How to clean a fur hat at home: how to add shine to the fur

An undyed mink hat will last the owner 10–14 winters, and an arctic fox hat will last 7. But the lifespan will be significantly reduced if you wear it carelessly, store it incorrectly and do not clean it, so it is worth studying the care recommendations - they will help maintain the attractive appearance of the fur. Complete cleaning involves treating both surfaces: external (fur itself) and internal (leather, textile lining).

Let's take a closer look at how to clean a fur hat at home.

Cleaning the outside of the hat

It is worth assessing the degree of contamination: the presence of specks in the pile, the degree to which the fur has lost its shine, changes in color (most often it changes in places where the fur rubs against the head, especially in light-colored products).

Cleaning natural fur

Items made from natural fur cannot be washed.
Before starting cleaning, you need to carefully knock out the product , removing surface dust from it.

Mechanical method

For processing, you will need a brush with metal teeth - with its help you need to “comb” the cap along the hair growth, removing stuck debris.

You can wrap cloth or cotton wool around the brush to avoid damaging the skin and fibers.

It is worth having a brush in the household: it is used both before dry cleaning to remove large debris, and after - to straighten the pile. The best option is to carry out the manipulation regularly during the winter season, gradually combing out the accumulated dirt. This will avoid frequent “general cleanings”, and the fur will always look decent.

Chemical method

This method is used in the presence of deeper contamination. After such cleaning, the hat needs to be combed again to remove any remaining cleaning substances.

Used as a cleaning agent:

Sorbents that collect dirt: starch, sand, bran (they, like sand, need to be preheated), semolina or talc - they are rubbed into the pile and removed by vigorous shaking of the product and a brush.

Acid (acetic essence or lemon juice) is an effective method, but after using it, the hat will inevitably have to be ventilated.

Potato peels with ammonia: rub the dirt with the mixture, after which it is washed off.

Hydrogen peroxide (suitable for light fur) - dilute the solution in half (3%) with water, wipe the hat and let it dry.

Medical alcohol (a cotton swab is moistened in it and used to wipe the stain).

Shampoos for animals (you can choose the option for dogs of a color that matches the shade of your hat): you need to wash carefully, avoiding complete wetness of the fur, using foam rather than the liquid itself.

If the contamination is severe, you can rub the stains with a mixture of starch and gasoline. But not every room is easy to ventilate, and gasoline is volatile and toxic. Maybe this is the case when you should save yourself the trouble and take the item to the dry cleaner.

Important! When wet cleaning, you need to make sure that the item is completely dry before placing it in the closet. Automatic drying is not recommended for fur products - it is better to leave the hat to dry naturally at room temperature.

Cleaning faux fur

The situation with eco-fur and other artificial materials is simpler due to the possibility of machine washing (without spinning, on a delicate cycle).

At the same time, some chemicals cannot be used when processing artificial fur (for example, gasoline - instead, you can use a carpet or upholstered furniture cleaner).

Important! If you dry a washed hat by placing it on a flat surface, it will become deformed. You need to use a mannequin or an inverted three-liter jar, which will fix the crown put on it in its natural position.

How to restore color to a faded product

Sometimes mink or rabbit fur with poor quality dyeing loses its bright color. You shouldn’t immediately throw away the product, because the rich shade can be returned and even a new one can be created:

Buy professional hair dye in the color you want.
Dilute the emulsion according to the instructions in the instructions.
Then dye the fur as you would normally dye your hair. Or ask a friend who has similar experience.

The exposure time of the dye depends on the brightness of the shade you want to achieve. Rinse off the paint using a shower head. Comb the damp fur with a comb, and then repeat the procedure when the fur is dry. If the coat becomes wavy, this can be easily corrected by ironing it at a low temperature.

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Internal cleaning of the hat

The lining becomes more dirty than the outer part of the hat due to constant contact with skin and hair.
Regular cleaning will help prevent bacteria from growing and dirt from affecting your hair. To get rid of small stains, a solution of alcohol or soap is suitable - you need to wipe the lining with a sponge soaked in it, remove the remaining mixture and dry thoroughly.

If this does not help, you will have to tear off the lining (it is convenient to make markings with colored threads so that there are no problems with sewing) and wash it in the usual way - in the machine. As a last resort, you can sew a new lining from a suitable fabric and sew it on.

Is it possible to clean fur yourself?

If you are going to do this for the first time, the question is more than relevant. Not ruining an expensive thing is no less important than bringing it back to life. How to clean a fur hat with maximum effect and preferably without defects? First you need to know what kind of fur the headdress is made of. In addition, the cleaning method is influenced by the color of the product (whether it is light or dark) and the length of the pile. You can clean the product from the outside (when the lint has lost its appearance) and from the inside (when you need to clean the lining and tidy up the leather of the item).

Proper storage

The right solution would be to store fur products in a dark place (closet), where there is enough space for natural air circulation.

You need to protect the item from dust using a textile bag made of breathable fabric - for example, cotton. But, most likely, before the onset of the cold season, the hat will need to be ventilated in any case. If you clean the fur from minor contaminants and store it away from dust, most likely, the issue of the need for deep cleaning will never have to be addressed and a little regular care will be enough. Knitting beret for women

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Care Tips

Our tips for caring for a fur hat will help you maintain the original appearance of the product for a long time.

They are as follows:

before starting the process, it is necessary to determine the degree of contamination in order to select the appropriate cleaning method;
a heavily contaminated product must first be cleaned in problem areas, and only then proceed to further processing of the entire fur;
after cleaning, the moistened fur item should be dried thoroughly in a cool place in a natural way, for example, by placing it on a glass bottle or vase;
It is strictly forbidden to dry the lining and fur with an iron, since after this procedure the pile may become deformed;
cleaning of the product should be carried out very carefully so that excess liquid does not penetrate into the base of the membrane;
remember that a fur hat that is wet to the skin can become deformed and lose its original appearance;
Washing the product by hand or machine is strictly prohibited, otherwise the fur may completely deteriorate;
do not use sawdust from coniferous wood, as they contain resins that can ruin the structure of the fur and stick it together;
drying a fur hat with a hairdryer or other heating device is unacceptable;
If, upon inspection, minor defects are found on the product, they must be eliminated by carefully sewing them up with thread or sealing them with glue or adhesive tape;
it is necessary to sew back the washed lining part in a dry state so that the product does not lock from the inside;
so that the brush does not spoil the fur and thoroughly cleans the fur from dust and dirt, you can wrap a little cotton wool around it;
if you are afraid of ruining the product, then try treating it with starch, which will definitely not damage the fur;
Remains of dry powder can be removed from the product by shaking the cap properly and then tapping it from the inside;
if your product gets very wet in the rain, then when you return home, shake off your hat so that excess moisture drips off the pile;
A hat with earflaps wet from wet snow should not be dried on a radiator, but rather left for some time in a room with good air circulation;
handle the Arctic fox product with care and do not place other things on top of it;
remember that fur absorbs various odors, including tobacco;
do not spray perfume with essential oils or alcohol on your hat, as these components can add yellowness to the white product;
during the hot season, it is necessary to store a fur hat in a cool, dark place, packed in a fabric bag or wrapping paper;
In the closet where the fur hat is stored, you can put a moth repellent, scented soap, special aromatic bags or sticks.

Before putting a hat in the closet for the summer, you should pack the product so that the inside does not wrinkle. It is also worth providing the fur hat with good air circulation. To maintain the correct shape and prevent the product from deforming, it is recommended to place the headdress on a glass jar and store it until the next season.

That's all the tricks. Having received the necessary theoretical knowledge, you will know how to properly care for the product and ensure its safety until the new season. If you follow the recommendations, your hat will serve faithfully for many years.

Removing stain

If you want to get rid of a dirty stain on faux fur, proceed as follows:

Prepare warm water (0.5 l), dissolve any washing powder in it (two tablespoons).
Gently rub the liquid into the product using a sponge. You need to move from the edges to the middle.
Use a sponge to remove dirt and detergent. If necessary, perform the procedure again.
Dry the item at room temperature.
When most of the dirt has been removed, wait until it dries and carefully remove using a brush.

If you can’t get rid of the dirty stain, remove it with gasoline:

It must be cleaned, otherwise there will be stains on things. To check how pure the solvent is, drop it on the paper. It must dry. If a stain remains on the surface of a clean white sheet, gasoline should not be used.
Dampen a clean cotton cloth or cotton swab with solvent. Wring out the material to ensure maximum dryness. Gently wipe the soiled fur with a swab to remove dirt. This is how cuffs and collars are cleaned.
In some cases, purified gasoline and an absorbent agent are applied to the pile. Fat is removed using a solvent and absorbed using an absorbent. Gasoline is added to the absorbent agent.
Apply the resulting semi-liquid mixture to the stain, leave it for a while, and let it dry.
Then clean it off using a brush.

If the contamination is superficial

If dust appeared on the faux fur on a jacket or other item while it was in storage, it can be gotten rid of very easily. Take a clean, damp cotton sheet, place it nap-side down, lay the item on it and beat it out using a carpet beater. This way you can get rid of the dust that has accumulated between the fibers: it will remain on the damp surface.

If you knock out an item, but the dirt is still there, remove it using a soap solution. You need to proceed as follows:

The surface to be cleaned must be vertical. To do this, hang the fur on hangers.
Take a clear shampoo that does not contain any additional additives. 3 tablespoons will be enough. Dilute the shampoo in a liter of liquid, it should be warm. Beat the mixture with your hands: a fluffy foam should appear.
Using a brush, carefully apply the product to the surface. Water should not get on the base of the product.
If the item has medium or long pile, you should clean it in the direction of its growth. Low villi are processed in the opposite direction. Faux fur should only be cleaned this way - this rule can be called basic.
Remove excess foam using a damp cotton cloth. Squeeze it out first until it is almost dry.
To make the product drier, wipe it using a clean terry cloth. Then place it outside or in a well-ventilated area. The sun's rays should be prevented from shining on the item. Heaters should not be placed too close to the product.
When the pile dries, comb it using a metal comb. Its teeth should be sparse.

We suggest you familiarize yourself with Zanussi washing machine program failure
To make the fur collar fluffy and shiny, mix glycerin (one teaspoon), water (0.5 liters), ethyl alcohol (0.5 liters) and treat it with this mixture. Gently apply the mixture to the pile using a cotton swab or spray bottle.

Headdress with fur pompom

Popular knitted hats with fur pom-poms also require care, but since you cannot wash a hat with a fur pom-pom, you need to detach the pom-pom and clean it separately.
In high-quality copies, a function for removing the pompom from the product is provided for this purpose. Fastening with special ribbons will help solve the issue of washing; if the pompom is firmly sewn, you can cut it and make the fastening yourself by sewing a ribbon to it and securing it. A pompom made from arctic fox fur is cleaned using a solution: 500 ml of water, 1 tsp. ammonia and 3 tsp. salt. The fur is thoroughly blotted and combed during the drying process.

The rabbit pom-pom is sprayed with hydrogen peroxide or moistened with vinegar (this will remove yellowness) and combed out thoroughly.

Steps

Hand washing of headwear

Fill a small plastic bowl with cold water.

Warm and hot water can cause the hat to fade or shrink (it all depends on the specific material). You only need to pour enough water to immerse your things in it. If you are only going to wash a couple of hats, you can even use a large plastic bowl instead of a basin.

Add liquid detergent to the water.

Stir a teaspoon of detergent or soap into the water until completely dissolved. The type of detergent you use will depend on the material your hat is made from and what you are cleaning.

Do a spot test.

If this is your first time washing a hat using this method, you should first wet only a small area of the item with the prepared soap solution before immersing it completely. Keep the area in the solution for about a couple of minutes.

Test the color fastness on the wet area. You may notice that the paint has started to fade and stain the water. If the water does not stain, try blotting the hat on some light-colored item.
When you blot your hat, it is better to take a light-colored item that you don’t mind at all, or one that can be easily bleached.
For testing, choose a section of the hat that will not be visible when worn. Even if it fades, it will not spoil your appearance.
If during the test you do not notice any signs that the item is shedding, you can move on to the next step.

Wet your head completely.

If after two minutes no traces of fading paints appear on the tested area of the headdress, then you can completely immerse the headdress in the soap solution. For a simple wash with light stains, you should soak the hat for about 30 minutes. If dirt has adhered to your hat, or if it has particularly stubborn stains, you may need to soak it for several hours.

Rinse your hat.

Remove the hat from the soapy solution. Rinse it under a strong stream of water from the tap to remove the detergent. The water should be cold so that the headdress does not begin to shed and shrink. Continue rinsing until the hat is no longer sticky to the touch and there is no visible soap in the water running off it.

Squeeze out excess water. Take the headdress with your palms and gently squeeze it. Place the hat on a clean towel and continue to blot the water until it stops dripping from the headdress

Do not twist the hat while doing push-ups, as this may cause it to lose its shape and begin to pill.

Let the hat dry.

Place the hat where there is good air circulation. It should be laid flat on the towel without deforming its normal shape. You can place a fan nearby, but do not use a hot hair dryer to dry your hair. The heating may cause the hat to shrink. Do not place the hat in direct sun as it may fade.

Washing a knitted hat in the washing machine

Place delicate knitted hats in a laundry net. Some hand-knitted hats, especially wool ones, may become distorted when washed in the washing machine. To prevent this from happening, they should first be placed in a net or bag for washing clothes, or in a cap. Close the washing net with a lock or tie it if it doesn’t have one.

This will prevent the hat from falling out of it, which is especially important when the washing machine has a small load.

If possible, load your washing machine completely.

Woolen items tend to shed when washed without a full load in the washing machine. Despite the fact that the hat should be protected from such a nuisance by a mesh for washing clothes, it can open during the washing process. Other co-washable items should be in the same color scheme as your hat. The most ideal option would be to wash knitted items together.

Run a cold wash cycle before putting items in the washing machine.

Allow the washing machine to fill with cold water, then press pause and place the items in the washing machine before actively washing.

If your washing machine has a front door, place items in it as normal before you start washing. Although this is not the most ideal option, nothing should happen to your knitted hat.

Shampoo or washing gel

Simple, fresh stains can be removed with shampoo or washing gel. The key point is to use a moisturizing hair shampoo, which will prevent excessive drying of the leather base. Cleaning a mink coat using this method occurs in three stages:

dilute a little shampoo or gel in warm water until foam forms;
This solution is applied with a sponge to the desired area of the fur coat and wiped until the dirt is removed;
The foam is washed off with clean water, the fur is blotted with a dry cloth, and the product is hung to dry.

Elimination of unpleasant odors

Over time, after wearing the item regularly, the lining of the hat may acquire an unpleasant odor. In this case, it is enough to wash it, first remove it from the product, or completely replace it.

You can use the following tool:

dissolve 1 tsp. ammonia or salt in 0.5 liters of water;
moisten a soft cloth or sponge in the liquid and lightly rub the dirty areas;
At the end of the procedure, blot the fur with a clean, dry cloth and dry the hat in a well-ventilated area or in the fresh air.

Shoes

Faux fur is found on many boots and boots. It looks very beautiful, but taking care of such shoes is not easy. There are different ways to remove dirt from boots:

If the fur is light, white, you can use talc, flour, baby powder. Sprinkle the selected product onto the pile and after a while (usually a few minutes) remove it using a brush.
Grease and small amounts of dirt can be cleaned with baking soda. There may be several such procedures - you need to ensure that the product stops getting dirty. The paint is removed with gasoline.
If the pile is dark, it is not recommended to clean it with flour. Otherwise, the item may become damaged. Use sawdust to clean dark pile: you will need to sprinkle it on the fur.