DOG//COSTUME COLLARS
The type of care depends on the type of hardware used.
Metal Hardware:
Hand-wash lightly with soap and warm water. Do NOT place in a washing machine, the metal parts could get scratched. Lay flat to dry.
Plastic Hardware:
Either hand-wash as directed above or place in a washing machine inside a laundry or bra bag like you would with undergarments. Wash on cold only and lay flat to dry.
Metal Hardware:
Hand-wash lightly with soap and warm water. Do NOT place in a washing machine, the metal parts could get scratched. Lay flat to dry.
Plastic Hardware:
Either hand-wash as directed above or place in a washing machine inside a laundry or bra bag like you would with undergarments. Wash on cold only and lay flat to dry.
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COSTUME PARTS//FURSUIT CARE
Welcome to your new suit! Taking care of your fursuit can be the most important thing you need to do in order to protect your investment. This guide will help you determine what’s best for your costume. Some costumes are special and may require extra care. If you are unsure, please email me. Note: This is for my own works; other creators may have different specifications.
You should clean your suit after every convention to avoid dirt and bad smells to build up.
Brushing:
BRUSHING IS VERY IMPORTANT! Make sure to brush after you store your character, go for an outing, etc. However, frequent improper brushing can rip out fur very fast depending on how long or dense it is. To brush your fur, use your slicker brush upside down so that it goes through the fur but does not rip it nearly as much. (After all, the goal of the brush is to remove dead hair, which doesn’t help us here.) This will help the suit last longer and retain its fur. If you must, very lightly brush the regular way. It is recommended that a softer brush or a mustache comb be used for the face to avoid brush wear and tear.
Cleaning:
A note about machine washing:
ONLY MACHINE WASH IF YOU TRUST YOUR MACHINE! Older washing machines can be vicious and damage your suit. Top loading washers can also be a challenge. Know if your machine can damage certain parts of the suit. DO NOT USE THE DRYER! It will melt the fur and ruin the suit.
Washing:
Body:
Wash in cold water only! Fill up the tub or a large bucket with cold water and add a little bit of safe detergent or Woolite in. Using your hands, scrub the suit in the dirty areas, especially in areas such as the armpits and groin. Turn the suit inside out and do it again. Once this has been completed (you may need to let it sit for a little while), dump the water out and replace it or give it a rinse with the showerhead to get the excess detergent off. Make sure you squeeze out the majority of the water and get it as dry as pawsible. If you think you didn’t get the detergent or water out all the way, put it in the washer and set it to a cold gentle rinse. When finished, turn it inside out again so you can hang it up and brush it. To dry, hang it up and have a fan or two to blow on it, and make sure to continuously brush it so the fur can dry nicely. Make sure the suit is wrung out as much as possible so the weight of the water doesn't stretch the fur. It may take a while for the fur to completely dry. NEVER STORE A FURSUIT WHEN IT’S WET!
Handpaws/Feetpaws/Tail:
Wash in cold water only! Put them in a tub with cold water and a small amount of safe detergent of Woolite. Rinse them well and squeeze all the water out. If you must, put the feet and paws in a pillowcase, tie it and run the rinse cycle like you did with the body. THIS IS ONLY IF YOU TRUST YOUR MACHINE! The same can be done with the tail if it is not attached. After they have been washed, put them on a towel with a fan to dry. Remember to brush every so often to prevent clumping. Feetpaws and the tail will take longer to dry so make sure they are fully dry before using or storing.
Head:
DO NOT PUT YOUR HEAD IN THE WASHER! The inside of the head can be cleaned with an alcohol solution. This can be achieved with two parts water and one part of isopropyl alcohol. Put it in a spray bottle and lightly spray the inside of the head. For the outside, you can spot clean with a touch of Woolite and cold water on a paper towel. Do not use Febreze or other harsh chemical fragrances! Do not spray the eyes! If the head needs a deep clean then please email me.
Storing:
To store your suit, keep it in an environment that won’t ruin its quality. Store in a bin that is tightened well and keep it away from very hot, cold or wet areas. If you wish to have the suit out to avoid wrinkling, hang it up in a dry closet. Make sure animals like moths won’t get into it and damage the suit.
Transporting:
Use a bin to transport your suit. The bin should be hard so there is no damage or risk of crushing the suit. Don’t pack things too tight or they might get deformed. If it’s a long trip you may want to check up on it every once in a while to make sure nothing gets permanently squashed.
Wearing:
The best thing to wear under your costume is polyester/lycra-based clothing like Under Armour. It’s recommended that you get long sleeves and pants to avoid contact with the suit, which can make it worse. The clothing will wick away sweat and keep you cooler than if you put on regular clothing. Even though the head is lined, a balaclava may also be recommended to keep the head from getting sweaty and dirtier faster.
You should clean your suit after every convention to avoid dirt and bad smells to build up.
Brushing:
BRUSHING IS VERY IMPORTANT! Make sure to brush after you store your character, go for an outing, etc. However, frequent improper brushing can rip out fur very fast depending on how long or dense it is. To brush your fur, use your slicker brush upside down so that it goes through the fur but does not rip it nearly as much. (After all, the goal of the brush is to remove dead hair, which doesn’t help us here.) This will help the suit last longer and retain its fur. If you must, very lightly brush the regular way. It is recommended that a softer brush or a mustache comb be used for the face to avoid brush wear and tear.
Cleaning:
A note about machine washing:
ONLY MACHINE WASH IF YOU TRUST YOUR MACHINE! Older washing machines can be vicious and damage your suit. Top loading washers can also be a challenge. Know if your machine can damage certain parts of the suit. DO NOT USE THE DRYER! It will melt the fur and ruin the suit.
Washing:
Body:
Wash in cold water only! Fill up the tub or a large bucket with cold water and add a little bit of safe detergent or Woolite in. Using your hands, scrub the suit in the dirty areas, especially in areas such as the armpits and groin. Turn the suit inside out and do it again. Once this has been completed (you may need to let it sit for a little while), dump the water out and replace it or give it a rinse with the showerhead to get the excess detergent off. Make sure you squeeze out the majority of the water and get it as dry as pawsible. If you think you didn’t get the detergent or water out all the way, put it in the washer and set it to a cold gentle rinse. When finished, turn it inside out again so you can hang it up and brush it. To dry, hang it up and have a fan or two to blow on it, and make sure to continuously brush it so the fur can dry nicely. Make sure the suit is wrung out as much as possible so the weight of the water doesn't stretch the fur. It may take a while for the fur to completely dry. NEVER STORE A FURSUIT WHEN IT’S WET!
Handpaws/Feetpaws/Tail:
Wash in cold water only! Put them in a tub with cold water and a small amount of safe detergent of Woolite. Rinse them well and squeeze all the water out. If you must, put the feet and paws in a pillowcase, tie it and run the rinse cycle like you did with the body. THIS IS ONLY IF YOU TRUST YOUR MACHINE! The same can be done with the tail if it is not attached. After they have been washed, put them on a towel with a fan to dry. Remember to brush every so often to prevent clumping. Feetpaws and the tail will take longer to dry so make sure they are fully dry before using or storing.
Head:
DO NOT PUT YOUR HEAD IN THE WASHER! The inside of the head can be cleaned with an alcohol solution. This can be achieved with two parts water and one part of isopropyl alcohol. Put it in a spray bottle and lightly spray the inside of the head. For the outside, you can spot clean with a touch of Woolite and cold water on a paper towel. Do not use Febreze or other harsh chemical fragrances! Do not spray the eyes! If the head needs a deep clean then please email me.
Storing:
To store your suit, keep it in an environment that won’t ruin its quality. Store in a bin that is tightened well and keep it away from very hot, cold or wet areas. If you wish to have the suit out to avoid wrinkling, hang it up in a dry closet. Make sure animals like moths won’t get into it and damage the suit.
Transporting:
Use a bin to transport your suit. The bin should be hard so there is no damage or risk of crushing the suit. Don’t pack things too tight or they might get deformed. If it’s a long trip you may want to check up on it every once in a while to make sure nothing gets permanently squashed.
Wearing:
The best thing to wear under your costume is polyester/lycra-based clothing like Under Armour. It’s recommended that you get long sleeves and pants to avoid contact with the suit, which can make it worse. The clothing will wick away sweat and keep you cooler than if you put on regular clothing. Even though the head is lined, a balaclava may also be recommended to keep the head from getting sweaty and dirtier faster.