Dry bleaching
This cleaning method uses simple dry substances, most of which are found in the kitchen or home medicine cabinet.
Semolina
An effective and inexpensive way to remove yellowness from fur is to take simple semolina, which can be no less effective than expensive chemicals.
It needs to be scattered onto the pile and rubbed lightly into the surface of the fur until the grain becomes dirty and the fur, on the contrary, becomes clean and shiny. Remains of semolina can be removed by vigorously shaking the item or gently vacuuming it.
Gasoline based mixtures
You can clean white mink from yellowness if you use a mixture of high-quality gasoline and potato starch. They must be mixed in such a proportion that a mass with the consistency of thick sour cream is obtained. The mixture should be applied with a rag or brush in a thin layer to dirty, yellowed, greasy areas and left until the mixture is completely dry. It must be removed and the product hung in fresh air to ventilate from gasoline vapors.
In the same way, you can try to bleach the yellowness of arctic fox fur.
An original way to clean white fur products is to treat the natural pile with special sawdust, which is used for keeping animals. They need to be soaked in a small amount of good gasoline, sprinkled on contaminated surfaces, left for about 1 hour, and then simply shaken off and combed with a wide-tooth comb.
Wheat bran
Blue mink coats are the easiest to clean with bran. They need to be slightly dried and heated in a frying pan without fat.
Place the product on the table, cover it with a sufficient amount of bran and distribute it evenly over the pile. When they absorb dirt and grease, you need to carefully remove the flakes from the surface and carefully shake off the fur coat from product residues.
Talc and chalk are combed out with a comb
If you want to clean white fur at home, you can treat it with talcum powder or chalk.
Talc can be purchased at a pharmacy; it is advisable to take one that does not have a strong foreign odor. The most ordinary chalk will be useful - it must be crushed with improvised objects and be sure to sift.
The contaminated product should be laid out on a flat surface, carefully sprinkle talcum powder or chalk over the entire surface and lightly rub in with your hands. Due to their porous structure, these substances easily absorb dirt and grease.
After some time, you will need to carefully comb out the dry substances from the pile using a brush or a wide-toothed comb. Long fur should be brushed in the direction of hair growth, short fur - against the grain.
How to clean rabbit fur from fat?
In addition to yellowness, traces of fat sometimes appear on fur items. Grease stains can also be removed at home. There are several options for preparing solutions that can cope with greasy stains. To do this, you can use the following combinations of components:
- white spirit and ammonia, taken in a 1:1 ratio;
- aqueous solution of salt with ammonia: 400 ml of water requires 3 tbsp. l. salt and 1 tbsp. l. alcohol;
- water and vinegar, combined in equal proportions.
In any of these compositions you need to moisten a cotton pad and treat the contaminated areas of the pile. After half an hour, the fur should be wiped with a damp textile cloth. Final processing is done with a dry white cloth.
What product is available for cleaning mink fur?
Nowadays, fur cleaner can be purchased at any household chemical store. These are basically sprays that are very convenient to apply to the fur. After this, the product is applied and left for a few minutes to absorb. Next, the fur is combed out. These products mainly contain essential oils and animal fats. They restore shine and make products beautiful.
Review of fur cleaning products:
- INSAF. One of the most popular remedies. It prevents the appearance of tangles and the undercoat becoming tangled. Quickly copes with grease and fat.
- LIVAL LICKER KONZ. Allows you to quickly put your fur coat in order. There are substances with a tinting effect. Contains plant essential oils that add shine.
- FUR FRESH SALAMANDER. A popular product that can be used to restore shine to a product and get rid of tangles. Tints the pile.
- TERRE DE SOMMIERES POWDER. This substance is best used for targeted cleaning. This is a powder that will help get rid of stains. It is rubbed into the fur and then shaken off.
- ULTRA FINISH MILK. The substance is intended for cleaning fur products of any color. Returns shine and prevents fibers from sticking together.
What product is available for cleaning mink fur?
Special detergents
These preparations are intended for cleaning fur products; they are quite effective, but their high price is not always affordable for consumers. However, products can help out when there is no time to choose the option of cleaning a mink coat at home. Available for purchase:
- Insaf - copes with many contaminants, prevents pile matting, forms a dust-repellent film on the fibers, protects against moths;
- ULTRA FINISH MILK - gives the fur a new effect, returns it silkiness and shine;
- spray “FUR FRESH SALAMANDER Professional” - restores color.
In order not to spoil the fur with the product, you must strictly follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
How to clean yellowed faux fur
It is much easier to bleach fur made from artificial materials than a natural product. Most often, such items are made from synthetic materials that can be washed by hand or in a machine on a delicate cycle up to 40 °C. It is also possible to treat yellow spots with local bleaching agents.
Alcohol and soda
An alcohol solution with baking soda will help remove yellowness and grayness from synthetic fur. Instead of alcohol, you can use vodka. How to cook:
- Mix a glass of water with 15 ml of rubbing alcohol.
- Add a teaspoon of soda and stir.
- Pour the solution into a spray bottle and shake.
- Treat the surface.
- Comb with a fine comb and dry.
After the procedure, it is recommended to hang the product in fresh air or a balcony to remove the smell.
Lemon juice
Do not use concentrated citric acid solution. It can increase yellowness and damage the villi. Natural juice diluted with water in equal proportions has a milder effect. The solution is applied using a spray bottle or a rag. Afterwards the fur is combed with a damp brush.
Hydrogen peroxide
This homemade bleach is safe for synthetics. Peroxide must be diluted with water:
- Add 10 ml of hydrogen peroxide to a glass of water.
- Pour the liquid into a spray bottle.
- Shake and spray.
- Leave to dry.
In order for the solution to affect the entire pile, after spraying it is necessary to comb the fur product. This will ensure the liquid is distributed evenly.
Starch, dish gel, washing powder
The mixture will get rid of yellowness and clean the lint from dust. Convenient to use on small items or for local bleaching of yellowness.
How to cook:
- Mix potato starch, dish gel, washing powder (you can take liquid) in equal proportions.
- Apply an even layer onto synthetic bristles.
- Wait until completely dry.
- Clean with a soft brush.
Semolina and starch
The dry cleaning method is suitable for long synthetic bristles. In short dense pile the grains will get stuck. You have to work hard to comb them out. In this case, the combing procedure can spoil the appearance of the product.
For dry cleaning, you need to lay out the fur item and sprinkle it generously with a mixture of semolina and starch (you need to take it in equal proportions). Gently rub in and wait 10–15 minutes. Afterwards, the product is shaken, and the dry mixture is cleaned with a brush or comb with frequent teeth.
Carpet cleaner
You can try bleaching synthetic fur with special carpet cleaners. The composition must include bleach. Suitable for white products:
- "Shampoo 5+ Carpets."
- "The Drop" Vox.
- Help (for carpet cleaning).
- Vanish (carpet shampoo).
- Udalix Ultra (for carpet cleaning).
Any chosen product must be added to water and foamed. It is thick foam that is applied to the fur and lightly rubbed in. After 30–60 minutes, comb or vacuum at low power.
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 it’s not easy to ventilate any room, and gasoline is volatile and toxic
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.
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).
Methods and recipes for cleaning mink products
When cleaning a fur coat, it is important to remember that any careless action will lead to damage to the clothing. You cannot wash your fur coat; it will shrink and shrink in size. Mink coats can be cleaned in two ways: wet and dry.
In this case, funds are used that are always available in the house.
Mink coats can be cleaned in two ways: wet and dry. In this case, funds that are always available in the house are used.
Wet cleaning: features and recommendations
Wet cleaning a mink coat is a more effective method suitable for removing deep dirty stains. Before cleaning, the mink coat is placed on hangers in a vertical position. After cleaning the fur coat, you need to comb it with a special brush and let it dry.
When drying, do not use a hairdryer or iron!
Shampoo, gel, soap solution
Heated soapy water is one of the common methods for cleaning mink. The number of components is taken from the calculation of the volume of the fur coat. The longer and larger the fur coat, the more solution you need to clean it. Dissolve 100 ml in a bowl of warm water. shampoo, shower gel or regular laundry soap. Moisten a sponge in the solution and gently wipe the hairs of the fur coat with it, from root to tip. You can fix pieces of cotton wool on the teeth of a comb, and, dipping it in the solution, comb your fur coat.
Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide
5% vinegar cleans mink very well from dirt and restores its original shine. If you need to tidy up a white fur coat, then replace the vinegar with hydrogen peroxide.
Petrol
Aviation gasoline or lighter gasoline is used to clean the collar, as it gets dirty faster than other areas of clothing. Traces of perfume, creams, and lipstick often remain on the collar, which are very difficult to remove. Gasoline is mixed with burnt magnesia, which can be purchased at a pharmacy, to a mushy mass. Apply the paste to the contaminated area and rub against the lint. After drying, comb the fur thoroughly and wipe with 5% vinegar.
You cannot clean light fur with gasoline, otherwise it will turn yellow!
Ammonia+salt
In a glass of warm water, dilute a tablespoon of table salt until completely dissolved, add half a teaspoon of ammonia. Soak a soft cloth or gauze in the mixture and use pressure to clean the fur coat.
Alcohol or vodka
In the following way, the fur coat is cleaned from dirt and dust; in addition, after treatment with alcohol, the former shine returns. Add 5-6 drops of alcohol and 1 drop of cleaning agent to half a glass of hot water. Mix the mixture thoroughly, then use a cotton swab dipped in it to clean the fur coat in the direction of the pile.
Dry cleaning
This is a more gentle cleaning method, suitable for removing shallow dirt.
Starch
Place the fur coat on a smooth, flat surface, for example, on a table. Then sprinkle with potato starch and thoroughly rub the surface of the fur coat with it. If the starch becomes dark, repeat the procedure. After treatment, shake off the fur coat well.
Talc or tooth powder
Tooth powder, talcum powder, or regular baby powder are excellent products for cleaning mink fur at home. Clean with tooth powder in the same way as with starch.
Sawdust
The pet store sells sawdust from hardwood trees. A small amount of them needs to be mixed with regular clean gasoline. Apply the mixture to the fur, rub it with your hands, then shake it off, comb the fur and treat it with vinegar.
Semolina
Semolina is used to clean a fur coat in the same way as starch, but there is another cleaning method. Boil a tablespoon of semolina in a glass of milk. Apply the cooled porridge to the fur coat in a thin and even layer and leave for 6 hours. After this, it is good to clean the fur coat of semolina, comb it and dry it at room temperature.
Hot sand
Heat fine, well-sifted sand and then pour it onto the fur. Rub with your hands, remembering to replace dirty sand with clean sand. Repeat the procedure until the fur coat is clean.
Mink care of different colors
When deciding on the method, you should definitely take into account the color of the fur. Solutions and bulk substances that have proven themselves in cleaning dark-colored coats can have a negative effect on a light-colored product.
White (light) fur coat
A fur coat of such an exquisite color is extremely easily soiled. The pile must be cleaned only with compounds that do not contain dyes. From dry substances it can be talc. For wet cleaning - solutions with the addition of ammonia or hydrogen peroxide. You cannot clean light fur with gasoline, otherwise it will acquire an unattractive yellowish tint. You can use the following proven recipes:
- Sprinkle the contaminated areas of the fur coat with a thin layer of talc, after two to three hours, remove the powder and comb the pile.
- Pour a tablespoon of peroxide into a liter of water and soak a cotton pad in this solution. If the product has long pile, clean using movements according to the location of the fur; if the pile is short, clean against it. Then the coat is dried and combed.
- Dissolve one tablespoon of ammonia and three tablespoons of salt in two liters of water. Clean, dry and comb the pile.
When using hydrogen peroxide or ammonia, special care is required. If the product gets on the base, it will lead to damage to the product.
Beige, blue and black fur
A fur coat in beige and cream shades is particularly sophisticated. But she also needs constant care. As soon as even slight yellowness appears, you need to take action. You will need a 5% hydrogen peroxide solution. Traditional treatment will remove stains and eliminate unpleasant odors.
To restore the delicate blue color of the product, all you need is bluing. The powder or concentrated solution must be mixed with water until a light blue color is obtained. Using a sponge moistened with this product, carefully treat the fur, dry and comb it.
With black fur, you won’t have to worry about how to clean an expensive item. Most recipes will work. But the most effective method is still original: you will need bran and walnuts. At the first stage, you need to heat the bran to about 65° and clean the pile with it. Then, using a bag of nuts crushed to a state of flour, carefully wipe the fibers from the very root to the tips. Walnut oil will give the product a characteristic shine.
How to clean a fur hat
The most common hats made of natural fur are mink and arctic fox. Let's talk about proper care for them.
Mink hat
Dry cleaning
We use simple household products. Starch and talc will cope with dust and fresh grease stains. Generously sprinkle the chosen product onto the fur and rub in gently. We leave the headdress alone for half a day, then use a clothes brush or a not very powerful vacuum cleaner to clean out the grains that have absorbed the dirt. The final step is to comb the fur with a fine-toothed comb. We clean the white mink cap with heated bran. We also sprinkle the fur, rub it in, and comb it out with a wooden comb.
Wet cleaning
Dissolve washing powder or hair shampoo in water. Whipping the foam. This is what we apply, without water, to the entire surface of the headdress with a new foam sponge. We do not overdo it with friction so as not to pull out the fibers. Remove foam with a clean damp sponge. After cleaning, place the hat on a 3-liter inverted glass jar to dry. This way it won't lose its shape. Dry in the shade away from radiators. When the fur is dry, comb it.
And a few more recommendations:
- Hydrogen peroxide will remove yellowness from your hat. Dissolve it in water, pour it into a spray bottle, scatter it over the dirt and dry it in the sun.
- Remove greasy stains on a mink hat with vodka or alcohol.
- Old stains are removed with a saline solution containing alcohol (1:2 ratio). Apply the solution to the stain, wait a little and wash off with a damp sponge.
Arctic fox hat
Sawdust, bran
To clean this headdress we use clean sawdust. Let's fill the product with them and rub them in little by little until they absorb the dirt.
After cleaning, carefully shake out the sawdust. You can use a vacuum cleaner for this. Then we comb the fur, moving along the growth of the pile. An alternative to sawdust is bran. We do the same with their help.
Gasoline, starch
We prepare a paste from potato starch and purified gasoline. We place the hat on a jar wrapped in fabric so that the headdress does not turn during our work. Using a toothbrush, apply the prepared mixture to the fur and rub in a little. Let the paste dry for about half an hour. Now remove the remaining starch with a brush and shaking. If necessary, we will repeat the process.
Vinegar, alcohol
Mix 9% vinegar, alcohol and water in a 1:1:1 ratio. Apply the mixture to the hat with a sponge and rub in. There is no need to rinse off, since all the components will evaporate after a short time.
Hydrogen peroxide, ammonia
Pour a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide and 10 drops of ammonia into 200 ml of warm water. Mix and apply with a sponge to the fur in the direction of hair growth. To remove the smell, take the hat out into the air for 6-8 hours. After this, comb it with a wooden comb.
Semolina
It collects dirt well and is preferable for cleaning white fur hats. Sprinkle the headdress and wash it effortlessly, as if washing it in water. After this, carefully shake out the hat, not leaving a single grain, otherwise moths will appear in the product.
Walnuts
To clean the hat and restore the shine of the fur, we use powdered walnuts. We place them in a two-layer gauze bag, which we use to wipe the fur.
Cereals
We grind the Hercules in a coffee grinder, heat the resulting flour in a frying pan, sprinkle the warm mixture on the hat and carefully grind the fur. Then knock it clean
Ammonia, salt
This solution will deal with greasy stains on the cap. With a sponge soaked in the solution, we will go over the surface - along the hair growth, if the stains are fresh, and against the growth - for old stains.
How to clean the lining of a fur hat
This part of the headdress gets dirty quickly, as it constantly comes into contact with the hair and absorbs fat and sweat. Bacteria developing at lightning speed give the product an unpleasant odor.
To clean, carefully tear off the lining, wash, iron and sew again. If this is difficult to do, clean with a sponge moistened with warm soapy water. Then wipe with a clean, dry cloth so that no moisture remains. If the smell remains, use ammonia solution. After wiping the lining, remove the moisture with a dry cloth.
There are countless ways to clean fur at home. Choose depending on the type, color and degree of contamination. Dry clean very expensive items. You will have to spend money, but specialists have more opportunities not to spoil the thing.
Rules for removing various stains from fur and lining
It often happens that a thrifty housewife manages to preserve the appearance of her fur coat, but the lining of the product wears out and looks unattractive.
Fabric restoration can be done in the following way: tear off the lining material and wash it in a washing machine at temperatures up to 40 degrees for silk and polyester. If there are concerns that it will not be possible to sew the lining in place efficiently and accurately, there is another way. To do this you need:
- make a soap solution/dilute shampoo in water;
- with a sponge, carefully so as not to wet the inside - the back side of the animal’s skin, treat dirt on the hem with foam;
- Wash off the foam with a clean damp cloth, avoiding the formation of streaks;
- Dry the lining at room temperature.
To prevent contamination of the lower part of the lining, it is worth sewing another layer of fabric onto this part. It should be steamed and washed.
Sometimes it is necessary to remove stains from vomit, fatty or sweet foods, and blood from a fur coat. The first step is to remove dirt with a damp towel without wetting the animal’s skin. You shouldn’t delay dealing with stains; old stains are more difficult to remove. Next, the fur should dry on hangers at room temperature away from heat sources.
After this, apply talc or semolina to the affected area of the fur coat and rub the product into the pile in a circular motion for several minutes. The substances, due to their abrasive properties, will collect the remains of vomit and blood and eliminate the unpleasant odor. The undercoat is cleaned with a brush and the product is ventilated.
After removing vomit from the fur with a damp towel, ammonia and vinegar are used to completely clean the product in the manner described above. Foam from hair shampoo will cope with the unpleasant odor; for this, the fur is carefully treated with a sponge.
Stains on fur clothing can have different natures and origins. For example, natural suede bags readily give off the color of fur when worn on the shoulder. You can get dirty with sauce when you eat on the run, or make a blot with a stationery pen.
You can remove stains from dark fur using gasoline (white fur will turn yellow). Refined gasoline with a high octane number. Sometimes it is applied in its pure form, but more often it is mixed with starch or washing powder without enzymes to the consistency of sour cream. A couple of minutes after application, the mixture should be removed with a sponge soaked in clean water, and the product should be dried and combed.
Stains from light fur can be removed using acetone or alcohol, also by mixing liquids with starch or baking soda.
The stronger the dye and the older the stain, the more difficult it is to deal with it at home. If the above methods do not work, do not experiment: take the fur coat to the dry cleaner.
Is it possible to wash a fur coat?
Clothes made from natural fur cannot be washed. Water and cleaning agents can cause it to become deformed, shrink, or fade.
Heavily soiled artificial fur coats can be washed, but in compliance with the following rules:
- Hand washing is preferable to machine processing.
- Water heating is no more than 35–40 degrees.
- It is better to unfasten elements with natural fur (hood, collar, cuffs).
- Do not soak!
How to wash faux fur You will learn: how to properly wash faux fur in an automatic washing machine; how to wash by hand correctly; how to dry and what to do if...
Fur coats with long artificial pile can only be processed by hand:
Shake the fur coat to get rid of dust. Fill the bathtub 1/3 full with water. Dilute your chosen cleaning solution. Submerge the item in water
Gently press with your hands along the entire length, paying special attention to the collar, cuffs, and pockets. Rinse the product in cold water until the foam is completely washed away. Do not use air conditioner! Gently remove the water with your hands
Do not twist or squeeze! Blot excess moisture with a large terry towel. Place the fur coat on a wide, sturdy hanger. Dry in fresh air. Shake the product periodically and comb with a brush.
Fur coats with short artificial pile can be cleaned in a washing machine.
When using automatic processing, use a washing bag, select gentle modes and turn off the spin cycle. Please note that a wet fur coat is very heavy. The washing machine may not be able to cope with such weight, which will lead to equipment failure.
How to eliminate the smell?
There are different ways to eliminate odor from a mouton fur coat. You can use a jar of coffee. To do this, you need to hang the fur coat on hangers, and put a zippered bag on top. You should carefully place a jar of coffee inside so that it does not accidentally stain the product. The package closes tightly. Every 10-12 hours you need to stir the coffee. After 4-5 days, the fur coat will acquire a persistent coffee aroma that will delight you for a long time.
Additionally, you can treat the fur coat with a solution of water and alcohol (it can be replaced with vinegar). After this, the residues are removed with a damp cloth, and the product is dried. Vinegar will also help restore the product's attractive shine.
Now you know how to get rid of any dirt and unpleasant odors on a mouton fur coat. As a reminder, all recommendations are summarized in a table.
Problem | Suitable means |
Dust on a fur coat | wet sheets; vacuum cleaner |
Dirt | soap solution |
Greasy spots | hot bran |
Oily stains | solution of ammonia, water, vinegar |
Any contamination | special cleaning products for nubuck, suede, velor |
Spots and yellowness on a white fur coat | starch; starch and gasoline; hydrogen peroxide and water |
The smell of a fur coat | coffee; starch; talc; dentifrice; alcohol or vinegar solution |
How to restore shine to a mink or mouton coat?
During wear, the fur loses its shine due to the leaching of the fatty composition on the hairs. It needs to be restored. You can do this in the following ways.
Fat based solution
The most common method is to apply, do not wash off, a solution based on pork or fish oil. To prepare the composition, take 10 g of soap, 100 g of liquid fat, 12 drops of ammonia. Dissolve soap and fat in boiling water. After cooling to 35 degrees, add 12 drops of ammonia.
Walnut oil
Walnut oil will help restore the shine to a mouton or mink coat. Grind the walnut kernels, tie them in gauze, and wipe the product in the direction of the pile.
How to store?
A lot depends on the storage of a mink coat - the appearance, the shine and shimmer of the pile, the strength of the product. Hang on soft hangers so that the fur coat does not become deformed or sag. You can store it in a closet, in a separate case. The fur product should not be cramped in the closet; the mink loves space and air. It needs to be ventilated regularly, but not in bright sun. Summer ventilation is prohibited! Get a special brush for cleaning your fur coat to quickly bring it into adequate condition.
Preventing moths
Take care of protection against moths in advance, before packing for storage. To prevent moths, you can buy special products and preparations in the supermarket. Before use, read the instructions - where and how to apply the product, where to place the sachet, how to open the capsule with the product. Usually sprays are applied to the product using a sprayer, but not in the case of mink. Do not spill or pour moth repellent onto natural fur! Sachets and capsules are opened and placed on a bar next to the fur coat or on a hanger on which the product hangs. The smells of lavender, lemon (citrus), and pine aromas are considered effective.
If there is a smell...
The musky smell from mink comes from several reasons:
- the product is not stored correctly;
- animal skins are poorly dressed;
- the fur coat has absorbed foreign odors.
If the smell is neutral, you can leave it as is. But if it causes inconvenience, it must be eliminated. Don't spray perfume on your fur coat! Mixing perfume and the natural smell of a fur coat is unpredictable and can worsen the situation. The best option is to seek professional dry cleaning. An alternative at home is to tear off the lining and wash it with detergent. Air the fur coat itself for several days. Then connect all the parts of the product, sew the lining to the fur base. Another option is flavored bags or sachets. Sew them under the lining and wear them that way. If there are pockets, put the sachet there.
Which case to choose?
Do not use plastic covers; purchase a high-quality cover made of natural material for air access. This will preserve the mink coat for years and protect the inner skin (inner skin) from drying out. The cover should be made of dense material, but not narrow or tight. It is better to have a dark color and be opaque to protect against ultraviolet rays. The fur product should not be wrinkled; the fur should be stored flat.
How do you know if a fur coat needs cleaning?
Natural mink should be cleaned only if it is visibly dirty. You should not resort to this procedure after each season. Before putting it away for storage, you only need to comb the mink coat with a cat brush and put it in a fabric cover, not forgetting to provide sufficient space, absence of heat and treatment against moths.
You can clean the fur yourself when:
- dust has accumulated on the fur coat;
- the original shine has faded;
- the fibers have become crushed;
- the fur has lost its lushness and is greasy.
A simple test for contamination can be done at home using a hairdryer. Direct a stream of air onto the fur coat. If the villi become “fluffy” and scatter to the sides, you can wait a little while cleaning. If the pile sticks together, it’s time to get to work.
Another telltale sign is the hardness of the pile. A clean mink coat shines spectacularly and is soft to the touch. If, when stroking, you feel that the pile has become stiffer, it means that it needs refreshing.
We’ll tell you in more detail how to properly clean a mink product at home.
How to wash a light-colored hat?
Light-colored mink fur requires careful and careful cleaning. You can restore the whiteness of a white fur hat using hydrogen peroxide.
You will need 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide, 1 glass of water. For such cleaning, it is better to use a spray bottle, in which you need to pour a mixture of water and peroxide. Then spray the hat and let it dry naturally. All of the above methods for cleaning a mink coat refer to wet cleaning when the hat is heavily soiled or greasy. In cases of light contamination, you can use dry cleaning of the fur. To do this, you can read the article “How to clean a fur coat at home? Tips on how to care for fur products”, where you can find additional information on cleaning fur and useful tips for caring for natural or artificial fur products.
Types of cleaning fur coats from stains and dirt
There are two types of removing stains and dirt from fur products, which can be used while taking all precautions and without causing damage to the expensive item:
- mechanical method;
- chemical method.
Mechanical cleaning is used for minor dirt and stains, as well as for complete cleaning of a fur coat from dust. Cleaning is done using a special metal brush and a cotton swab.
Wire brush
For this use:
How to determine when it’s time to clean fur clothes
Expert opinion
Evgenia Taran
Housewife
It is worth noting that you should not clean relatively new fur clothing too often, this can only ruin it. Moreover, the service life of such things is quite long.
For example, if you carefully wear a mink coat, you don’t have to worry about its appearance for at least ten years. And beaver products will last twice as long.
Therefore, experts identify several main reasons for which you can clean the fur:
- the presence of stains of various origins;
- winter clothes have turned yellow or green;
- the color of the product has become uneven;
- greasy areas appeared;
- the flesh has become coarser.
It is also worth paying attention to the behavior of fur in windy weather. If after the wind the hairs easily return to their original place, the fur item is in good condition, but if not, it’s time to clean it
Causes of yellowing fur
Over time, fur products lose their former appearance and begin to turn yellow. There are several reasons for this:
- Water. Despite the fact that a fur coat is worn in winter, when it often snows, it turns yellow when exposed to moisture. To prevent the product from deteriorating, it is necessary to dry it after each wear.
- Dust. With a large accumulation of dust, light fibers lose their saturation and shine.
- Sweat. Yellowness usually appears on the collars, where the fur comes into contact with the neck and back of the head. Sweat accumulates in these places first, which negatively affects the appearance of the fur coat.
To avoid damage to fur items, you need to remember the following rules:
- You should not wear a fur coat if it is raining or snowing outside.
- It is necessary to store the product correctly: pack it in a special bag and do not expose it to direct sunlight. Also, the humidity of the room should not be high.
- If your fur coat gets wet, dry it with a cool hairdryer or fan. Exposure to hot air should be avoided.
- In warm weather, it is necessary to remove fur clothing so that it does not get wet due to sweat.
- The fur needs to be cleaned regularly with a special brush.
Attention! Yellowness appears on old fur coats - this is normal. In this case, you can give the product to a specialist for restoration or think about buying a new one.
Cleaning according to traditional recipes
There are two ways to clean a mink coat at home:
- dry;
- wet.
Dry processing
This is a safer procedure; suitable means can be found in every home to carry it out. They will absorb dirt, remove small yellow spots and return the fur coat to its original noble appearance.
Semolina. You can clean a fur product using this unique abrasive product. It will help if the fur coat is covered with dust, the noble color has faded, the natural shine of the fur has disappeared. Use the product as follows: lay the coat on a table or other flat surface and sprinkle with a thin layer of cereal, paying special attention to pockets and sleeves, shake vigorously several times and hang on hangers
Next, you should thoroughly but gently brush the fur with a brush with metal bristles.
Talc This product is indispensable if you need to remove dust and other contaminants from the pile, as well as moisture or any odors. When working with talc, it is advisable to wear gloves to keep your hands clean and dry throughout the procedure.
The fur coat must be buttoned up, leveled on the table and sprinkled with talcum powder. Rub the powder into the pile with light movements. After a few minutes, shake the fur coat well so that no particles of talc remain in the fur, and comb it with a brush or comb with sparse teeth.
Potato starch. This product stands out from everything that can be used to clean a mink coat. Usually it is used after the end of the next winter season to remove some minor dirt. Starch is especially good for cleaning white mink products.
Care instructions
Mink, according to manufacturers, will not lose its attractiveness for 10-12 years, but it is necessary to follow the rules of wear and care. Timely removal of contaminants can extend the life of a chic coat by several years. It is advisable to wear it only on dry winter days. You should not carry the bag on your shoulder to avoid abrasion of the lint.
Storage rules
You can’t clean the pile often, only when it gets dirty. Otherwise it will be fragile. It is contraindicated to use plastic covers for storing things. Due to lack of oxygen, the item will lose its chic appearance.
Before sending it for storage, the cabinet must be treated with an anti-moth agent.
Storage recommendations include:
- protect the fur product from sunlight;
- When wet, shake, hang on hangers and let dry on its own;
- store in a closet on wide (preferably soft) hangers;
- brush periodically with a soft brush;
- For the warm period, put it in a thick cover, having cleaned the item first.
The mink in the closet should not come into contact with other things. Every 3 months it should be hung for ventilation in a dark and well-ventilated place.
The white coat must be stored in a special case and only in a cool room. Due to temperature changes, the fur loses its snow-white appearance.
A mink product will never lose its relevance and will always emphasize the status of a woman. But your favorite coat will look chic if it is regularly, carefully and competently cared for.