Disinfecting your fursuit
Supplies: A spray bottle, Isopropyl rubbing alcohol
Optional: water, washcloth, fan, paper towel
Pour the rubbing alcohol into a spray bottle. This will be your disinfectant for the whole fursuit, body, head, paws, etc. I also recommend spraying it on your under armor after suiting, unless you are about to wash it.
Isopropyl rubbing alcohol can commonly be found in a few strengths, usually from 70% to 90%. To best disinfect a fursuit, the alcohol needs to be diluted to somewhere between 60-70%. Any stronger than that, and the alcohol may evaporate quicker than it can kill the bacteria, as it evaporates fast!
Rubbing alcohol is recommended to use because it is inexpensive, easy to find, kills bacteria, eliminates odor, removes oils, evaporates very quickly, and does not leave behind a chemical smell or residue of any sort.
I do not recommend using Febreze, Endbac, Lysol, or other similar disinfectants. They have harsh chemicals in them and some have been proven to break down the foam and other materials in your fursuit over time, as well as leave an oily residue behind. Never spray anything containing oils into the fursuit head. This includes scented oils. It's fine to spray "fursuit scents" onto the bodysuit, because it is much easier to wash than the inside of your fursuit head! Oils build up over time and begin clogging the pores of the fabric, so you want to avoid as much of that as possible in the head.
For more information on why Febreze is bad:
www.sustainablebabysteps.com/febreze.html
Optional: water, washcloth, fan, paper towel
Pour the rubbing alcohol into a spray bottle. This will be your disinfectant for the whole fursuit, body, head, paws, etc. I also recommend spraying it on your under armor after suiting, unless you are about to wash it.
Isopropyl rubbing alcohol can commonly be found in a few strengths, usually from 70% to 90%. To best disinfect a fursuit, the alcohol needs to be diluted to somewhere between 60-70%. Any stronger than that, and the alcohol may evaporate quicker than it can kill the bacteria, as it evaporates fast!
Rubbing alcohol is recommended to use because it is inexpensive, easy to find, kills bacteria, eliminates odor, removes oils, evaporates very quickly, and does not leave behind a chemical smell or residue of any sort.
I do not recommend using Febreze, Endbac, Lysol, or other similar disinfectants. They have harsh chemicals in them and some have been proven to break down the foam and other materials in your fursuit over time, as well as leave an oily residue behind. Never spray anything containing oils into the fursuit head. This includes scented oils. It's fine to spray "fursuit scents" onto the bodysuit, because it is much easier to wash than the inside of your fursuit head! Oils build up over time and begin clogging the pores of the fabric, so you want to avoid as much of that as possible in the head.
For more information on why Febreze is bad:
www.sustainablebabysteps.com/febreze.html
When disinfecting your fursuit head, flip the neck inside out and lay it so that the muzzle and eyes are facing up. This will help prevent any of the spray from dripping down and wetting the eyes. Additionally, you could put some paper towel on the inside of the head in front of the eyes to further protect them.
Spray the mixture into the head, being sure to get the neck and all of the inside. Never spray the eyes. The alcohol could cause the material to warp or the paints to run.
For a resin based fursuit head: simply wiping down any resin that your face touches with a washcloth or paper towel dipped in rubbing alcohol should suffice! If the resin head is lined with lycra or a balaclava, spraying it is recommended.
To get to hard to reach areas (such as around the eyes), or simply to clean the head more effectively if it is very smelly, dip a washcloth in some rubbing alcohol and gently scrub down the inside of the head. This will help remove any odor and oils.
Spray the mixture into the head, being sure to get the neck and all of the inside. Never spray the eyes. The alcohol could cause the material to warp or the paints to run.
For a resin based fursuit head: simply wiping down any resin that your face touches with a washcloth or paper towel dipped in rubbing alcohol should suffice! If the resin head is lined with lycra or a balaclava, spraying it is recommended.
To get to hard to reach areas (such as around the eyes), or simply to clean the head more effectively if it is very smelly, dip a washcloth in some rubbing alcohol and gently scrub down the inside of the head. This will help remove any odor and oils.
When you have finished cleaning it, set the head on top of or in front of a fan to dry.
Make sure it is fully aired out and dry before wearing again or storing!
Make sure it is fully aired out and dry before wearing again or storing!
To disinfect the bodysuit, turn it inside out and spray it down! Pay special attention to extra sweaty areas, such as the armpits. I like to give these spots a few extra sprays to help prevent odors from forming.
If your suit has airbrushing, be very careful as the alcohol could cause the paint to run. Do not directly spray any airbrushed areas! You should only gently mist the inside, so that the alcohol does not soak through to the painted fur.
If your suit has airbrushing, be very careful as the alcohol could cause the paint to run. Do not directly spray any airbrushed areas! You should only gently mist the inside, so that the alcohol does not soak through to the painted fur.
Keeping it inside out, you can then hang it up to dry. It should not take very long! You can point a fan at it to speed up the process. Do not store or wear until it is fully dry.
I highly recommend spraying and brushing your fursuit after any wear that you break a sweat. It helps keep your suit fresh, soft, and odor-free! If you properly disinfect your suit, you won't have to wash it quite as often.
Another way to help keep your fursuit fresh when it's not being worn, is to place a scented dryer sheet or moisture-absorbing scent bag into the different fursuit parts! Several furry businesses sell fursuit scent bags for this purpose. These options leave behind a pleasant scent, without having to put oils into your suit.
I highly recommend spraying and brushing your fursuit after any wear that you break a sweat. It helps keep your suit fresh, soft, and odor-free! If you properly disinfect your suit, you won't have to wash it quite as often.
Another way to help keep your fursuit fresh when it's not being worn, is to place a scented dryer sheet or moisture-absorbing scent bag into the different fursuit parts! Several furry businesses sell fursuit scent bags for this purpose. These options leave behind a pleasant scent, without having to put oils into your suit.