Kilcodo Costumes - custom-made fursuits!

Fursuits are durable enough to wear for performance, dancing and interaction, but they are also individual pieces of art which need love and care.

Improper storage, lack of grooming and rough physical activity can cause fursuits to age quickly and show signs of wear or losing their shape.
If you want to get the most mileage out of your suit, and keep it looking and feeling new, here are some tips to help you out.
This page contains sections on:
Storage and Travel
Grooming and Keeping Fresh
Maintenance and Fragile Areas

STORAGE AND TRAVEL:
When storing, keep your fursuits in a dry, cool and clean area away from moisture, pets and harsh light. Fursuit bodies can be hung up in the closet like clothes, using clothes hangers with clips or laying the suit through the hanger to avoid unnecessary pulling of the fabric. Folding a fursuit up for a long period of time may cause creases in the fur that are difficult to brush out. Fursuit heads should be stored somewhere where there is no pressure on the head to cause an alteration to its shape. Avoid direct light that may fade any airbrushing or dyes used on the suit.
When traveling, you may pack your suit into a suitcase or a large plastic sealed tub or box. When packing into a suitcase, try to protect the head with padding and avoid crushing it down, do not overpack. You should mark luggage containing fursuits as 'fragile' and may want to consider purchasing baggage insurance. An alternative to suitcases is a plastic sealable container or "action packer". "Action packers" look like this:

(An "Action Packer" produced by Rubbermaid.)
Any sealable plastic container will do, doesn't have to be an action packer specifically. Most plastic containers can be purchased from WalMart or Home Depot for $8 or less. When storing a fursuit in any container, make sure not to crush the head. It is usually best to secure the rest of the fursuit parts (body, tail and feet) near the bottom and placing the head on top with the muzzle pointing up.

GROOMING AND KEEPING FRESH:
Brush your suit often! You should always brush out the fur on your suit at cons and before/after wear. Not only does this keep your suit looking fluffy and attractive for photos, it will keep your fur from getting that nappy 'old stuffed animal' look. The best brush for this job is a SLICKER BRUSH, which can be purchased at any general store or pet shop for under five dollars. You don't need to spend too much time brushing, just a few swift strokes will make a big difference.

(An average-looking slicker brush with wire bristles.)
Odor Control! After wearing your suit, it is a GREAT idea to use antibacterial disinfectant spray for fabrics on the inside of the head. This will stop your head from smelling sweaty. Give the inside of the head a few sprays and leave it upside-down with the neck open to let it air out for a few hours. Do not store it again until it is dry. You should do this after any kind of heavy wear. This can also be applied to feetpaws, handpaws and bodysuits.
Washing! Fursuit handpaws and tails can be hand-washed with soapy water or a bit of detergent, then wrung out and air-dried. Bodysuits can be hand or machine-washed but should NEVER, EVER be put in a dryer. The dryer's heat will destroy the acrylic fabric in the fake fur. In all cases, fursuit parts are meant to air-dry and should not be subjected to heat, a hairdryer may be permissible for short periods of time. For cleaning fur, "Folex" and other products used for teddy bears can be used to spot-clean fake fur-this will keep white fur from looking gray. Avoid bleach.

MAINTENANCE AND FRAGILE AREAS:
Fursuits will occasionally loose a claw or tooth after being worn at busy cons or during vigorous activities. It is always good to keep a gluegun on hand. Most fursuit repair issues can be easily solved with a dab of hot glue or a bit of simple hand-sewing. To avoid breaking off teeth and claws, try to be gentle with your fingers/toes and do not shove things into your fursuit's muzzle that might break the teeth. Do not poke into the irises/pupils of your fursuits eyes. Do not pull on ears, carry by ears or yank on hair tufts or other protruding pieces. Obviously, avoid getting your fursuit wet.
If damage occurs to your suit that is not out of blatant negligence or purposeful alteration, contact me and I will be able to fix your suit. Kilcodo Costumes has a 2-year repair warranty, more info about this can be read on the F.A.Q. page.

Hope that helps! If you think there is anything more that should be listed here, feel free to contact me.