How to clean fur at home: natural and artificial

At the end of the cold weather, fur clothes must be put away in the closet. But so that your favorite fur coat or hat does not lose its beautiful appearance, it needs to be cleaned. Many people do not know how to clean fur at home and take this problem to a dry cleaner.

But not everyone has the finances to afford this. That is why most women prefer to clean their fur items at home, using folk remedies. But how to clean a fur coat or blanket made of faux fur or natural sheepskin, mink, rabbit, etc.?

Ways to update the appearance of a fur product

If it is necessary to just slightly refresh a fur product, then there are several folk methods by which you can do this quickly and easily:

Using bran

Heat the wheat bran on a baking sheet or frying pan.
Distribute them over the fur item using rubbing movements.
Leave the fur coat in this condition for 15–20 minutes.
When the time is up, remove the bran and clean the fur.
This product is more suitable for products made from rabbit or sheepskin.

Hot sand

Place the fur coat on a flat surface.
Apply sand to it.
You need to rub it into your fur coat.
Remove dirty sand from the product. Carry out the procedure several times until the sand is clean.

Typically this remedy is used for silver fox or arctic fox.

Shampoo for cats

Dilute the shampoo in warm water and lather it.
Apply to the fur coat with a soft bristle brush or sponge.
It is necessary to rub the product into the pile of the product.
Leave the fur item in this condition for 3–5 minutes.
Rinse off the shampoo, being careful not to wet the skin to avoid cracking.

This product is excellent for products made from nutria, rabbit and chinchilla.

Birch sawdust

Soak birch sawdust with turpentine, kerosene or gasoline.
Distribute them throughout the product.
Brush your fur coat.

Great for silver fox and rabbit.

Table vinegar and alcohol

Add vodka and 9% acetic acid and vodka to the water; the ingredients must be mixed in equal quantities.
Apply the resulting product to the fur using a soft product: a rag or sponge.
Immediately after this, remove the solution from the product with a napkin.

More suitable for chinchilla and nutria.

Cleaning a fur coat with an aqueous solution of apple cider vinegar

The safest, cheapest and easiest way to clean fur at home is considered to be a solution with apple cider vinegar. Don't worry about the strong smell - it quickly dissipates in the fresh air. To use this method you will need:

mix 1 cup of hot water and ½ cup of apple cider vinegar;
microfiber cloth.

Note!
The cloth should be white, since when working with apple cider vinegar, the colored cloth may fade and this pigment will remain on the fur. Cleaning fur is simple - with a dampened cloth you need to vigorously rub against the hair growth, first the most contaminated places: sleeves, collars, pockets, hem. Don't forget about the belt. It gets dirty first. Then we go through the entire fabric of the fur coat.

After cleaning, the fur coat must be dried. To fluff up the fur, you need to comb it out. Take a special brush for fur. You can replace it with a regular fine-tooth comb. You don't need to press hard. You need to scratch smoothly and carefully in the direction of hair growth. After this, the fur becomes shiny, flowing, silky and fluffy.

We remove dirt from fur products

Quite often, on things made of natural fur, grease stains that are difficult to remove form. In order to get rid of them, you can go to a dry cleaner, but if you don’t have the money for that, then you can clean fur from stains at home:

Gasoline and starch

Mix starch and gasoline, beat the mixture until mushy.
Apply the resulting mixture to the resulting stain.
Let the mixture dry.
After this, clean the fur with a brush. If your fur coat has a long pile, then you need to brush according to the wool, if it is short - against it.

Liquid for washing woolen items

Take 1 tbsp. spoon of wool detergent and dilute it in 250 ml of water.
Apply the product to the grease stain and work it with a brush.
Remove any remaining residue using a paper napkin.

Chalk

Crush the chalk until it becomes powdery.
Sprinkle it onto the stain.
Wash your fur in a gentle manner. It is better to wash without using a washing machine.
Remove any remaining product with a brush.

Salt and ammonia

Dissolve 3–4 teaspoons of table salt and 1 teaspoon of ammonia in 0.5 ml of warm water.
Apply the solution to the stain.
Leave for 15 minutes.
Remove the product thoroughly with a damp cloth or napkin.

What not to do

In order not to spoil expensive fur, a number of important conditions should be taken into account.

White mink is not cleaned with potato starch. It can leave stains on it.
To treat a fur coat, you need to use special fur products. Don't use cheap laundry detergent. It is not recommended to rub dirt with force.
Odors should not be removed with deodorants, cosmetic solutions, or perfumes. Dust must not be removed with a vacuum cleaner. Fur items should not be placed in the washing machine.
It is not allowed to iron the outside or inside of a mink coat with an iron.
It is not advisable to clean such clothes constantly. The treatment must be carried out when it is heavily soiled, otherwise the pile will quickly dry out.
Do not dry fur over a central heating radiator or over an open fire. Do not leave the product in a closed bathroom overnight. A hair dryer is not suitable for use on wet hair.

Adding shine to fur

How to clean mink or arctic fox fur if it has lost its former shine? In order to return a fur coat or hat made of natural fur to its previous condition: rabbit, silver fox, chinchilla or sheepskin, you can use folk remedies that will solve your problems not only in, for example, how to clean the fur of an arctic fox, but also of any other animal.

Alcohol and ammonia

Mix table vinegar and citric acid in a 1:1 ratio.
Treat the fur.
Let sit for 10 minutes.
Remove the product thoroughly.

Fish fat

To 1 liter of boiling water, add: 10–12 drops of ammonia, 100 grams of fish oil and 10 grams of dark laundry soap.
Cool the solution to 30–35 degrees.
Apply the solution to the fur.
Leave for 5-10 minutes.
Remove any remaining product.

A few more tips

Now you know exactly how and with what to clean fur at home. But don’t forget about the nuances, because they are very important!

Do not dry the fur item by hanging it on a radiator, ironing it or blowing it with a hairdryer;
For natural fur, washing is strictly prohibited. The flesh should not get wet!
Vinegar is contraindicated for faux fur;
Do not use sawdust from coniferous trees for cleaning - they contain resin;
Do not comb the astrakhan fur, just shake it well;
If the fur has lost its shine, soak a cotton cloth in glycerin or table vinegar and run it through the pile. Apply alcohol on top and comb the fur with a comb. Do not repeat too often - vinegar makes the fur hard;
To prevent the base of the fur collar from becoming rough over time, regularly treat it with a glycerin solution (1 part water and 1 part glycerin).

Video: bio-cleaning of fur:

How to clean faux fur

If your fur coat is not made from natural silver fox, chinchilla or mink hair, the question of how to clean faux fur does not disappear. When cleaning a blanket or faux fur coat, you must act carefully. There are several rules for caring for such things:

If you store things incorrectly, they will become deformed and fade. If a fur coat or blanket has become dull, you can, of course, dye it, but it’s easy to do without it if you don’t: wring it out after washing, store it folded.
When washing or cleaning, it is prohibited to use aggressive bleaching agents to avoid damage to the fur.
Some faux fur contains a large amount of synthetics, which tends to deform during prolonged contact with water, so it is not recommended to wash such things.

When to clean your outerwear

Even the most expensive and high-quality thing can sooner or later become wrinkled, worn out, or dirty. Decoration made from animal fur is no exception. Such a product must be looked after carefully and scrupulously, and it must be cleaned or restored in a timely manner.

Signs that it’s time to tidy up the fur include the following factors:

Manifestation of uneven color of the product.
The presence of visible particles of debris between the villi.
Plaque and dust contamination, as well as stains.
Clumped fur.
Loss of shine.
Stale smell.

Tip : hang the fur coat on a hanger and direct the air flow from the hair dryer to the lint. If they scatter easily, then cleaning is not yet required. When the fur becomes sticky and crumpled, it’s time for special care.

How to wash faux fur

There are situations when simply cleaning the fur does not help to deal with stains, and then the question arises: is it possible to wash the fur? The answer is yes, but not all such products are recommended to be washed. Some blankets, hats and fur coats contain a large amount of synthetics, for which prolonged exposure to moisture has a detrimental effect, the item becomes dull and deformed.

You can paint a thing if it loses its color, but if it loses its shape, this is unlikely to help.

On fur products, there is always a label that says whether faux fur can be washed or not, and at what temperature. If it is allowed, then it must be carried out according to certain rules that say how to wash faux fur.

Things made of dark fur deserve special attention, because they tend to shed. So that you don’t have to look for a product that can be used to dye your favorite fur coat, it is enough to follow the basic rules for caring for fur items.

How to clean a fur coat - choice of products

To properly clean a fur coat at home, you need to determine the type of fur, assess the degree of contamination, and select a high-quality and safe product that will deal with stains without harming the material.

On sale you can find cleaning sprays, foams, shampoos, and wet wipes from popular brands:

Biofur.
Ultra finish milk.
Insaf.
Salamander.
Living licker konz.
Terre de sommieres powder.

Insaf

Salamander

Sommieres powder

Biofur

Before use, you should carefully study the instructions, do a test on an inconspicuous area and strictly follow the dosage.

Ready-made cleaning products remove dirt, restore lint, and contain antistatic agents and caring components that protect it from external influences.

Home remedies for cleaning fur coats from stains, street dust and dirt are also effective, but are more aggressive and can damage the material if the dosage is not followed. They must be used in strict accordance with the recommended proportions, and do not mix with each other.

Table - home remedies for cleaning fur coats.

View	Means
Solutions	Vinegar. Shampoo for animals. Vodka. Hydrogen peroxide. Liquid for carpets. Ammonia.
Absorbents	Baking soda. Talc. Semolina. Starch. Baby powder. Wood sawdust. Sharp.
Household appliances and tools	Steam cleaner. Clothes brush with soft bristles. Pet comb (“slicker”) with metal teeth.

When using homemade recipes, you need to take into account the type and color of the fur so as not to damage the structure of the pile or its color.

Hand wash faux fur

There are certain rules that say how to wash faux fur by hand.

Fill a large basin with water so that the fur fits into it without kinks. The liquid temperature should be no more than 40 degrees.
Add detergent. When washing with powder, it must be stirred until completely dissolved so that there are no problems when washing the powder out of the fur.
Immerse the item in the prepared product and leave for 20–30 minutes. If the fur is heavily soiled from the inside or outside, you can clean the fur with a brush, but it is not recommended to use excessive force.
At the end of the time, the water must be drained and fresh water added, adding 1 teaspoon of vinegar to it to add shine. Rinse the item in this water, rinse with running water.
The item cannot be wrung out; it must be laid out on a flat surface or placed on a hanger, the water will drain by itself.
Fluff and comb the fur while drying.

How to remove dust and light dirt

If your fur clothing is dusty, you can quickly fix this problem by following these simple steps:

Lightly wet a white cotton sheet and spread it on any flat surface - a table, bed or floor.
Place the fur coat evenly on the fabric, nap side down.
Using a carpet tool or rolling pin, knock out all the dust with small taps.
Afterwards, hang the fur coat on a hanger or hanger, dry it a little, but avoid direct sunlight, and comb the fur.

If your favorite outerwear is slightly dirty, then a solution prepared from a mixture of the following substances will help restore it to cleanliness:

2 tsp. alcohol;
1 tsp. table vinegar;
100 ml water.

Wipe the contaminated areas with a soft sponge or clean cloth soaked in the product. After drying, ventilate the product to remove the smell of vinegar, and comb. To prevent the fur's pile from sticking together, lightly run a steamer over it before you start working with the comb.

Please note that this solution is not recommended for use on faux fur items.

Tip : to reduce dust on your fur coat, store it in a special clothing case.

Cleaning faux fur

There are several ways to clean faux fur:

Dish soap and starch

It is necessary to mix until smooth: starch , dish soap and washing powder . Portions of ingredients should be equal .
Apply the mixture to the stain.
The product must dry.
Shake the item, and then treat it with a comb with infrequent teeth.

Fabric soaked in gasoline

Soak the fabric in gasoline.
Check in an inconspicuous place how the product affects the fur.
Wipe the stain with this rag.
Treat the area with a damp sponge.

What methods cannot be used

It is forbidden to dry fur near radiators, in the sun, or with a hairdryer. It is only allowed to keep it outdoors, in the shade. Washing taboo:

Most types of fur are not washed in a machine, otherwise the core will become coarse and crack, the product will be deformed, and the lint will fall out (however, some types of products can also be washed in a machine);
clean with chemicals, washing powder with enzymes and bleaching ingredients.

Fur should not be ironed (photo source: Yandex.Pictures)

How to clean white fur

Self-cleaning fur on light-colored items is only necessary if yellowness appears on the fur. Many women, faced with this problem, do not know how to clean white fur correctly. In order to remove the yellow spots that have formed on a fur coat or hat with a pompom, there are a lot of folk methods using improvised means:

Hydrogen peroxide

Add 10 ml of hydrogen peroxide to 0.5 liters of water.
Pour the resulting mixture into a spray bottle.
Spray the product on the stain or the entire surface of the item, depending on the scale of the problem.
Take the product outdoors.
After it dries, comb the pile with a comb.

Alcohol and soda

In 300 ml of water, add 5 ml of alcohol and 15 grams of soda.
Soak a brush or sponge with the resulting solution.
Treat the surface of the blanket or fur coat.
Dry the item.

Alcohol and glycerin

It is necessary to add 100 ml of vodka and 5 drops of glycerin to 0.5 liters.
Pour the product into a spray bottle and use it to spray the mixture onto the pile.
Treat the surface of the blanket or fur coat with a soft brush.
Dry the item.

How to properly care for a fur coat

Since a fur coat is not only an addition to your look, but also an element of style and taste, it should always look impeccable. Please be aware that there are multiple factors that can cause damage to this product, including:

Wearing clothes in snow or rain, as a result, the fur sticks together, becomes unkempt and scanty.
Inaccurate use of cosmetics or perfumes. Foundation, powder or lipstick can leave marks, for example on your collar. Apply any perfume or eau de toilette to clothes under a fur coat, otherwise the alcohol base will corrode the color of the product.
Friction with bags, briefcases, clutches, belts, and jewelry is also harmful to fur. This leads to thinning of the fur fibers. In addition, some colored haberdashery items may fade and leave stains on a light-colored item.
If a fur coat has not been aired or worn for a long time, and has been lying in the closet for several months, it can become an excellent “treat” for moths.

Compliance with the rules of wearing and storage will significantly extend the life of your favorite item.

Care according to species

The first thing you need to remember is the expiration date of the products. Furs from animals of different types are stored each in their own way, and for different amounts of time. For example, a rabbit will last no more than 5 years, but you can show off in an arctic fox fur coat for 7-8 years. The most durable are the beaver and the otter. They are worn until the age of 20.

For better preservation of any type of natural product, the following measures must be strictly observed.

The item should be kept in a dark, dry place, it is best to first put on a clothing cover.
It is also recommended to put a proven moth repellent there for the safety of the fur.
To avoid damaging the fibers and wrinkles of your fur coat, hang it on a hanger. At the same time, do not squeeze it with other things - the product should hang freely.
Before storing fur clothing in a closet for a long time, dry it in the open air, but keep it away from direct sunlight.

Arctic fox

Before each trip outside, comb the fur from top to bottom with a stiff brush.
After wet cleaning, dry the fur at room temperature by hanging it on a hanger. Never use a hair dryer or radiator for this.
When fighting moths, try not to use sprays and mothballs. The smell is pungent and is strongly absorbed into the fur, making it extremely difficult to remove. It is recommended to purchase tablets or sachets.
If you don’t know how to clean arctic fox fur and remove dirt at home, then it’s better to trust the professionals and have the product dry-cleaned.

Mink

The collar of a mink coat requires special attention. Therefore, do not use lipstick or foundation to avoid staining the fur, otherwise it will be almost impossible to remove such stains. It is best to wear a scarf or scarf underneath.
Mink should never be dried in the sun; it will fade and deteriorate irrevocably.
The owner of a fur coat must take into account the delicacy of the product. Do not stand in lines to avoid rubbing against fur, do not sit on dirty benches and chairs. You should not carry bags or briefcases.

Rabbit, goat, nutria and wolf

Such products are lighter in weight. This is due to the fact that they have a thin layer of flesh - skin. Therefore, furs from these animals cannot be worn in the snowy or rainy seasons.
For this outerwear, dry clean only. Use starch or corn crumbs. Rub the composition into the fibers, then shake thoroughly.
Be sure to store your fur coat in a case with a small amount of moth repellent added to it, otherwise in winter you will find a thing that has been eaten by insects.

Otter, beaver and mole

The fur of these animals is considered not only the strongest and most durable, but also the most frost-resistant.

Due to the many positive characteristics and long-lasting wear, natural otter and beaver products are very expensive, but you pay a pretty penny for high quality and durability.
If you wet the fur, then it is unpretentious in drying. It is enough to place the product near the battery, hanging it, for example, on a chair. Then comb the fibers.
Over time, things made from beaver or mole may become salty. Use a solution of alcohol and warm water in a ratio of 1:10 to wipe the fur, then dry and comb the same way.

How to clean a fur collar at home

Owners of beautiful fur coats or hats with a fluffy pompom: nutria, silver fox, chinchilla rabbit, mink, etc., are faced with the problem of how to clean a fur collar, because it is often the one that gets dirty the fastest. Before you start cleaning the fur on the collar, you need to determine the type of contamination. If there are greasy stains on the product, it is better to resort to dry cleaning.

For light-colored items, it is better to use dry cleaning.

Talc

Unfasten the collar and lay it on a straight surface.
Apply the product to the collar or hood.
With dry hands, spread the powder over the entire area of the product.
Leave for 15–20 minutes
Shake off the product and let the collar or hood air out.

This cleaning method is suitable for light fur of a fox, arctic fox rabbit or mink.

Dry cleaning option

The method without adding any moisture involves using only starch, talcum powder, sawdust, baby powder, salt, and a soft brush or rag.

The algorithm of actions is no different from the procedure with talc or semolina - the fur should be thickly sprinkled with an absorbent substance, left for half an hour, and then shake the product well. Salt, for example, perfectly absorbs oily stains, as well as various street pollution.

Tip : dry clean your natural fur coat once a month. This will help avoid premature deterioration of the item's condition.

The use of river sand in the process of cleaning also refers to dry methods of getting rid of fur contaminants.

Place the product on a flat surface. Pour heated sand onto it.
Rub it thoroughly into the lint and then shake it off.
Pour in the component again and shake out the fur coat again. The procedure must be repeated until the fur is clean.

Mechanical removal of dirt using a comb or wire brush is also a “dry” method. For greater effect, put a piece of cotton wool on their cloves.

How to wash a dark fur collar

Dark things tend to fade and so that you don’t have to think about how to paint the item later, it is better to clean the collar or pom-pom on the hat using the right products:

Dissolve 1 tbsp in a liter of water. spoon of shampoo.
Using a sponge, apply the product to the pile of your collar.
After 15 minutes, rinse the item in warm water.
Lay the collar on the fabric.
Brush the collar while drying.

The product is excellent for hoods and collars made of dark fur: silver fox and chinchilla. The mixture will retain the color and you won’t have to think about how to dye your collar or hat with a pompom.

Vinegar

When you look at the cotton wool, you will understand that it was not in vain that you chose this method of cleaning. The cotton pad will darken with dirt and will have to be replaced with a new one. Replacement must be carried out until you completely clean your fur coat, hat or collar.

Natural hair is not afraid of vinegar, but if there is a need to soften it, use diluted glycerin. This will make it shine even more and will be protected for some time by a thin film. After wet cleaning, it is advisable to comb the fur and give the product time to dry completely. Only then put it in a case and put it in the closet.

Please note that it is very important to regularly wear a warm fur coat. The more often you go out into the cold in it, the longer and better it will last.

But in wet weather you need to wear a jacket and take care of fur items. If you accidentally get caught in the rain wearing a fur coat, hang it on a hanger, comb it and leave it to dry. Under no circumstances should it be placed near heaters or in very hot rooms.

Source

How to wash a fur collar with long pile

Fur items with long pile need to be washed with greater care; in no case should you use detergents containing chlorine

Dilute soap solution in water.
Dip the item into the liquid.
Leave the collar in the water for half an hour.
At the end of the time, rinse the product.
Dry the collar; it needs to be combed from time to time.

Knowing these basic folk recipes, you won’t have to look for advice on how to wash fur or how to dye it if it has faded during wear.

Is it possible to wash a fur coat?

The main prohibition when cleaning any fur products is washing them. Even snowy weather is harmful to natural fur. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to wear a fur coat only in dry weather. If the mensdra (leather fur base) gets very wet, then when it dries, it can become very cracked or rough.

As a result, the fur coat will lose a lot of fur, become bald, shrink a couple of sizes, and the remaining edge will roll up. Fur spoiled in this way will never regain its former fluffiness and shine, no matter how much you comb it.

Washing a fur coat is contraindicated not only for fur products. After such a “water procedure,” the washing machine itself may break down. A wet fur coat will become several times heavier, and the drum simply will not withstand the load.