Washingguide

Before you start

Airing beats washing. After every wear, hang the bodysuit somewhere with moving air, stand the head in front of the fan, and let the paws dry out fully before they go back in a bag. Most of what makes a suit smell is moisture that never left.

Have on hand: a mild detergent with No bleach and No fabric softener, a spray bottle, a slicker brush or wide pet comb, clean towels and a fan.

Spot-cleaning between washes

Mix a few drops of detergent with cool water in a spray bottle. Mist the mark without soaking it and blot with a clean towel. Rinse by misting with plain water and blotting again, then brush while damp.

The head

The head never goes in water. The foam soaks it up, the base can be damaged and even if it survives it takes days to dry through.

1. Take out anything removable like the tongue, lining and cooling fans.
2. Wipe the inside foam with a cloth dampened in a 1:1 mix of water and rubbing alcohol, which disinfects and dries fast.
3. Clean the outside fur with a barely damp cloth in the direction it lies.
4. Clean the eyes and teeth with a dry microfiber cloth and never use solvents because they haze the resin.
5. Stand it in front of the fan, facing into the airflow, until the inside is completely dry.

Wash removable linings by hand and let them dry fully before they go back in.

The bodysuit

1. Fill a bath or a large tub with cold to lukewarm water, never hot.
2. Add a small amount of mild detergent and mix it through before the suit goes in.
3. Submerge the suit and press it gently. Don’t wring, twist or scrub it because that stretches the backing and pulls the fur out.
4. Let it soak for 15–20 minutes and give it an occasional squeeze.
5. Drain, refill with clean cool water and press again to rinse. Repeat until the water runs clear.
6. Press the water out against the side of the tub and then roll the suit in towels to take out more.

Handpaws and feet

Handpaws wash the same way as the bodysuit by hand in cool water. Keep resin claws and paw pads out of a long soak and clean those with a damp cloth instead.

On outdoor feet wipe the soles and never submerge them. Wash the fur by hand and let the sole dry separately because soaking the base weakens the adhesive holding it on.

The tail

If your tail has a removable stuffing insert, take it out first and wash the shell alone. If the stuffing is sewn in, hand-wash the whole thing, expect a much longer drying time and always keep a fan pointed at it.

Drying

Everything air-dries. Hang the bodysuit inside out on a wide hanger with a fan on it.

While the fur is still damp brush it in the direction it lies with a slicker brush or wide comb. Brushing dry fur causes matting and shedding. Give long-pile fur a second light brush once it is fully dry to lift the nap.

Storage and travel

• Store the head upright in its unlatched hard case so air can move
• Hang the bodysuit rather than folding it because creases in foam padding become permanent
• Keep everything out of direct sun and away from damp
• Never bag a suit that is not completely dry
• When flying take the head as carry-on if you possibly can

Never do this

• No tumble dryer. Heat melts the fur pile and it does not come back.
• No hot water. Cool to lukewarm only.
• No bleach and No fabric softener. Both wreck faux fur backing.
• No washing machine for the head, foot soles or anything with resin parts.
• No ironing and no steamer directly on the fur.
• No wringing. Press and roll instead.