and scrub gently. Just ignore the parts about eyes and the steps are the same! If your feet have ankle cuffs that are Only fur, you can use the sink tips to wash those out too! This can be used on tails that may have foam as well. Just be sure you do not get too much water in one area, or it could soak into the foam. If this happens, get it dry ASAP to prevent mold from growing!
Using a Carpet Cleaner for Masks (And special pieces)
This episode has demonstrations about carpet cleaners, here!
Handwashing too much of a hassle? Don't think you're cleaning it well enough? Well now, we can tell you what works GREAT for heads! A mini Carpet Cleaner! A new way we were shown by Nitro Shepherd to clean fursuit heads. And it works AMAZINGLY. We cannot recommend this item enough! Find where to buy on our product recommendations page! Please be sure to make sure any machine you purchase does not have a heating element for the water! Remember, hot water is bad!
Here's how to do it!
-Add a tablespoon (or less, don't add too much or it'll be hard to get out!) of detergent into the water side of the machine. Then mix with cool to room temperature water. Make sure the detergent is thoroughly mixed! Then put it back into the machine. You can use carpet cleaner formula, Folex, or "teddy bear cleaner" as well. We personally just prefer liquid laundry detergent. Please DO NOT use scent crystals in this machine!
-Protect your eyes! For 3D following eyes, stuff paper towels into the eyes. For toony, 2D eyes use painters tape. It is not too sticky but will protect the eyes. Also please be aware this machine can very well remove airbrushing! USe with caution.
-Once you know it is mixed well turn on the machine. Then use it as directed! Use the spray nozzle to spray the water soap mixture onto the head, then gently scrub with the brushes. Then use the vacuum to suck up the water and soap! Please be sure to thoroughly get all the soap out of the fur. Use the vacuum until you no longer see suds coming off the fur. Once the suds stop, run your fingers through the fur to make sure it is just damp with water, and the soap is gone! Then use a brush and move onto the next part of your head. We highly recommend doing sections at a time so soap does not dry and get nasty!
-Once you have washed the whole head, give it a good brush, and feel the fur. Any areas that still feel soapy use the vacuum again, if lots of soap is still there, use a regular spray bottle full of cold water and the vacuum to help rinse out the soap.
-This machine can also help wash the inside of foam heads! Do the same thing as the outside! Use the spray from the hose and the vacuum to get it out! Really scrub with the brushes to get up all sweat and oils. There is no fur to worry about on the inside! Please be sure to protect eyes from the inside, as well!
-You can run the vacuum over the whole head one last time to remove as much water as possible, and make sure no more suds come up. Then, you can put your head on the dryer!
-Make sure while the head is drying to brush the fur so it dries in the correct direction. And when it's fully dry, again run your fingers through the fur to make sure that all the soap is gone. If it is, you're done! Good job!
This machine can work on any part of your fursuit. We do recommend however saving it for items you cannot submerge like heads, some feet paws, and some tails. If a piece can be machine washed, please do so! If the inside of your mask is not foam, please use above information for cleaning the inside.
Handwashing too much of a hassle? Don't think you're cleaning it well enough? Well now, we can tell you what works GREAT for heads! A mini Carpet Cleaner! A new way we were shown by Nitro Shepherd to clean fursuit heads. And it works AMAZINGLY. We cannot recommend this item enough! Find where to buy on our product recommendations page! Please be sure to make sure any machine you purchase does not have a heating element for the water! Remember, hot water is bad!
Here's how to do it!
-Add a tablespoon (or less, don't add too much or it'll be hard to get out!) of detergent into the water side of the machine. Then mix with cool to room temperature water. Make sure the detergent is thoroughly mixed! Then put it back into the machine. You can use carpet cleaner formula, Folex, or "teddy bear cleaner" as well. We personally just prefer liquid laundry detergent. Please DO NOT use scent crystals in this machine!
-Protect your eyes! For 3D following eyes, stuff paper towels into the eyes. For toony, 2D eyes use painters tape. It is not too sticky but will protect the eyes. Also please be aware this machine can very well remove airbrushing! USe with caution.
-Once you know it is mixed well turn on the machine. Then use it as directed! Use the spray nozzle to spray the water soap mixture onto the head, then gently scrub with the brushes. Then use the vacuum to suck up the water and soap! Please be sure to thoroughly get all the soap out of the fur. Use the vacuum until you no longer see suds coming off the fur. Once the suds stop, run your fingers through the fur to make sure it is just damp with water, and the soap is gone! Then use a brush and move onto the next part of your head. We highly recommend doing sections at a time so soap does not dry and get nasty!
-Once you have washed the whole head, give it a good brush, and feel the fur. Any areas that still feel soapy use the vacuum again, if lots of soap is still there, use a regular spray bottle full of cold water and the vacuum to help rinse out the soap.
-This machine can also help wash the inside of foam heads! Do the same thing as the outside! Use the spray from the hose and the vacuum to get it out! Really scrub with the brushes to get up all sweat and oils. There is no fur to worry about on the inside! Please be sure to protect eyes from the inside, as well!
-You can run the vacuum over the whole head one last time to remove as much water as possible, and make sure no more suds come up. Then, you can put your head on the dryer!
-Make sure while the head is drying to brush the fur so it dries in the correct direction. And when it's fully dry, again run your fingers through the fur to make sure that all the soap is gone. If it is, you're done! Good job!
This machine can work on any part of your fursuit. We do recommend however saving it for items you cannot submerge like heads, some feet paws, and some tails. If a piece can be machine washed, please do so! If the inside of your mask is not foam, please use above information for cleaning the inside.
Disinfecting
Watch the episode on this, here! There are demonstrations!
Disinfecting is a good way to help your suit stay clean and fresh between washes. These tips also are great for while at conventions where you obviously cannot wash your whole suit! Please do know, this is Not a substitute for actually washing your fursuit, this is just for in between washes or during events/cons. If you wear your suit for only a couple hours at a meetup event, then this is a good way to refresh your suit! This is also great for after suiting long hours at a convention, it will help your suit from smelling bad if done correctly!
You will need Isopropyl Alcohol, which you can buy in any store in the pharmacy section. You can buy it in any percentage! If you cannot find it in a spray bottle, you will need to buy one. Any percentage mix will do, this will depend on how strong you would like it! (Watering it down is optional) You can use this spray on your whole fursuit, as well as your under armor.
If your suit has airbrushing, please ask your maker!
To Disinfect Your Mask: Be sure to put paper towels or something else to protect where the eyes of your mask are, as this mixture could ruin them! So make sure they are protected. Flip the neck fur of the mask out so you can see very well into the inside of the mask. It's recommended to lay the mask down on the back of the head to prevent alcohol from running/dripping into the eyes. Spray the inside of your mask thoroughly with the mist setting on the spray bottle. Even though they are covered, don't directly spray near the eyes. Spray around the inside, and the inside of the neck fur. Be sure to spray around the mouth area. To clean around the eyes, take a wash rag and spray it with the alcohol, and wipe around the eye area instead of spraying, then you can keep it clean without ruining the eyes. (The towel method is great for resin masks or around electronics). Once you have sprayed and wiped out the mask, put it on a fan, or point a fan in its direction to make sure it dries. Leave it with the fan for about 15 minutes, check on the mask, if it is dry, give it a good sniff to make sure it is cleaned, if it still has a smell, clean it again, continue until the smell is gone! (If the smell persists, a wash is better recommended)
Another great way to help clean a fursuit mask, Baby wipes! With a bit of alcohol sprayed directly onto the wipe. Just regular plain baby wipes, nothing fancy, spray the alcohol directly onto the towel and then wipe out your mask, it is a safe way to get around the eyes and mouth area without getting the alcohol near the eyes! It also helps give it a fresh smell!
To Disinfect Your Bodysuit: Turn the bodysuit inside out, and spray it very well in all areas, focusing on areas like arm pits, rear, and between the legs. After spraying it, hang it up with a fan pointing to it. However, if you have a scuba suit hanger dryer, you do not need to turn it inside out. Simply hang it up, spray the inside, and turn the hanger fan on. If your suit has airbrushing, be sure to be careful with the amount you spray, and ask your maker!
To Disinfect Any Other Pieces: Tails generally do not need this, if they get dirty it may need washing instead. For hand paws, spray the inside of the paws and find a way to keep them open with a fan blowing into them so that they dry well. For hand/feet paws, spray the inside of the paws, with a fan blowing into them if possible. Again, if airbrushing is there, ask your maker about spraying the pieces. You also could use the alcohol to wipe down the bottoms of outdoor feet. Either alcohol or simple hand soap and water are good to wipe off the bottoms of outdoor feet. Cleaning the bottoms of outdoor feet isn't really needed, but it is a good idea to do every now and then!
To keep your suit fresh, you also can use dryer sheets, put them inside your suit pieces to keep them smelling good! Some people have used essential oils, we only use oils when we put them onto a paper towel and put them into our head fans. Dryer sheets are a great way to go! There are many different scents. But be sure that the residue and smells do not irritate your allergies or skin.
You can also wipe the fur side of your suit with dryer sheets, this will make your suit smell fresh on the outside and also help with static!
Disinfecting is a good way to help your suit stay clean and fresh between washes. These tips also are great for while at conventions where you obviously cannot wash your whole suit! Please do know, this is Not a substitute for actually washing your fursuit, this is just for in between washes or during events/cons. If you wear your suit for only a couple hours at a meetup event, then this is a good way to refresh your suit! This is also great for after suiting long hours at a convention, it will help your suit from smelling bad if done correctly!
You will need Isopropyl Alcohol, which you can buy in any store in the pharmacy section. You can buy it in any percentage! If you cannot find it in a spray bottle, you will need to buy one. Any percentage mix will do, this will depend on how strong you would like it! (Watering it down is optional) You can use this spray on your whole fursuit, as well as your under armor.
If your suit has airbrushing, please ask your maker!
To Disinfect Your Mask: Be sure to put paper towels or something else to protect where the eyes of your mask are, as this mixture could ruin them! So make sure they are protected. Flip the neck fur of the mask out so you can see very well into the inside of the mask. It's recommended to lay the mask down on the back of the head to prevent alcohol from running/dripping into the eyes. Spray the inside of your mask thoroughly with the mist setting on the spray bottle. Even though they are covered, don't directly spray near the eyes. Spray around the inside, and the inside of the neck fur. Be sure to spray around the mouth area. To clean around the eyes, take a wash rag and spray it with the alcohol, and wipe around the eye area instead of spraying, then you can keep it clean without ruining the eyes. (The towel method is great for resin masks or around electronics). Once you have sprayed and wiped out the mask, put it on a fan, or point a fan in its direction to make sure it dries. Leave it with the fan for about 15 minutes, check on the mask, if it is dry, give it a good sniff to make sure it is cleaned, if it still has a smell, clean it again, continue until the smell is gone! (If the smell persists, a wash is better recommended)
Another great way to help clean a fursuit mask, Baby wipes! With a bit of alcohol sprayed directly onto the wipe. Just regular plain baby wipes, nothing fancy, spray the alcohol directly onto the towel and then wipe out your mask, it is a safe way to get around the eyes and mouth area without getting the alcohol near the eyes! It also helps give it a fresh smell!
To Disinfect Your Bodysuit: Turn the bodysuit inside out, and spray it very well in all areas, focusing on areas like arm pits, rear, and between the legs. After spraying it, hang it up with a fan pointing to it. However, if you have a scuba suit hanger dryer, you do not need to turn it inside out. Simply hang it up, spray the inside, and turn the hanger fan on. If your suit has airbrushing, be sure to be careful with the amount you spray, and ask your maker!
To Disinfect Any Other Pieces: Tails generally do not need this, if they get dirty it may need washing instead. For hand paws, spray the inside of the paws and find a way to keep them open with a fan blowing into them so that they dry well. For hand/feet paws, spray the inside of the paws, with a fan blowing into them if possible. Again, if airbrushing is there, ask your maker about spraying the pieces. You also could use the alcohol to wipe down the bottoms of outdoor feet. Either alcohol or simple hand soap and water are good to wipe off the bottoms of outdoor feet. Cleaning the bottoms of outdoor feet isn't really needed, but it is a good idea to do every now and then!
To keep your suit fresh, you also can use dryer sheets, put them inside your suit pieces to keep them smelling good! Some people have used essential oils, we only use oils when we put them onto a paper towel and put them into our head fans. Dryer sheets are a great way to go! There are many different scents. But be sure that the residue and smells do not irritate your allergies or skin.
You can also wipe the fur side of your suit with dryer sheets, this will make your suit smell fresh on the outside and also help with static!
Preventative Care
Watch the episode on this, here!
There are simple steps you can take to help make your suit last longer, look better, and be cleaner! Most of it is common sense, but they are all key points to keep in mind!!
-BRUSH YOUR FURSUIT. BRUSH IT, BRUSH IT, BRUSH IT. Now yes, it doesn't stay slick and nice for long once you put it on sometimes, but, this is Very important. This helps keep your fur looking nice, soft, and new! Always brush before and after an outing in your suit. You can use a wire, or slicker brush, that you can find in the pet department to help. You can also use regular hair brushes (We personally have 3 brushes. A soft hair brush, a regular hair brush, and a wire/slicker brush. I recommend using the slicker brushes only on hard wear areas, unless you are gentle, these can easily pull fur out!). Brush carefully, again, this fur does not grow back. So do not be too rough while brushing. Pay attention to the areas that need it most, around the neck, arm pits, between the legs, the rear, hand paw palms, and bottom of feet paws (if indoor). Brush all pieces after an outing! If you have fur on your suit with a thin backing, monkey shag for example, please refrain from using a wire slicker brush. If they fur has a thicker backing on it, you can, but a regular hair brush is recommended otherwise!
-ALWAYS wear Under Armor under your fursuit. It is expensive, we know, but you have no idea how much it helps! You want "Heat Gear" Under Armor, and you want a full suit of it. Long sleeve shirt, long pants, and a skull cap or balaclava. Ladies, they do make bras as well, highly recommend you get one. These items will help keep you cooler inside the suit, as well as keep the sweat away from your fursuit. Don't wear your suit without under armor! Some people also wear sweat bands around their wrists, forehead and ankles to help those areas.
-Keep up on washing and disinfecting. Do not just leave your suit after an outing, it must be brushed and cleaned ASAP! If you cannot fully wash it, disinfect it. Please never leave it sitting around after wearing it! Mold and mildew will grow!
-Stay away from dirty areas with mud or anything like that. Be careful where you're walking! Be sure there is a handler to help you avoid these things.
-Stay away from food and drink (except water, always have water!) while in suit. Food and many drinks can stain, or make a mess. Save food for after you have desuited. However, always have water. Water will not hurt your suit.
-See Storage page, again however, do not store your suit immediately after wearing or washing. Pieces must be completely dry and clean before storing, or else mold and gross smells can grow! Also, do not store in a car. During the harsh months of winter and summer, the cold or hot temperatures can easily ruin your suit! Keep it stored safely indoors in temperature controlled rooms. Keep them comfortable!
-DO NOT go anywhere near a restroom while in suit! If you need to use the restroom while in suit, completely desuit before going. If at a con, go to your room, or even desuit in the headless lounge before going in. Generally, you do not need to go while in suit because you're sweating, but if the need arises, desuit 100% before going in. If at a meetup, find a safe place to put your suit with a friend before going. If the situation is dire, and any piece of the suit is in the restroom, you should thoroughly disinfect and clean your suit after returning home or to your room! If a restroom is where you are to suit up, make sure it is clean, but, we recommend finding a better place to suit up other than a restroom.
-Don't forget to wash your fursuit tote or storage item! Duffle bag, tote, box, whatever! Keep it clean. Clean out your storage/travel item every couple of months by washing it out, disinfecting, and making sure it is 100% dry before putting fursuit items back in. Those totes and bags get dirty quick with dirt from the feet and sweat from the suit itself. If it's not clean, and you put your suit in there, your suit won't be clean anymore either! So always keep this in mind.
-Don't be too rough on your suit, these are wearable pieces of art, one of a kind! Have fun, but don't get too crazy while in suit. A maker is not responsible for damages made by you. If you plan to do extreme things in your suit, tell your maker, so they can make sure seams are strong and stuff is durable!
If you need more tips on washing and care, I highly recommend these other sites as well!
http://www.matrices.net/washing.asp
http://cleanfursuits.weebly.com/
There are simple steps you can take to help make your suit last longer, look better, and be cleaner! Most of it is common sense, but they are all key points to keep in mind!!
-BRUSH YOUR FURSUIT. BRUSH IT, BRUSH IT, BRUSH IT. Now yes, it doesn't stay slick and nice for long once you put it on sometimes, but, this is Very important. This helps keep your fur looking nice, soft, and new! Always brush before and after an outing in your suit. You can use a wire, or slicker brush, that you can find in the pet department to help. You can also use regular hair brushes (We personally have 3 brushes. A soft hair brush, a regular hair brush, and a wire/slicker brush. I recommend using the slicker brushes only on hard wear areas, unless you are gentle, these can easily pull fur out!). Brush carefully, again, this fur does not grow back. So do not be too rough while brushing. Pay attention to the areas that need it most, around the neck, arm pits, between the legs, the rear, hand paw palms, and bottom of feet paws (if indoor). Brush all pieces after an outing! If you have fur on your suit with a thin backing, monkey shag for example, please refrain from using a wire slicker brush. If they fur has a thicker backing on it, you can, but a regular hair brush is recommended otherwise!
-ALWAYS wear Under Armor under your fursuit. It is expensive, we know, but you have no idea how much it helps! You want "Heat Gear" Under Armor, and you want a full suit of it. Long sleeve shirt, long pants, and a skull cap or balaclava. Ladies, they do make bras as well, highly recommend you get one. These items will help keep you cooler inside the suit, as well as keep the sweat away from your fursuit. Don't wear your suit without under armor! Some people also wear sweat bands around their wrists, forehead and ankles to help those areas.
-Keep up on washing and disinfecting. Do not just leave your suit after an outing, it must be brushed and cleaned ASAP! If you cannot fully wash it, disinfect it. Please never leave it sitting around after wearing it! Mold and mildew will grow!
-Stay away from dirty areas with mud or anything like that. Be careful where you're walking! Be sure there is a handler to help you avoid these things.
-Stay away from food and drink (except water, always have water!) while in suit. Food and many drinks can stain, or make a mess. Save food for after you have desuited. However, always have water. Water will not hurt your suit.
-See Storage page, again however, do not store your suit immediately after wearing or washing. Pieces must be completely dry and clean before storing, or else mold and gross smells can grow! Also, do not store in a car. During the harsh months of winter and summer, the cold or hot temperatures can easily ruin your suit! Keep it stored safely indoors in temperature controlled rooms. Keep them comfortable!
-DO NOT go anywhere near a restroom while in suit! If you need to use the restroom while in suit, completely desuit before going. If at a con, go to your room, or even desuit in the headless lounge before going in. Generally, you do not need to go while in suit because you're sweating, but if the need arises, desuit 100% before going in. If at a meetup, find a safe place to put your suit with a friend before going. If the situation is dire, and any piece of the suit is in the restroom, you should thoroughly disinfect and clean your suit after returning home or to your room! If a restroom is where you are to suit up, make sure it is clean, but, we recommend finding a better place to suit up other than a restroom.
-Don't forget to wash your fursuit tote or storage item! Duffle bag, tote, box, whatever! Keep it clean. Clean out your storage/travel item every couple of months by washing it out, disinfecting, and making sure it is 100% dry before putting fursuit items back in. Those totes and bags get dirty quick with dirt from the feet and sweat from the suit itself. If it's not clean, and you put your suit in there, your suit won't be clean anymore either! So always keep this in mind.
-Don't be too rough on your suit, these are wearable pieces of art, one of a kind! Have fun, but don't get too crazy while in suit. A maker is not responsible for damages made by you. If you plan to do extreme things in your suit, tell your maker, so they can make sure seams are strong and stuff is durable!
If you need more tips on washing and care, I highly recommend these other sites as well!
http://www.matrices.net/washing.asp
http://cleanfursuits.weebly.com/