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Fursuit Care

Please note that NONE of my products are dryer safe. I do not take responsibility for damages due to improper washing/care. The best way to ensure your fursuit will stay nice longer is to avoid things that may damage or stain it. Make sure to brush your suit often to keep it looking nice. Below are the best ways to care for your ATD fursuit!

Try to Avoid:

Try to avoid things like mud, puddles, food, pools, open flames, etc. Open flames or any kind of excessive heat can melt and damage the fur fibers on your fursuit. Greasy/sticky food can stain your suit. Avoid getting on the floor or ground in your suit. Not only does the ground harbor loads of bacteria, but you can easily stain or damage your suit. Avoid smashing or bending your suit parts. Bending parts of your suit, like the ears, can weaken the material(s) and/or deform the suit.

Helpful Tips:

  • Fursuits do not need deep cleaned after every use. Only after heavy use/profuse sweating does your suit need deep cleaned.

  • Use fursuit spray on the interior of suit parts after every use. Avoid spraying directly on the eyes.

  • When it's time to wash your suit, it's important to choose a gentle detergent. I recommend Woolite Delicates laundry detergent.  Avoid any detergents with additives such as bleach or fabric softeners.

  • Only use COLD water when washing any suit parts. Heat can melt/distort the fur fibers, causing permanent damage to faux fur.

  • Folex Carpet Spot Remover is a great product to spot clean tough stains.

  • Wearing moisture-wicking athletic wear such as Under Armour and/or a balaclava while suiting not only helps keep sweat out of your fursuit, but also helps keep you cool! 

Brushing Your Fursuit:

Brushing your fursuit is the one of the easiest and most important forms of care to maintain the quality of your suit. Brush your fursuit often, especially after washing, during use, and occasionally while storing. Every part of your suit needs brushed. Shaved fur and minky needs brushed too!

  • Always brush fur/minky in the natural direction of the fibers.

  • Brush gently to avoid balding/damaging the fibers.

  • A slicker brush with plastic tips is ideal for brushing long & medium length furs. 

  • A flea comb is ideal for brushing short and/or shaved fur as well as minky fabric in areas like pawpads, nose, inner ears, etc.

When Storing Your Fursuit:

  • Do not store in direct sunlight

  • Store in a cool & dry environment

  • Remove any accessories such as piercings, magnetic eyelids, halters, etc to avoid fur matts and foam disfiguration

  • Avoid smashing/squishing your suit (Your fursuit could become permanently damaged if stored in unnatural positions for long periods of time)

  • Vacuum sealing heads and/or feetpaws is not recommended

  • To avoid theft and/or heat damage, do not store/leave your fursuit in a car 

Cleaning Methods

Portable Carpet Cleaner (Recommended) 

A portable carpet cleaner, such as a Bissell Little Green, can be used to spot clean or deep clean your fursuit. This cleaning method is effective at removing dirt and sweat from your suit while still being gentle enough to not damage suit parts. Please be sure to use a carpet cleaner that does not heat the water. Only use cold water with a gentle detergent when cleaning your suit.      

Steps:

  • Remove all magnetic parts such as hair, eyelids, jewelry, etc from your suit.

  • Remove all stuffing from bodysuit padding/tails with zippers.

  • Fill the machine with cold water and add a splash of gentle detergent to the water. I recommend Woolites Delicates laundry detergent.

  • Spray your fursuit parts with the solution in sections (avoid spraying the eyes). Use the machine to suck out the solution. Repeat this process until the water is clean. Use the machine to rinse your suit with clean water and no detergent.

  • After removing as much water as possible with the machine, dry the parts using a fan until completely dry.

  • Damp or lightly wet bodysuits may be hung up to dry. Very wet bodysuits can be draped over a couple chairs or laid flat to dry. The extra water weight from a very wet bodysuit that is hung up can stretch and shorten the life of your suit.

  • Brush the fur in the correct direction about every 30 minutes while drying to avoid crimping. Make sure the parts are COMPLETELY dry before removing them from the fan to avoid mold, mildew, or unpleasant smells.

Hand Wash

Hand washing your fursuit is the most gentle way to wash your suit. All that's needed is a clean soft cloth, a fursuit brush, gentle detergent, and a fan.          

Heads:

  • Remove all magnetic parts such as hair, eyelids, jewelry, etc from your suit.

  • ATD heads may be washed in a bathtub or sink. Fill the sink/bathtub with cold water and add a splash of gentle detergent to the water. I recommend Woolites Delicates laundry detergent.

  • Your fursuit neck may be submerged in the water, but avoid submerging the face. 

  • Ball up a cloth or paper towel and place in each eye to avoid splashing excess water on the eyes.

  • Use a small amount of detergent to saturate a damp cleaning cloth. Blot and/or wipe your head with the soapy, saturated rag and/or fingertips in the direction of the fur.

  • Drain the dirty water. Make sure to rinse thoroughly with a cloth saturated with clean water. Repeat rinsing as needed. Assure there is absolutely zero detergent left in the head. Detergent left in the fur can cause crimping, discoloring, and possibly permanent damage to the materials used on your suit.

  • Gently squish out as much water as possible with a dry cloth.

  • After removing as much water as possible, dry the head using a fan until completely dry.

  • Brush the fur in the correct direction about every 30 minutes while drying to avoid crimping. Make sure the head COMPLETELY dry before removing it from the fan to avoid mold, mildew, or unpleasant smells.

Handpaws/Feetpaws/Tails/Bodysuits:

  • Remove all stuffing from bodysuit padding/tails with zippers.

  • ATD parts may be washed in a bathtub or sink. Fill the sink/bathtub with cold water and add a splash of gentle detergent to the water. I recommend Woolites Delicates laundry detergent.

  • Your fursuit parts may be submerged in the water, excluding feetpaws.

  • Agitate the fur to make sure the parts are saturated with water and detergent. Feetpaws should be wiped with a soapy, saturated rag and/or fingertips in the direction of the fur.

  • Drain the dirty water and rinse until the water is clear. Assure there is absolutely zero detergent left in the suit parts. Detergent left in the fur can cause crimping, discoloring, and possibly permanent damage to the materials used on your suit.

  • Gently squish/squeeze out as much water as possible with your hands and/or a dry cloth (especially handpaw fingers).

  • After removing as much water as possible, dry the parts using a fan until completely dry.

    Damp or lightly wet bodysuits may be hung up to dry. Very wet bodysuits can be draped over a couple chairs or laid flat to dry. The extra water weight from a very wet bodysuit that is hung up can stretch and shorten the life of your suit.

  • Brush the fur in the correct direction about every 30 minutes while drying to avoid crimping. Make sure the parts are COMPLETELY dry before removing them from the fan to avoid mold, mildew, or unpleasant smells.

Washing Machine

Only ATD bodysuits and handpaws are machine washable. Washing suit parts in a washing machine can be a tad rough on your suit if done excessively. Washing machines with agitators are not recommended/tested. Suit parts can get caught on the agitator and damaged. Only use cold water when washing your fursuit. NEVER use a dryer to dry suit parts.

Heads/Feetpaws/Tails:

  • Heads/feetpaws/tails are NOT machine washable. 

Bodysuits/Handpaws:

  • Remove all stuffing from bodysuit padding.

  • Turn bodysuits inside out and zip it up.

  • Handpaws should be placed in a mesh laundry bag or pillow case.

  • Use a gentle detergent such as Woolites Delicates laundry detergent.

  • Wash bodysuit/handpaws on a delicate cycle with COLD water only.

  • When the cycle is done, squeeze out any excess water with your hands (especially handpaw fingers).

  • Bodysuits should be turned right side out again before drying.

  • After removing as much water as possible, dry the parts using a fan until completely dry.

  • Damp or lightly wet bodysuits may be hung up to dry. Very wet bodysuits can be draped over a couple chairs or laid flat to dry. The extra water weight from a very wet bodysuit that is hung up can stretch and shorten the life of your suit.

  • Brush the fur in the correct direction about every 30 minutes while drying to avoid crimping. Make sure the parts are COMPLETELY dry before removing them from the fan to avoid mold, mildew, or unpleasant smells.

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