Someone reblogged and said it can weaken the leather inside, this has never happened to me for the year or so I've done it, but very likely can happen!! Please be cautious:) this is likely better advice for faux tails! (As most of those dont have leather middles)
Reminder for all therians who have gear/anyone with animal gear
WASH
YOUR
TAIL!!
Don't know how/are afraid to do it wrong
Here's a step by step on how I do it! (This is for real fur tails but should also work just as well for faux fur !)
Fill up a sink or a large pot with warm water, NOT boiling/hot!! This can cause the fur and hold on it to grow a lot weaker and possibly fall off
Pour in dawn dishsoap/sensitive skin laundry detergent(regular downy also works!) into the water and mix it around :)
Gently take your tail and soak it in the water, slowly and carefully running your fingers through the fur to remove any excess dirt/grime
Dump out the dirty water and refill it with slightly colder water, run the tail through this again!
Smell testing is also a good idea, step away into a better smelling room then walk in and smell the tail, if it smells bad or grimey another less intensive wash may be needed
If done, Take the tail out, lay it FLAT DOWN on a surface, do not hang dry it from its keychain if it is big or heavy, if not then feel free to hang dry!
Check on it every hour or so, in less than a day it should be good! (Depending on length:] )
And thats all!! I hope this helps anyone with gear who wasnt shure how or if to wash it:)!!
Elds er þörf
þeims inn er kominn
ok á kné kalinn;
matar ok váða
er manni þörf
þeim er hefir um fjall farit.
- Hávamál
Warmth is indispensable
for the one who bustled in
audibly shivering with knocking knees; fare and fresh clothing
are paramount for one
who has travelled across frigid fells.