By carefully taking care of a fur coat, you can make it last for generations. While your best bet is to go to a fur specialist, there are a few steps you can take to make sure your garment retains its original luster. This means cleaning it, eliminating bad smells and treating it.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Clean the Fur
Step 1. Shake it to get rid of any dust or debris that has stuck between the fibers
Grab it by the shoulders and wave it in front of you, just like when you change a bedspread.
This should be done outdoors or in an area of the house that you can easily sweep; when you start shaking the coat, the residues fly in all directions
Step 2. Hang it up properly
The fur should always be supported by a large and padded coat hanger, to prevent it from losing its shape; given its nature, this material can in fact stretch and deform.
Never fold it
Step 3. Brush the fur while it is hanging
Use the correct brush and start cleaning the garment from top to bottom. Remember to follow the direction of the hair and make small, even movements, treating one small section at a time. The fur brushes have widely spaced teeth and soft edges to avoid damaging the material.
- If you don't have the right tool, you can run your fingers through the hair to get rid of any dust or debris.
- Never use a "normal" brush, as too thick teeth will damage the coat.
- Do not make large movements along the entire length of the garment, otherwise you run the risk of stretching it out.
Step 4. Remove any light stains using a homemade cleaning solution
Mix one part of isopropyl alcohol with one part of water and apply it to the area to be treated. Since the fur is very delicate, you should never use any type of soap or solvent.
Step 5. Gently wipe the stain with a white cloth and wait for it to dry
Don't rinse the solution off, instead put the coat in a well-ventilated room and let it dry completely. Alcohol prevents water stains from forming on the material.
- Never apply heat, as it damages both the fur and the lining.
- Be gentle as you scrub and be careful not to stretch the skin.
- Remember to use a white cloth or rag, otherwise you run the risk of transferring the color to the coat.
Step 6. Brush the entire fur using the brush tool when it is dry
Again, remember to follow the direction of the hair and work on small sections at a time.
Method 2 of 3: Treating the Fur
Step 1. Make an emollient solution
Combine one part of vinegar with two of olive oil, mixing thoroughly. The oil nourishes the skin of the coat, preventing it from drying out and becoming brittle.
Alternatively, you can use flaxseed oil
Step 2. Remove the cover
You have to apply the emollient solution directly on the animal skin, it is therefore necessary to remove any coating that is inside the coat. Linings are generally made of leather.
Step 3. Treat the coat
Use a clean cloth and dab the solution on the inside of the garment, directly on the animal skin, working one section at a time. Dry or chapped furs need different treatments; if the condition of the coat is not too compromised, you may be able to restore its soft texture.
- Do not apply the solution on the fur.
- Make sure you have removed the cover.
Step 4. Gently massage the skin
Continue to use the clean cloth to rub the emollient solution on the coat; in this way, you allow the material to absorb the oil. Don't rub the particularly dry areas too much, but apply a second coat of emollient when the first one has dried.
Untreated coats become stiff and brittle
Step 5. Hang the fur properly and wait for it to dry
It takes a few days for the vinegar to evaporate completely and the oil to be absorbed by the material. When you no longer smell the vinegar, the fur is ready to be worn again.
Remember that this item of clothing should always be hung on a large, padded hanger to prevent the shoulders from deforming
Method 3 of 3: Eliminate Odors
Step 1. Hang the fur in a vinyl garment bag
Make sure you use a bag that can be closed completely to make it as airtight as possible.
- Never store fur in this container for long periods as it prevents the material from breathing.
- If the coat skin cannot breathe, mold develops.
- Remember that fur should always be hung on a wide, padded hanger to prevent the shoulders from losing their shape.
Step 2. Fill a small container with ground coffee
The container should be small enough to fit on the bottom of the garment bag but, at the same time, large enough to hold 100g of coffee. Do not close the container.
Step 3. Seal the coffee pot inside the fur bag
Since this type of bag was made specifically to hold flat clothing, spills are likely to occur; do your best to minimize this phenomenon.
You can pour the ground coffee into a paper bag and fold the latter; however, it will take a long time for the smell to be absorbed
Step 4. Check the situation after one day
Depending on the type of stench you need to get rid of - smoke, mold, and so on - 24 hours may be enough.
Step 5. Stir the coffee
If the smell hasn't gone away after a day, simply stir the coffee and leave it along with the fur in the garment bag for another 24 hours.
Remember to review the situation every day
Step 6. Remove the coat from the bag and store it properly
Once the bad smells are gone, take the fur out of the container so it can breathe and then store it properly.
- The optimal temperature for storing a fur is 7 ° C.
- Do not use cedar cabinets or dressers, as cedar oil can damage the fur.
- Stay away from heat, as it dries the skin of the garment.
- Never fold the fur.
Advice
- Clean all fur at least twice a year to keep it looking even, tidy and keep it smelling good.
- If you feel the fur needs more cleaning, you can repeat the process the next day.
