These fursuit care instructions are for SpiritPanda Costumes fursuits ONLY.
Please speak to your maker about care instructions.
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Recommended Cleaning Supplies
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Laundry detergent for synthetic fabrics
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Hex Performance Laundry Detergent is my recommendation.
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Portable carpet cleaner that does NOT heat water (ex. Bissell Green Machine)
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Fans (box fans that can be rotated, hanger fans etc.)
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Brushing Fursuit Parts
My favorite tools for brushing suit parts are metal toothed combs and slicker brushes with the plastic tips.
Metal toothed combs are great for getting out mats and tangles without pulling too much. Start combing at the ends of the fur and work your way in toward the backing.
Brush gently with slicker brushes. The way you hold the brush or the direction you brush doesn't matter. Do not brush short shaved fur with a slicker unless you are very very very gentle (this can include faces, bellies, inner thighs, fingers, toes etc.). Too much rough brushing can cause balding on any fur.
Importance of Water Temperature
When washing any fursuit parts, use cold or lukewarm water only. Faux fur is made from plastic (usually acrylic or polyester). If too much heat is applied for long periods of time, the fibers can melt and distort causing permanent damage. The only way to completely repair heat damaged fur is to replace it. Pay close attention to your water temperature when washing! If you’re not sure if a certain temperature is safe, test it with a scrap piece of faux fur first.
Do not use a dryer. Ever. Driers can cause heat damage to fur and/or loosen glue bonds, even when running with no heat. Do not leave any fursuit parts in direct sunlight or outside on very hot days to dry. If possible, it’s better to keep fursuit parts indoors to dry.
Spot Cleaning
If there are any areas with deep stains or heavy dirt, gently agitate the area with a soft brush or your fingers to help loosen any debris and wet with water. Next, apply a liberal amount of Folex or other carpet/upholstery stain remover and gently scrub. Stains should disappear quickly. I like to completely rinse the Folex out of the fabric and reexamine the area. If I think I still see a small amount of the stain, I’ll reapply Folex and scrub again until the area is clean.
If Folex doesn’t completely remove the stain, try Grandma’s Secret Spot Remover. Follow the same instructions above.
Using a Washing Machine
AGAIN, make sure you are washing with COLD WATER ONLY.
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Most SpiritPanda Costumes fursuits are fully machine washable. Manokit heads are always an exception - please do not wash Manokit heads in a washing machine. The resin teeth can chip/scratch/break with too much force.
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I have only tested washing fursuit parts in TOP LOADER machines with NO AGITATORS. I CANNOT guarantee SpiritPanda Costumes fursuits will be safe in any other style of washing machine due to not testing them personally.
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When washing parts in a washing machine:
- remove all electronics, eye mesh, tongues and any other magnetic/removable parts from heads
- wash heads by themselves, keep them upright
- if a fursuit part has paint on it, there is a risk of the paint running or fading!
- put smaller parts in mesh laundry bags
- remove finger pillows from handpaws
- remove polyfil from legs/other padded parts
- when washing velcro feetpaws/soles in a machine, make sure the hook/rough side of the velcro is covered
-- the soles can be attached to the feetpaws and/or the soles can be put in a mesh laundry bag
-- if the hook side of velcro gets gunked up with fuzz, gently picking it with a slicker brush can help clean it up
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Washing with a Portable Carpet Cleaner
Washing fursuit parts with a portable carpet cleaner, such as a Bissell Green Machine, is a great way to get them clean. When choosing a machine, choose one that doesn't heat the water. Sometimes, the machines can make the water too hot for faux fur and that can cause damage.
You can use any carpet cleaner liquid or any laundry detergent meant to clean synthetic fabrics in the machine. Make sure you add the water first and then the detergent to the cleaning solution compartment. This will cause fewer suds. Wash the fursuit part with the water/detergent until you get clean waste water. Avoid washing areas that could have paint - the most common areas are: around the eyes, around the nostrils and around the lips. Getting these areas wet could cause paint to run.
Once the part is clean, go over it one last time with only water - no cleaner. This will rinse the cleaner out of the fabric. Try to suck as much water as possible out of the fabric/foam so that it can dry faster.
Washing in a Sink or Tub
Fursuit parts can also be washed in a tub or sink.
Please refer to the 'Using a Washing Machine' section to see how to prepare each fursuit part for washing.
Avoid washing areas that could have paint - the most common areas are: around the eyes, around the nostrils and around the lips. Getting these areas wet could cause paint to run.
Fill the tub with cold or lukewarm water, add a small amount of your preferred laundry detergent and then submerge the fursuit part that needs washing. Gently agitate the fur and make sure everything is properly saturated with detergent. Allow the parts to soak for about 20 - 30 minutes. You can agitate the fur a few times during the soak.
After the time is up, drain the dirty water and rinse the fursuit part until the water runs clear and ALL of the soap is removed. This can be a labor intensive process for large parts like body suits. Take breaks if needed, but be sure to rinse all of the soap out. Soap residue can make fur appear greasy and can cause dirt/smells to cling to the area.
Squeeze as much water out of the fursuit part as you can. Soaked fursuit parts can be VERY heavy! The more water you remove, the better.
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Drying Fursuit Parts
Get fursuit parts dry as quickly as possible after washing them! Wet fursuit parts can grow mold/mildew.
DO NOT USE A DRYER. Even driers set to no heat can cause friction damage to fur.
Do not place fursuit parts in direct sunlight or outside on hot days to dry.
The best way to get fursuit parts dry is by using fans.
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Bodysuits:
- if a bodysuit was spun in a washing machine spin cycle, it will be light enough to hang to dry. Using a fursuit specific hanger dryer or a wetsuit hanger dryer is a great way to dry bodysuits. These hangers have fans built into them and they are made to hold heavy, wet clothing.
- if a bodysuit was washed in a tub and is still pretty wet/heavy, do not hang it up. This can stretch the fur on the shoulder/neck areas. Lay the bodysuit over a clothing drying rack or a few chairs. Aim a box fan or 2 at the bodysuit to help get it dry faster.
- brush the fur of the bodysuit in the correct direction while it's drying.
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Heads:
- place a head on top of a box fan or put the head on a stand and aim a fan at it
- you can also use a fursuit specific head drying stand
- brush the fur on the head in the correct direction
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Handpaws/Feetpaws/Tails/Other Small Parts:
- small parts can be hung up to dry or draped over something
- aim a fan at hands and feet to dry them
- small fans can also be placed inside of feetpaws to help dry the inside faster
- fursuit specific hand/feet driers are also available
- do not use shoe driers unless they have a no heat option - just to be safe!
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Cleaning at Events
It’s important to disinfect and brush your costume parts while at an event.
Heads – Remove batteries from any electronics. Remove magnetic eye mesh. Lightly spray the inside with Hex deodorizing spray, wipe it out with a clean cloth and leave the neck open to dry. DO NOT spray eye mesh, nostrils, lips or any areas with paint and do not soak heads.
Hands – Remove finger pillows. Lightly spray the pillows and inside of the hands with Hex deodorizing spray. Leave open for drying.
Feet – Lightly spray the inside of the feet with Hex deodorizing spray.
Bodysuits – Lightly spray arm pits, crotch and any areas where you sweat the most with Hex deodorizing spray.
Hang up to dry.
I highly recommend bringing box fans and/or fursuit dryer fans to events. You want your fursuit parts to dry as quickly as possible so that they do not grow mold and stay smelling nice. Stinky fursuits are usually ones that have been left wet for long periods of time. No one wants to hug a smelly suit! 😉
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**Fursuit Sprays: Most fursuit sprays should be used as a fursuit perfume and not as a way to clean. I recommend using Hex Deodorizing spray at events to keep parts smelling fresh.
I do not recommend using rubbing alcohol to clean fursuit parts as it can break down glues and cause paints to run.