Thank you for commissioning a suit from me! Here is a copy of my care sheet to help you keep your suit as clean and as fresh as the day it was created, so they can help to keep you happy for hopefully, many years!
Popped seams are common, whether they happen while you’re being active, or in the wash - they won't fall apart immediately, but they will require fixing sooner rather than later. I would invest a small repair kit, with sewing needles, scissors, and strong thread that you can also take with you to cons, just in case.
The button below will take you to a YouTube playlist I have put together on how to take care of your suit. It includes simple sewing techniques and overall, how to maintain your suit. If you feel it is missing something, please let me know and I will add it onto the playlist!
Storage
The bodysuit can be hung up, but ensure it is on a large and strong hanger with the padding removed to make sure the weight is distributed evenly.
Alternatively, it can be placed into storage out of direct sunlight, carefully folded. Ideally it is placed into a storage bag to help prevent it from getting dusty.
If stored for a long period of time, take it out and brush every so often.
You can also add dryer sheets to the head to help keep it smelling fresh.
General Care
Brush the fur with a slicker brush – but PUSH the brush through the fur fibres rather than pulling. This lessens the risk of fur fibres being pulled out. Fake fur will shed over time, and will not grow back so you want to lessen the risk of bald patches. You can also use a soft bristled brush instead of a slicker brush.
A quick way to disinfect your suit once worn is to spray an anti-bacterial disinfectant fabric spray (i.e. Dettol) on the inside of the head, hands, feet and body. Once sprayed, leave to dry in a ventilated place, with a fan blowing on the inside of the head in particular.
You should ideally wash your suit after being worn two-three times, depending on how much you sweat. ALWAYS wash your suit after every convention.
Washing your fursuit
When you go to wash your fursuit, the bodysuit should be turned inside out and zipped up to help the suit keep it’s shape, with the handpaws going into a laundry bag or pillow case.
Remove all padding if possible to decrease the load in the washing machine. The bodysuit, handpaws, and fabric only parts can be washed. If your tail can fit in the washing machine, they can be washed in the same way as the bodysuit.
Feetpaws, both plantigrade and digitigrade must be washed by hand due to them not fitting in the washing machine.
Vanish Bars are EXCELLENT for cleaning stains and white parts by hand!
A quick way to disinfect your suit once worn is to spray an anti-bacterial disinfectant fabric spray (i.e. Dettol) on the inside of the head, hands, feet and body. Once sprayed, leave to dry in a ventilated place, with a fan blowing on the inside of the head in particular.
You should ideally wash your bodysuit after being worn two-three times, depending on how much you sweat. The outside of the head does not need to be washed as often - it can get away with a few times a year, but the inside of the head will need to be washed more often!
ALWAYS wash your suit after every convention.
Cleaning the head
Surface wash the head with cool water and some gentle detergent or fursuit shampoo, if you are able to get some. Avoid getting too much water onto the eyes! You can help to protect the eyes if they are follow me style, by stuffing the cavities with paper towels.
For the inside of the head, use a mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol. This helps to disinfect the head, kill and bacteria and make the head’s life span longer!
When you are at meets, or wanting to give the inside a quick wipe down, you can use antibacterial wipes or spray.
You can also use a Bissell for cleaning the head too – just follow the cleaning by hand guide.
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Cleaning via washing Machine
When it comes to washing your suit, the washing machine on a cold wash is your best option. It will help save you time, a LOT of effort and potentional injuries than if you were to use a bath or a shower!
Use a gentle detergent that is NOT woolite or woolite delicate. I use fairy Non-Bio cold wash gel, and mildly scented. Once the wash cycle is done, do a spin cycle to help wring out the excess water. DO NOT TUMBLE DRY.
Cleaning via Bissell Cleaner
The best way to hand wash is with a Bissell spot cleaner – put towels down first! Put some detergent into the water, and spray the suit down, keeping the fabric away from the heat vent on the cleaner.
Scrub for a little while, then use the bissell to vacuum the water out of the suit. Once done, take a photo of the forbidden suit juice, post to social media, then pour the water away. I have included a video, made by Reskell that goes into detail on how to use a Bissell spot cleaner, as well as where you can buy one.
WARNING:
Using the shower / bath hand washing method increases the risk of you injuring yourself if the bodysuit is not wrung out as much as possible to remove all excess water.
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I highly recommend using the Washing Machine and/or the Bissell method.
Cleaning via Bath / Shower
You can wash the suit in a bath with lukewarm water and detergent. Turn the suit inside out to protect the fur fibres, and remove all padding if possible.
Put the bodysuit, handpaws and tail into the bath, and start to work in the detergent by hand. Some people will use the grape-crushing method to ease the strain on their back and arms. You will be doing this until the suit is completely saturated with water and detergent.
Once the suit is soaked in water and detergent, you will need to drain the bath, and rinse the suit until the water runs clear. This can also be done if you only have a shower! You just will not be able to use the grape-crushing method, and instead be using your arms.
Once the water is running clear, and you have rinsed out all of the detergent on your suit, take extra time and care to wring out ALL of the excess water in your bodysuit.
Drying your fursuit
DO NOT USE SPACE HEATERS OR TUMBLE DRY THE SUITS. These will damage the fur fibres of the suit, sometimes beyond repair!
Once the suit parts are washed, lay them on a rack to dry. This helps to spread the weight of the bodysuit and helps to prevent it from stretching, making sure it still fits you comfortably.
Brush with a wide toothed comb, soft bristled brush, tangle teezer, or a slicker brush – but pushing the slicker brush rather than pulling. This reduces the fur fibres being pulled out, and stops the fur from clumping while drying. Brush every hour or so until dry!
Use a fan on all of the suit pieces if you can to ensure they are drying. The head and feet will require the fan directly into the entrances.
Travelling with your suit
Always use the largest suitcase you can check in with airlines. If you can fit your suit in a smaller case, do so to save space! Check the suitcase limits with the airlines, just in case. You can used soft suitcases or hard-shelled ones to transport your suits, whichever one you feel more comfortable having your suit in. Hard-shelled suitcases have the advantage of being able to have items rest on them, but the disadvantage of not being able to expand.
You can vacuum pack the bodysuit / padding to save space, but do not keep them sealed for longer than 12 hours.
If possible, put your head into a separate bag to strap onto the suitcase handles.
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At-Con Care
When at a con, the padding / stuffing can remain in the suit when hung up and not in use.
After each wear, treat the suit with antibacterial spray. You will need to gently but firmly brush the armpits and crotch to detangle the fur fibres and prevent that matted look.
Brush the rest of the suit, including the shorter furs! If possible, put the head onto a fan to air out, and another fan into the bodysuit to help dry it more quickly.
In case of any spills or stains at a con, the suits can be washed with cool water and a vanish bar. Hang to dry.