Fursuit Care Guide

This is very much a WIP, I am restoring it from my original website but this will take some time. 

Fursuit Cleaning and Care Guide

Basic Care:



Brush your suit!

That is one of the most important things to keep in mind before and after suiting. This will keep the fur from matting. A slicker brush (or similar) is perfect, and can be found at most stores! Places that rub together while suiting may need extra brushing to get rid of the matted fur (Crotch, Armpits, Tail etc.) I recommend that you get a brush that is double sided soft bristled and wire, soft for everyday brushing, and the wire for when mats do happen!

Keep in mind fursuits do shed after brushing, but the fur does not grow back! Never over brush a suit, it will decrease the life you get out of your suit!

 

Lev Says: "Don't be a Stinky!"

Disinfect your suit!
With bodysuits, you will obviously get hot and sweaty. Inside your head will get hot as well. To get rid of the odor inside your head, you can use a disinfectant such as a mixture of water and rubbing alcohol (50/50). You can also buy sprays specifically for fursuits! 

Do not use Lysol or Febreeze as it can make the foam and furs used in your costume pieces disintegrate over time. After wearing your suit, turn your bodysuit inside out and hang it up, spray it with the water/alcohol mixture, then let it air dry. 

Salty Says: "A Little goes a long way!"

SaltyPuppyStudios Offers Their Own Spray Line!:

Our sprays are made with 100% body safe ingredients, recycled/recyclable packaging, and come in tons of awesome smells!

All of SPS sprays also feature lovely characters from our fandom - its hard to not want to collect them all!

Fursuit Spray Bottle Fragrance Cleaner 8oz / 236ml - (BEST VALUE) - Body Safe Costume Cleaner US Buyers Only! ~ image 3

What smells do we have? 
Fruit Loops, Pumpkin Spice, Cupcake, Strawberry, Grape Soda, Blue Raspberry, Cinnamon, Lavender, Cherry Blossom, Fruit Punch and Many more!

Check out our sprays here ! 

What do I wear under my suit?

To keep some of the sweat from getting on your bodysuit, you should wear Under Armor or something similar. This will keep you from overheating as quickly and will feel better against your skin compared to a normal T-shirt and the fur backing.  I cannot express just how much getting Under Armor will improve your suiting experience! For heads, wear a balaclava. You can even wear one if the head already has one built in! This will keep your hair out of your face(if you have long hair) and keep you cooler and prevent sweat from getting all over the inside of your head.

 

Cleaning a Fursuit

Washing your suit

Whats Safe to Use on my Suit? Bodysuits, tails, and hand paws in general (check with SaltySuits first) can be washed in the washer (cold water only) with a free and clear detergent. Woolite is the best to use because it makes the fur soft and smells nice! Remove any padding if possible before you wash your bodysuit! You may also use carpet stain remover like Folex to remove stains from your suit while washing. Fabric Softener can be used to keep the fibers soft, again if there is a free and clear version use that. The biggest thing to remember is to brush your suit after washing, otherwise the fur will look very clumpy and gross once dry. Be GENTLE when brushing!

Pssst! Is another great product I recommend for any costumer. The product is simple to use, simply hold the can slightly away from what fur you need to clean, spray, let it sit for a few minutes and then brush the costume out. The dry shampoo will remove oils and grime from your suit and leave it soft and fluffy! This is not a substitute for cleaning your costume, but can be used between washing!


SaltySuits heads may not be machine washable but can still be spot-cleaned with a wet cloth and be sterilized! If your suit only requires spot cleaning, it can be cleaned with Folex(a carpet stain remover). 

Here is a tutorial by Matrices on how to use Folex to spot clean your suit! 


For washing any part of a suit an extra spin cycle can work wonders if you can to get most of the water out, just be sure to set your washer to 'delicate'. The water and detergent should not affect the suit pieces (unless they are airbrushed). Never use bleach on a fursuit! Last but not least, do not attempt to lift your parts out of the washer if it is soaked with water, it will be heavy and may stretch or rip the fur or foam.

Here is a good tutorial by NeonSlushie on how to wash your fursuit!

Drying your suit...

NEVER dry a suit in the dryer with the heat setting on. Doing so can melt the fibers on your suit and completely ruin it. Instead, put it on tumble dry/fluff(if you dryer has it), or lie your bodysuit on a ventilated surface to let it air dry. It's best to have the fur side showing and to brush it out using a slicker brush. You can put it in front of a cool fan to speed up the drying process. Handpaws, heads, and other fursuit parts may also be dried this way. For smaller parts, you may also use a hair dryer on the cool setting only. Be sure to keep checking back on your suit while it is drying and brush it to keep the fur from clumping and to make it nice and soft.

Storing your fursuit....
For long-term storing, it is best to keep your suit in a cool, dry place. Do not keep it in a place that may get too hot as the glue on the head may melt! You can hang your bodysuit on a hanger and let the head and other parts sit on a shelf. Storing your suit in a storage container for long periods of time is not recommended since the fur may crinkle and get oily over time.


When traveling, keep your suit in a plastic container or something heavy duty that cannot be crushed. You can keep dryer sheets in the head, feet and bodysuit to keep it smelling fresh while being transported. If you are traveling by car with your suit, keep it air conditioned, and do not leave it in your car for long periods of time in the sun. You don't want your suit coming apart before you get to a con!

If you are unsure or have any questions about cleaning and maintaining your suit PLEASE contact at saltypuppystudios@gmail.com

Quality Materials for Makers, by a maker

SaltyPuppyStudios has been making fursuits since 2012. We strive to take the guess work out of making your suit, so that makers like us can just enjoy the process :)

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