Fursuit Care Guide!

After-Wear Care

After each wear, take time to gently maintain your fursuit to preserve its appearance and longevity.

  • Brush Before & After Every Wear: Gently brush the fur to prevent matting and keep fibers smooth, especially in high-friction areas. A slicker brush with rounded tips is highly recommended.

  • Use Disinfecting Sprays Carefully: Light disinfecting sprays may be used to freshen the suit, but avoid all contact with eye mesh or interior foam areas.

  • Wear Protective Undergarments: Breathable lycra garments such as Under Armour Heat Gear are recommended to reduce sweat, oils, and odor buildup on the fursuit itself.

  • Protect Hair and Skin Oils: A lycra balaclava is strongly recommended when wearing a fursuit head to maintain cleanliness and comfort.

  • Limit Head Compression: Avoid leaving the fursuit head compressed for extended periods (5+ hours). Light pressure is acceptable, but allow foam time to rebound to its original shape between uses.

Storage and Travel

Proper storage is essential to maintaining the structure and lifespan of your fursuit.

  • Store your fursuit in a cool, dry, climate-controlled environment.

  • Avoid storing in cars, attics, basements, or other high-heat environments, as excessive heat can weaken adhesives, warp foam, and permanently damage materials.

  • Keep away from direct sunlight, which may fade colors and degrade materials over time.

  • When traveling, store your suit in a protective bag or container to prevent crushing or deformation. Avoid leaving it in hot vehicles for any period of time.

Cleaning Bodysuit Parts (Bodysuits, Handpaws, Tails, Feetpaws)

Machine washing is NOT recommended for any part of the fursuit, including bodysuits, handpaws, tails, or feetpaws. Hand washing is the safest method for all components.

  • Use cold water only with a mild, fragrance-free, dye-free detergent designed for synthetic fabrics. Avoid bleach, fabric softeners, and harsh or enzyme-heavy cleaners.

  • Turn bodysuits inside out before washing. Handpaws, tails, and feetpaws may be cleaned as-is.

  • Gently submerge and repeatedly squeeze the suit to work in the detergent/water—do not scrub aggressively.

  • Rinse thoroughly at least three times with cold water to ensure all soap is removed.

  • Carefully press out excess water (do not wring or twist).

  • If needed, a spin-only cycle may be used for short durations with smaller items placed inside a protective pillowcase.

  • Brush fur every hour while drying to maintain fur fiber direction and prevent matting.

  • Ensure all parts are fully dry before storing or wearing. This may take 24 hours of air-drying!

Cleaning the Head

Fursuit heads require extra care due to internal foam and delicate structure.

  • Do not machine wash or fully submerge the head in water under any circumstances.

  • Spot clean using a damp cloth and a gentle cleaner such as Folex or equivalent. A Bissell-style spot cleaner may be used cautiously for deeper cleaning, avoiding all eye mesh.

  • Do not scrub or apply pressure directly to eye mesh, as this may cause distortion or damage.

  • After cleaning, ensure all cleaning agents are fully rinsed out.

  • Allow the head to dry completely using strong airflow (such as a fan). Do not use heat sources.

  • Brush fur frequently while drying to restore smooth appearance and fur direction.


Drying

Proper drying is essential to prevent damage, odor buildup, and material breakdown.

  • All fursuit components must be completely dry before storage or use.

  • Drying time may vary depending on humidity, airflow, and thickness of materials, but typically requires 24–48 hours or longer for full bodysuits.

  • Never store or wear a damp or partially dry fursuit, as this can lead to mildew, odor retention, and material damage.

  • Use fans or open-air circulation to speed up drying.

  • Avoid all heat sources including hair dryers, heaters, radiators, or direct sunlight, as heat can permanently damage foam structure, adhesives, and fur fibers.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do:

  • Do gently brush your suit before and after every wear

  • Do allow full drying time before storage

  • Do use mild, fragrance-free detergents

  • Do store in a cool, dry environment

  • Do use airflow (fans) for drying

  • Do handle with clean hands or wear undergarments when possible

Don’t:

  • Don’t machine wash any part of the fursuit

  • Don’t use bleach, fabric softeners, or harsh chemicals

  • Don’t expose the suit to high heat or direct sunlight

  • Don’t leave the suit compressed for long periods

  • Don’t scrub eye mesh or fully submerge the head

  • Don’t store in hot vehicles or non-climate-controlled environments for long periods

  • Don’t wear damp or partially dried suit parts