How to Keep Your Santa Suit Looking Jolly All Season Long
Ho ho ho! A good Santa suit should last for years of Christmas mornings, office parties and surprise visits. We sell more Santa suits than anything else in our shop, so we hear the same care questions every January: Can I wash it? What do I do about the hot cocoa on the sleeve? Where do I put it until next year? Here's what we tell our own customers, with care steps taken from the product pages rather than guesswork.
Start with the care label, not the internet
Santa suits are made from different fabrics: velour, pile plush, velvet, satin linings, Naugahyde belts and boot tops. There is no single washing rule that fits all of them, which is why every suit in our Santa Suits collection carries its own care label. Read it before you do anything. If the label says spot clean only, believe it.
A couple of examples from our own product pages: the Men's Victorian Santa Suit is 100% polyester and the page says to spot clean with a damp cloth and air dry. The Adult Carry Me Santa Costume says hand wash cold, line dry, do not use bleach, do not iron. Those are the two clearest care instructions in our Santa lineup, and both boil down to the same idea: gentle, cold, no heat.
Spills happen. Here's the order of operations
Santa gets hugged by sticky hands and handed cookies with every visit. When something lands on the suit, blot, don't rub. Press a clean, dry cloth on the spot to lift as much as you can, then dab with a cloth dampened in cold water. Rubbing works the stain deeper into plush and flattens the fibers. Skip hot water and harsh chemicals unless your label says otherwise, and let the spot air dry fully before you pack the suit away.
The white fur trim shows everything. Blot trim the same way, then once it's dry, fluff it gently with your fingers so the pile stands back up. If a cuff has really taken a beating, remember that many of the trimmed pieces on higher-end suits are separate items you can replace: Deluxe Plush Santa Boot Tops ($26.99 at time of writing), white nylon Santa gloves ($9.99) and a fresh Regal Red Velvet Santa Hat ($30.99) can make a tired suit look new again.
Beards and wigs: the part everyone touches
Kids grab the beard. Every Santa knows it. The good news is that our better beard sets are built to be washed. The Professional Santa Wig and Beard Set ($80.99) is natural-color synthetic fiber, fully washable and comes individually boxed. The Majestic Santa Wig and Beard with Wired Mustache ($109.99) is also fully washable, with an extra full, curly design. If your beard didn't come with washing instructions, treat it as hand-wash-only and let it air dry on a towel.
Between appearances, comb the beard out gently with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb, working from the ends up. Store it in the box it came in so the curls hold their shape. Browse all of our Santa beards and wigs if it's time for an upgrade, and remember that beards and wigs are not returnable under our refund policy, so read the fiber and size details before you order.
Belts, buckles and boot tops
The Naugahyde belts and boot tops on our rental-quality and professional suits wipe clean with a damp cloth. Give the buckle a quick polish with a soft dry cloth before each appearance; a shiny Santa Cast Belt Buckle ($30.99, golden cast metal, 6 1/4 by 5 inches) is one of those details kids notice. Let boot tops dry completely before storing so the vinyl doesn't stick to itself.
Staying comfortable while you wear it
A suit that stays dry stays clean. Wear a light, breathable base layer under the jacket and pants to keep sweat off the fabric, and take the hat and beard off between sets if you're doing a long shift. If you're outdoors in December, the suit will keep you warm; indoors in a crowded gym, plan for breaks. Your suit will thank you, and so will the kids on your lap.
Storing your suit until next Christmas
Storage is where most Santa suits get ruined. Never pack a suit away damp, and never leave it in a hot attic or a damp basement. Clean it, let every piece air dry completely, then hang the jacket and pants on a sturdy hanger inside a breathable garment bag in a cool, dry closet away from sunlight. Some suits come ready for this: the Adult Plush Regal Santa Costume ($122.99) includes a reusable zippered bag for exactly this purpose.
Keep the beard and wig in their original box, the gloves and belt in a zip bag so nothing scuffs the fabric, and drop a note in the bag reminding yourself what needs replacing before next season. Future you will be grateful in December.
When it's time for a new suit
Even with good care, a starter suit that's been through many Christmases eventually loses its fluff. If that's where you are, our Santa Suits collection runs from the Men's Complete Velour Santa Suit ($48.99) to fully satin-lined professional suits, and our Santa suit accessories collection has every belt, hat and boot top in between. For everything else Christmas, from Mrs. Claus to the elves, browse our Christmas costumes.
Frequently asked questions
Can I machine wash my Santa suit?
Follow the care label sewn into your suit; every suit is different. Of the items we carry, the Victorian Santa Suit page says spot clean with a damp cloth and air dry, and the Carry Me Santa page says hand wash cold, line dry, no bleach, no iron. If your label doesn't say machine wash, don't.
Can I wash a Santa beard and wig?
Several of ours are made for it. The Professional Santa Wig and Beard Set and the Majestic Santa Wig and Beard with Wired Mustache are both natural-color synthetic fiber and listed as fully washable. Check your own set's product page or box before washing, since not every beard is.
How should I store a Santa suit between Christmases?
Clean it first, let it dry completely, then hang it in a cool, dry spot away from sunlight. If your suit came with a storage bag, like the Plush Regal Santa Costume's reusable zippered bag, use it. Store the beard and wig in their original box so the fibers keep their shape.
Are Santa beards returnable if I don't like the fit?
No. Under our refund policy, wigs, beards and facial hair are not returnable, and costumes are only returnable in unopened, unblemished original packaging within 30 days. Read the size and fiber details on the product page before ordering.