Don’t get us wrong; we love dressing for cold weather. What with the warm and luxurious pieces such as creamy cashmere knits and suede boots, we can’t help take an excited deep dive into our winter wardrobes once the time is right. That being said, fur coats—the most opulent of all winter pieces—can require more upkeep and care than any other item in our closets. As fashion lovers, we want to keep all of our clothes in their prime, which means knowing how to clean fur coats is essential.
Perhaps it’s due to the popularity of furs during the days of Hollywood glamour, but there’s something about wearing a fur coat that instantly makes your entire outfit look so much more expensive than it is, even if you’re throwing it over your pajamas à la Carrie Bradshaw. So, to make sure you’re giving your furs the best treatment possible, we tapped Gerard Maione, co-founder and CCO of What Goes Around Comes Around, to give us the 411 on what exactly goes into cleaning a fur coat in the most efficient way possible. Scroll down to see these essential steps now.
Take Your Furs to a Professional
According to Maione, the best way to clean fur coats is with a reputable furrier who specializes in fur cleaning. “The process puts the coat into a metal drum with sawdust and a special liquid cleaner for about 45 minutes, which extracts odors such as perfume and breaks down dirty buildup on the coat,” he says.
Do Your Research
“People should research for the right cleaner and typically clean their coat every year or two depending on how much they wear the coat. Fur storage in a proper climate is also suggested to take best care of the coat and not have it dry out,” says Maione.
Vintage Coats Require More Care
“True vintage fur coats could sometimes be too delicate to go through the metal drum process,”Maione shares, “so furriers do a process by hand, which is less rigorous but can be more expensive due to the special care.”
“Some people think they can clean a fur coat on their own with water, soap, brushing, regular dry cleaning, etc.,” Maione explains, “but the only proper way is to spend the money and have your furrier do the recommended cleaning process and preserve your fur.”
Now, keep reading to shop our favorite fur coats (real and faux) to wear all season long.
Difficult stains should be removed by a professional.Smaller, fresh stains can be treated at home with a clean, dry cloth, then blotted with a slightly damp, clean cloth. Your coat should then be left to air dry for best results. Never use detergent or stain remover on a real fur coat.
Fur (mink, fox, rabbit, beaver and shearling) will then be cleaned in a specially designed drum filled with sawdust using an environmentally friendly fur cleaning solution. This process draws oil, dirt, dust, odors and pollutants from your fur coat while protecting the fur from damage.
Remember, furs and fur-lined coats must be cleaned and glazed each year regardless of use. The back of the pelts is leather that must be moisturized annually in order to prevent cracking and drying. Even when the fur looks good on the outside, it needs care on the inside.
One proven approach is to place an open bag of coffee grounds with your fur coat inside a closed garment bag. Leave the fur in the bag with the coffee grounds until the coat smells like coffee and the musty smell is entirely gone, which can take anywhere from one day to a week.
For hydrating your fur coat, you would need a hair conditioner or fabric softener mixed with two cups of warm water. Combine both in a spray bottle and spray it on the area that needs care. Brush the part gently and let it dry. You can find more information on cleaning and storing your fur coat in our article.
Keep your garments away from heat, home humidity and moths. A mild rain will not ruin your fur. Just hang the garment up to dry in a well-ventilated room away from direct heat. After it is dry, give the fur a vigorous shake.
Never attempt to wash natural fur; it needs a professional dry cleaner or furrier's care. Down and wool need specialty cleaning detergents, while suede should never get wet. Commonly, many people opt to take leather, suede, and lined wool coats to get professionally cleaned.
You don't want dirt to accumulate anywhere on your fur as it can cause matting. Only brush when you notice the hair ruffled after or during use, and never go against the grain. Use a soft-bristled brush or wide-toothed comb. Keep your fur coat dry.
Lie your coat flat on an airer or hang it over the shower or bath to prevent it from dripping on the floor. Allow your coat to drip dry, keeping it away from direct heat or sunlight for 24 hours. NEVER dry your faux fur coat in a tumble dryer, as the heat could melt the fur's fibres, causing irreversible damage.
The value of a vintage mink coat depends on a variety of factors, including the condition, size, brand and quality. A small mink coat could sell for under $300 while a top designer coat could sell for over $10,000.
Store your coats in a dark, cool place, such as a closet, that doesn't receive direct light. Hang your coats on broad-shouldered clothes hangers and place them inside a cloth garment bag. Give your coats room to breathe in your storage area.
Fur cleaning and glazing is essential for protecting the natural lustre and supple texture of your fur garments and should only be carried out by a professional furrier and not a dry cleaner. It not only keeps the moisture and shine in your fur, but also preserves the leather underside and interior lining.
A long-lasting scented fabric conditioner, such as Comfort Intense Fresh Sky or Comfort Intense Fuchsia Passion, can leave both your clothes and space they're stored in smelling nicer. Strategically place some lavender or potpourri bags among your clothes. It's a classic method for how to make your wardrobe smell nice.
Add a cup of vinegar or a cup of baking soda to the wash to combat odors. Consider using a clothesline to dry your clothes outside to get a fresh outdoors scent. Use half a cup of pine-scented cleaner in the washer (the pine smell will be eliminated after a cycle in the dryer). Put musty, dry clothing in the freezer.
The answer is simple. Real furs are constructed differently than other materials and require a specialized cleaning process dry cleaners don't offer. While some may claim to handle furs, it's best to entrust your investment to professional furriers who have experience with these materials.
Step 3: Select the delicate cycle on the washing machine, and make sure the water temperature is cold and the spin is on low. Lay the faux fur item flat in its natural shape on a drying rack or hang to dry. Do not put it in the dryer, ever! The heat will cause the synthetic fibers to warp and melt.
In a small tub of warm water, pour a little bit of conditioner (natural works best, but any type is supposed to work) and dip your fur trim in there. Gently massage the condition through the fibers. Once you're done, pull the whole thing out and let it air dry. It should be back to normal.
Introduction: My name is The Hon. Margery Christiansen, I am a bright, adorable, precious, inexpensive, gorgeous, comfortable, happy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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