In most cases, the actor who is responsible for wearing the mascot costume will perspire while wearing the costume. This can result in an unpleasant odor, not only for the actor inside the costume, but also for those who encounter the character. This can be prevented with proper cleaning of the mascot. It's important to keep the costume smelling fresh and clean!
Depending on what type of mascot you purchase, some can be hand washed or dry cleaned (however, in most cases, dry cleaning is not recommended-dry cleaning chemicals can ruin poly foam which is typically a component of mascot costumes). It's recommended that the costume be washed in cool water and left out to dry thoroughly. It's important to either drip dry or cold dry your costume. Heat WILL RUIN your costume! Hot dryers can, and will, melt or shrink your costume. Poly foam can be hand washed in cool water as well, however, it is important to gently and thoroughly squeeze the water out after, as poly foam will retain water. The foam should then be placed in front of a fan to dry thoroughly. But remember, don't wash it unless you have at least a week to allow it to dry. This will prevent mildew.
There are several products that can be used to keep your mascot costume clean and looking like new (stain removers, odor removers, etc.). There's one costume company that actually sells a mascot maintenance kit that has all the tools you need to keep your costume fresh and clean. It comes with cleaner, a sponge, spot lifter, a cleaning brush, fabric protector, disinfectant, odor eliminator, pin brush (for restoring costume fur and hair), a handy carrying bag and a complete user guide. This company has been in the business for years and has determined that these are the best and safest products to use on mascot costumes, so this is your best bet when caring for you costume. The Mascot Maintenance Kit can be purchased at this website.
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