Fursuit Care
Basic Care
These basic steps will help keep your fursuit looking it's best
Brush your suit
A quick brush before and after each wear will help prevent mats and keep the fur looking nice and smooth. I recommend a double sided pet brush. Use the soft bristles on the face and the bigger metal bristles on the bodysuit, tail, etc. The groin and armpits are prone to matting so brush those areas well.
A quick brush before and after each wear will help prevent mats and keep the fur looking nice and smooth. I recommend a double sided pet brush. Use the soft bristles on the face and the bigger metal bristles on the bodysuit, tail, etc. The groin and armpits are prone to matting so brush those areas well.
Under Suit
Wearing lycra undergarments such as sports compression gear will help protect you suit from sweat. A lycra balaclava is also recommended.
Wearing lycra undergarments such as sports compression gear will help protect you suit from sweat. A lycra balaclava is also recommended.
Wash your suit
I recommend washing your suit after each convention. I will cover washing more thoroughly in another section.
I recommend washing your suit after each convention. I will cover washing more thoroughly in another section.
Don't get too dirty
Try to avoid dirt, mud, grass or other things that may stain your suit. While TMC suits are washable certain stains are very difficult to remove without damaging the furs used to make them.
Try to avoid dirt, mud, grass or other things that may stain your suit. While TMC suits are washable certain stains are very difficult to remove without damaging the furs used to make them.
Don't get too dirty
Try to avoid dirt, mud, grass or other things that may stain your suit. While TMC suits are washable certain stains are very difficult to remove without damaging the furs used to make them.
Try to avoid dirt, mud, grass or other things that may stain your suit. While TMC suits are washable certain stains are very difficult to remove without damaging the furs used to make them.
Avoid extreme heat
Heat can not only damage the fur itself but it can loosen glue and cause damage. Many suits have been damaged simply by being left in a hot car.
Heat can not only damage the fur itself but it can loosen glue and cause damage. Many suits have been damaged simply by being left in a hot car.
Don't leave your suit scrunched up
I take pride in the durability of my work but leaving them compressed over time will cause damage. A day or 2 for transport here or there isn't a problem but prolonged periods will damage your suit.
I take pride in the durability of my work but leaving them compressed over time will cause damage. A day or 2 for transport here or there isn't a problem but prolonged periods will damage your suit.
Washing your suit
All costumes are built in my home that I share with cats and dogs. Although every effort is made to keep them separated their fur and dander may come in contact with your items.
I also use chalk to mark some patterns
I also use chalk to mark some patterns
Machine Washing
TMC made from 2018 onward are able to be washed in both front loader and top loader washing machines without a central agitator. There are just a few things you need to remember:
- Always use a cold water wash. Using hot water can damage your suit beyond repair
- Turn the bodysuit inside out before washing
- Remove all padding from the tail and bodysuit if it is padded via the zips under the tail and inside the bodysuit
- Turn the spins up (or run a spin only cycle after washing), this will spin a lot of the water out of your suit.
- Give your suit a gentle brushing while it is still damp so the fur dries nice and neat.
- To dry your suit hang it over a shower rail over the bath or over a clothesline outside with most of the weight supported (wet fur is very heavy and may stretch if hung up normally when it's wet).
- NEVER put your fursuit in a dryer it can destroy your fursuit.
- Some special care needs to be taken with the head. I prefer to not use any detergent when washing my heads just in case any residue remains.
- I wash my suits padding occasionally as well. To do this simply remove the padding from the suit and put it in a dedicates washing bag and run your machine on a short cycle.
Tub Washing
I prefer the washing machine method because not only is it quick and easy but it is thorough however you can also wash your suit in a bathtub:
- Fill a laundry tub or bath with enough cold water to fully submerge your suit.
- Remove all padding from the tail and bodysuit if it is padded via the zips under the tail and inside the bodysuit
- Avoid scrubbing the suit because it can matt the fur
- Lather up your suit with soap or detergent and allow it to soak for a few minutes drain the tub and rinse the suit with cold water.
- To dry the suit pat the water off with a towels or put it in an empty washing machine on a spin cycle to spin the water out.
- Give your suit a gentle brushing while it is still slightly damp
- Hang your suit over a shower rail over the bath with most of the weigh supported (wet fur is very heavy and may stretch if hung up on an coat hanger when it's wet)
Storage and Transport
- There are a number of great transport options for your suit from plastic tubs with clip on lids, sports bags or wheelie suitcases it's just a matter of finding what works best for you.
- If you are tight on space vacuum bags are a great option for packing your bodysuit, tail, gloves and feet. Heads can be vac packed but I don't recommend it as they can become deformed if left for too long
- Make sure the head is on top and isn't being squashed or bent as it may become permanently deformed.
- NEVER store your suit while it is still damp as this can cause mould to grow in your suit and destroy your suit.
- Store your suit out of direct sunlight as it can discolour the fur
- If you hang your bodysuit up when storing it use the thickest coat hanger you can find. The kind used for suit jackets are fantastic and can help prevent the fur stretching over time
- Never store anything on top of your head as it may become distorted.
- Rolling up your gloves and stuffing them in your head can help prevent the head from being squashed.
