Fur cleaning at home - recipes and tips
A fur coat made of natural fur is the pride of any woman and a real need for unpredictable Russian winters. Of course, any product, and especially something as delicate as a fur coat, requires special care. At the same time, dry-cleaning for fur products is very expensive, and sometimes even dangerous.
Inaccurate adherence to technology can injure and even spoil the material. This does not mean at all that it is worth giving up fur care. Rather, on the contrary, the question of how to clean fur at home is most acute. Moreover, a well-groomed fur coat is visible from afar and immediately speaks of the status of its mistress.
Fur, different in origin, dressing, color and other parameters, requires different care. Even ordinary unpainted and white plucked mink coats require a different approach. In addition, cleaning can be:
- Dry
- Wet
Dry brushing is commonly used for weekly fur coat maintenance. It allows you to quickly and effortlessly refresh the product, remove excess dirt, grease and dust. For simple cleaning, it is enough to use an ordinary brush with natural bristles and walk it several times over the fur coat. If there is light dirt on the fur, they can be removed with dry starch or talcum powder. To do this, it is worth sprinkling the contaminated area with powder and after 3-5 minutes also walk over it with a brush.
Wet cleaning is a more complex method. Usually, this method of cleaning is used only once a season - before storing the fur coat. It has its own characteristics and nuances for each type of fur: mink, arctic fox, astrakhan fur and others. The wet method is more traumatic for hides, so do not use it for plucked, dyed and damaged species.
Important! The lighter the fur and the more processing it has gone through, the more delicate it is and the easier it is to damage it, including during industrial dry cleaning.
How to clean mink fur at home
Mink coats are most widespread in Russia. This fur is prized for its luxurious look, durability and practicality. It is enough for more than 20 seasons of socks. It is not difficult to clean the mink - this fur is very strong and grateful to care for.
Several methods of serving it:
- Cleaning with alcohol. It is necessary to mix alcohol, table vinegar and water in equal proportions. Then spray the fur with this composition, and then wipe it with a dry clean towel and let it air.
- Removing dirt with salt. This recipe is suitable for individual small areas that are heavily contaminated.For example, the cuffs on the sleeves or a piece of the belt caught in the dirt. It is necessary to dissolve 1 tablespoon of salt in a glass of water, pour 1 teaspoon of ammonia into it. Then, using a towel or napkin, apply to the stained fur, but in no case moisten the flesh.
- If chewing gum sticks to the fur, it can be removed by freezing and rubbing alcohol. To do this, first, the fur with an elastic band must be frozen. After that, it will crumble easily. Then it must be carefully removed.
- Old, greasy stains and dirt from difficult substances can be removed with gasoline. To do this, you need to apply it to the sponge and wipe the place of pollution. Do this several times if necessary. Then wipe with a clean, damp cloth.
In the same way, you can clean other similar fur - muskrats, otters, nutria, as well as any artificial one.
Advice. After cleaning the fur coat, it is better to steam the fur. Do not do this before removing the dirt - otherwise it may eat into the material even more. The rumpled fur looks very poor and deplorable. Therefore, it is worth laying. An iron with a vertical steaming function or a steam brush is useful for this. The fur coat should be hung on a hanger and steam walked over it at a distance of 20 cm in the direction of fur growth. After that, once again go through the brush, gently combing it, and leave to dry for 1-2 hours.
Cleaning the white mink
The fur of a white, light gray or blue mink requires special care. As a rule, these are highly colored products with very delicate flesh, which is sensitive to any influences. Therefore, the question of how to clean a white mink at home should be approached most scrupulously. The use of alcohol can negatively affect the flesh and the fur will come out.
To care for such material, it is better to use dry cleaning with semolina or flour. To do this, rub the fur with grits or flour and leave for 15-20 minutes. After that, brush this composition with a brush.
Advice. Ballpoint or marker marks that are so clearly visible on a white coat can be removed with acetone or nail polish remover containing acetone.
Cleaning of the white fox
No less capricious fur is white or silver arctic fox. This material tends to yellow naturally over time, and its long pile and fluffy undercoat collects a large amount of dust, grease and dirt. But with proper maintenance, it can withstand up to 10-12 seasons of use.
To care for the Arctic fox, you can use ammonia and a soap solution or dishwashing detergent. To do this, stir 2 teaspoons of ammonia in water and add the same amount of dishwashing liquid there. Beat the solution into a lather and apply to the fur, so that the flesh does not get wet. Spread the lather over the hairs so that the edges are wet. After that, leave for 5-10 minutes and then remove with a clean napkin. Then dry the product carefully.
Advice. If the fur needs to be bleached, then it is better to add 3-5 grams of citric acid to the solution.
How to clean a silver fox collar from yellowness
Stylish and bright skins of a silver fox decorate not only collars, but also hats and belts. And the vests from it look very rich.However, this material has one drawback - bright white hairs fade and turn yellow over time, which is why the product no longer looks so silvery. Regular hair shampoo can fill this gap.
To do this, dissolve 1 tablespoon of shampoo in water and beat the foam. You can add half a teaspoon of citric acid to the water. After that, you need to apply the solution to the pile and leave for 10-15 minutes. And then just wipe with a dry napkin or towel.
Another method that works well for removing dirt from fox hair. With this method, you can easily clean not only a jacket or fur coat, but also a hat or collar. To do this, you need wheat bran, which needs to be slightly warmed up in a dry frying pan. Then sprinkle the nap with bran and leave for 10-15 minutes. Then you need to brush off the bran with a natural bristle brush.
How to clean a karakul
Karakul is easily cleaned by dry method using semolina, starch or bran. When caring for it, it is better not to use a brush with a hard bristle, let alone a metal one. In order to remove cereals or bran after the procedure, it is enough to shake off the product or wipe it with a terry towel.
How to clean the lining of a fur coat
Not only the pile needs proper maintenance, but also the lining of the product. The lining fabric is more likely to come into contact with the body and because of this, stains and greasy spots appear on it. It is not always convenient to strip it off for washing, so there are many other ways to clean the lining of a fur coat at home.
Important! It is impossible to wash, wash the lining directly on the fur coat, since water will inevitably get on the skin and spoil it.
With careful and attentive service, any fur coat will last a very long time and will also look luxurious for a long time.
VIDEO: How to clean natural fur from yellowness.