I make a lot of different critters here in the Monster Lab. Different materials and construction methods mean that some pieces can be machine washed, while others should only ever be spot cleaned.

When in doubt, use the gentlest cleaning method available or contact me BEFORE attempting anything more thorough.

General Faux Fur Care
UV/Blacklight Effects
Plushies & Art Dolls
Partial Suits & Cosplay
Electronics
Repairs

General Faux Fur Care

These recommendations apply to nearly all faux fur creations.

Brushing

Regular brushing keeps faux fur soft, fluffy, and free of tangles.

  • Use a wire pet slicker brush for most faux furs.
  • Brush gently in the direction of the fur whenever possible.
  • Use short strokes, especially around seams, sculpted details, eyes, noses, claws, and other delicate areas.
  • Brush after cleaning and whenever the fur begins to look compressed.

Heat

🚨HEAT IS THE FASTEST WAY TO PERMANENTLY DAMAGE FAUX FUR!!🚨

Avoid:

  • Hot water & steam
  • Clothes dryers
  • Hair dryers on hot settings
  • Space heaters
  • Radiators
  • Leaving your piece in a hot vehicle
  • Prolonged direct sunlight

Always allow faux fur to air dry naturally. You can set it near a fan or dehumidifier to speed the process, rotating it regularly for even drying.

Storage

Store your creation:

  • Clean and completely dry
  • In a cool, dry location
  • Away from direct sunlight
  • Away from excessive humidity

Long-term storage in damp conditions can lead to odors or mildew.

UV/Blacklight Effects

Some pieces include UV-reactive markings that glow brightly under a blacklight. These markings are created by working fluorescent pigment into the faux fur and fixing it in place with hairspray rather than permanently colouring the fibres. Some glow-in-the-dark pigments may also produce a brief afterglow once the UV light is removed.

The effect is designed to be renewable. Normal brushing, washing, wear, and prolonged exposure to sunlight will gradually reduce the brightness over time, but the markings can be refreshed whenever you’d like.

Make Your UV Effect Last Longer:

  • Store & use your piece away from prolonged direct sunlight whenever practical.
  • Brush gently during normal grooming.
  • Avoid unnecessary washing or soaking.
  • Refresh the markings whenever the glow begins to fade.
  • Don’t scrub! Everyday handling is fine, but repeated rubbing against UV-marked areas can transfer pigment.

Applying UV Effects at Home:

Refreshing or creating new markings only requires:

  • UV-reactive pigment powder (Phosphorescent/”glow-in-the-dark” or fluorescent types)
  • Hairspray (No conditioners/oils/other additives. Water-resistant formulas are ideal)
  • A slicker brush
  • A UV flashlight (included with all blacklight-reactive pieces)
  • Clean paper to catch and reuse excess pigment

Application Steps:

  • Place clean paper beneath the area you’re working on to catch any loose pigment.
  • Sprinkle a generous amount of pigment onto the fur.
  • Your fingers to masssage the powder deep into the fibres until it is evenly distributed.
  • Apply a thorough, even coat of hairspray to lock the pigment into the fur. More than you would use on real hair. You want it wet but not soaking.
  • Continue brushing while the hairspray dries to keep the fibres soft and prevent clumping.
  • Once dry, check the markings under a UV flashlight. If it’s not how you like it yet, gather the brushed-off excess pigment and try another coat.
  • Repeat the process until the desired brightness is achieved. Additional layers increase the effect, but also make it more difficult to keep the fur texture soft. Find your preferred happy medium.

Some colours naturally glow more brightly than others. Reds, pinks, and oranges usually produce the strongest effect, while blues and purples are often very dim even when applied the same way.

If you’d like to completely redesign the markings, simply wash the existing treatment out using the normal faux fur cleaning instructions elsewhere in this guide. Once the fur is clean and completely dry, it can be treated again just like a blank piece of fur.

🚨NEVER🚨 shine a UV flashlight directly into anyone’s eyes or stare into the beam! Avoid prolonged exposure of skin to UV light.

Plushies & Art Dolls

Plushies, soft sculptures, and art dolls often contain sculpted details, specialty stuffing, armatures, weighted materials, or finishes that are not intended for machine washing.

Routine Care

Brush as needed with a slicker brush to restore the fur.

Cleaning

Spot clean using cool water. Avoid painted markings.

Avoid soaking the entire piece unless specifically instructed otherwise.

After cleaning, gently blot away excess moisture with a towel and allow the piece to air dry completely before brushing and long fur or hair.

Partial Suits & Cosplay

Most costume parts, including sleeves, paws, tails, and many accessories, can generally be machine washed gently in cold water.

Unless otherwise noted for your specific piece:

  • Wash inside out.
  • Use cold water.
  • Select a gentle or delicate cycle.
  • Use a mild liquid detergent only when needed (plain water rinsing is often enough).
  • DO NOT EVER use bleach!
  • DO NOT use fabric softener.
  • Air dry completely before wearing or storing. Fans and dehumidifiers are helpful.
  • Brush gently intermittently throughout air drying time maintain texture
  • Electric shoe driers on low or fan-only setting are very popular for helping things dry faster from inside.
  • If you use a hair or shoe dryer, make VERY VERY SURE that it’s set to cool blow only!!

Some components—including heads, electronics, airbrushed markings, rigid parts, resin parts, or specialty finishes—may require different care. Please follow any instructions included with your specific item.

Electronics

Items containing LEDs, batteries, wiring, fans, sound modules, or other electronics should 🚨NEVER BE SUBMERGED IN WATER🚨. I design my work as much as possible to be able to remove all electronic components to facilitate maintenance, repairs, and cleaning, but depending on the parameters of the commission, this may not be possible in some cases.

All pieces with electronics will come with an info sheet listing all components, their locations, & how to access them, and will also indicate whether the item has non-removable electronics to account for.

In pieces where all components can be fully removed, the rest of the item can be cleaned identically to an “analog” item of the same type; see the relevant subsection of this same page for further advice. 🚨If all components CANNOT be removed, it will have to be spot-cleaned by hand!!🚨This constraint will always be discussed during project planning.

I use a standard rechargeable USB power bank to run all my pieces, which is included along with a charging cable, and allows them to be compatible with any other USB power banks you may happen to own as well. Remember to remove batteries before all cleaning.

Individual designs may come with personalized instructions where applicable in cases that have any special material concerns not covered here.

Repairs

Many items, cosplay items especially, naturally experience wear with use.

Loose threads, worn fur, detached accessories, or other damage can often be repaired.

If your piece needs maintenance, please get in touch BEFORE attempting major repairs yourself. I’m happy to advise you on the safest approach.