Washing your fursuit
While disinfecting is a good way to keep your fursuit clean temporarily, there will eventually come a time where washing it becomes necessary. As long as your fursuit is not of a very low quality or falling apart, there should be nothing to worry about!
In most cases, simply putting your fursuit in the washing machine is the best & most effective way to clean it. Please see the bottom of the page for other methods of washing your fursuit, if you cannot use a machine!
In most cases, simply putting your fursuit in the washing machine is the best & most effective way to clean it. Please see the bottom of the page for other methods of washing your fursuit, if you cannot use a machine!
First, turn your fursuit inside out, if you can. Remove any padding or stuffing that is removable, such as digitigrade leg padding. If your fursuit has an attached tail, see if the stuffing is removable; depending on the construction method it might be. If you are not sure, ask your fursuit maker! If you have an attached tail and it or its padding is not removable, just put it inside the bodysuit when you turn the suit inside out (shown above).
If you have a suit with an extra large attached tail (no stuffing removable) and you cannot fit it inside the bodysuit or washing machine, you may want to seek alternatives for cleaning your fursuit, or discuss a way to make the padding removable with a fursuit maker.
If you have a suit with an extra large attached tail (no stuffing removable) and you cannot fit it inside the bodysuit or washing machine, you may want to seek alternatives for cleaning your fursuit, or discuss a way to make the padding removable with a fursuit maker.
Once your bodysuit is inside-out and any padding/stuffing is removed, put it in your washing machine! Add your favorite laundry detergent, and set the washer for Gentle, with cold water.
Hand paws, sleeves, leggings, small tails, and other small fursuit parts can also be washed alongside the bodysuit. Just turn them inside out or place them inside a small laundry wash bag or tied-shut pillowcase, and put them in the washing machine with the body.
Many feet paws can also be washed this way, but unless the feet are very small and lightweight, they should be washed separately from the bodysuit and other parts.
Many feet paws can also be washed this way, but unless the feet are very small and lightweight, they should be washed separately from the bodysuit and other parts.
DETERGENTS
Please note that most laundry detergents are safe to use on most fursuits. You DO NOT need to use Woolite! This is a common misconception. Woolite is a soap made for animal-based fabrics such as wool or silk, so that it doesn't strip them of their natural oils. While using Woolite won't harm your fursuit, it may not get your skin oils out as effectively as other laundry detergents. Faux fur is made out of plastic, which is not a "delicate" fabric like wool or silk. It will not be harmed by regular laundry soap, or even by oxyclean or a small amount of bleach! Woolite is also usually more expensive per ounce than other detergents, so unless you have a ton of Woolite needing to be used up, just use something else!
Please note that most laundry detergents are safe to use on most fursuits. You DO NOT need to use Woolite! This is a common misconception. Woolite is a soap made for animal-based fabrics such as wool or silk, so that it doesn't strip them of their natural oils. While using Woolite won't harm your fursuit, it may not get your skin oils out as effectively as other laundry detergents. Faux fur is made out of plastic, which is not a "delicate" fabric like wool or silk. It will not be harmed by regular laundry soap, or even by oxyclean or a small amount of bleach! Woolite is also usually more expensive per ounce than other detergents, so unless you have a ton of Woolite needing to be used up, just use something else!
Time to start the wash! As a reminder, the settings should be Gentle & cold water. Make sure there is a spin cycle as well! The spin cycle is necessary for getting most of the water out of your suit, otherwise it will take a very long time to dry.
Make sure there is no steam setting or any other source of high heat. Heat will melt the fur on your costume!
Make sure there is no steam setting or any other source of high heat. Heat will melt the fur on your costume!
Once it's done in the machine, any inside-out parts should be turned right side out. Small items can be laid on a towel in front of a fan, and the bodysuit can be hung up to dry in front of a fan as well. Gently brush each part so that the fur lays straight and in the correct direction while drying. A small amount of fur will be shed, but this is normal.
Always air dry your fursuit parts! Never put any part of your fursuit in the dryer, faux fur is made out of thin plastic strands, and high heat will melt it. Even putting your suit in the dryer on "Air Fluff" or no heat is dangerous, for a number of reasons! For one, the dryer could malfunction and use heat when it is not supposed to, or a family member or roommate could restart the dryer without knowing better! Also, faux fur should always be brushed straight when drying. If the fur dries while being all tangled and tumbled around, the fur will eventually stay this way and become matted and ruined.
The spin cycle of the washing machine should leave the fursuit just barely damp, so just hanging it up in front of a fan or two should dry it in a few hours! Large tails, feet paws, and any parts that have non-removable padding may take longer to dry. Be sure to keep it in front of a fan until you're sure it's fully dry! A "Wetsuit Drying Hanger" can help you dry your suit even faster, as its a hanger with a built in fan to pump air through the garment.
Do not store your costume until it is 100% dry!
Always air dry your fursuit parts! Never put any part of your fursuit in the dryer, faux fur is made out of thin plastic strands, and high heat will melt it. Even putting your suit in the dryer on "Air Fluff" or no heat is dangerous, for a number of reasons! For one, the dryer could malfunction and use heat when it is not supposed to, or a family member or roommate could restart the dryer without knowing better! Also, faux fur should always be brushed straight when drying. If the fur dries while being all tangled and tumbled around, the fur will eventually stay this way and become matted and ruined.
The spin cycle of the washing machine should leave the fursuit just barely damp, so just hanging it up in front of a fan or two should dry it in a few hours! Large tails, feet paws, and any parts that have non-removable padding may take longer to dry. Be sure to keep it in front of a fan until you're sure it's fully dry! A "Wetsuit Drying Hanger" can help you dry your suit even faster, as its a hanger with a built in fan to pump air through the garment.
Do not store your costume until it is 100% dry!
Other Washing Methods Coming Soon!
In the mean time, check out our Resources Page for helpful information on other sites.