An expensive mink coat needs to be carefully looked after, and this is not easy, because fur is a delicate and capricious material.
If you don’t know how to properly handle a fur product, it can be seriously damaged.
Many women refuse to take their fur pet to the dry cleaner and prefer to do the cleaning themselves.
Having chosen this option, it is important to carefully study all the information on how to clean a mink coat at home, so as not to say goodbye to it forever. How to clean a fur coat, read below.
Is it washable?
There are many instructions on the Internet that tell in detail how to wash a mink coat by hand or in a washing machine.
Under no circumstances should such instructions be taken into account, because fur coats are not washed! Moreover, even wet snow or rain is harmful to natural fur, so it is recommended to wear a fur coat only in dry weather.
Anyone who starts washing in a machine risks not only ruining the product, but also losing equipment . An already heavy fur coat, when it takes on water, becomes many times heavier and the drum simply cannot handle it. As a result, it may become damaged due to overload.
With the fur coat itself, even when washed on the most delicate cycle and at a gentle temperature, the following will most likely happen:
- it will become noticeably smaller, going down several sizes;
- the leather tissue will lose elasticity, become stiffer and, possibly, will crunch unpleasantly;
- some of the fur will come out;
- the remaining part of the fur on the product will sag heavily, shrink and roll up.
A product damaged in this way will never regain its previous appearance even after drying and combing.
You shouldn’t count on an alternative to a washing machine – hand washing. After soaking in water and drying, the fur coat will turn into a very shrunken item with fur rolled up and coming out.
Some tips for caring for white fur
White fur, regardless of origin (both natural and artificial), requires constant careful care, as it quickly loses its attractive appearance due to its soiling.
Therefore, when wearing fur products, you must follow a few simple rules:
- In the spring, at the end of the winter season, before storing your fur coat or hat, you need to clean it of street dirt by wiping it with a clean sponge soaked in a solution of 9% vinegar and water. After this, things need to be air dried.
- Fur items should be stored in a linen bag or wrapped in blue paper so that they cannot turn yellow.
- It is important to take care of keeping things moth-proof. Fresh and dry geranium leaves, orange peels or tobacco, placed in fabric bags in the closet, can help with this.
- Yellowness often appears under the influence of moisture, therefore, if the fur gets wet under snow or rain, it must be immediately vigorously shaken off and dried naturally.
- In the summer, you need to remember to air your fur coats and hats on the balcony from time to time, and also comb the fur so that it does not lose its shape and fluffiness.
If you follow these simple recommendations, white fur items will always retain their original appearance, and you will have to clean them from dirt, grease and yellowness much less often.
Dry cleaning
Dry cleaning methods are more gentle and safe for natural mink fur . However, they are more suitable for annual preventative cleaning of a fur coat from surface dirt and will not cope with deep stains.
Cleaning with a vacuum cleaner even at the lowest power can damage the fur and create unsightly bald spots. Instead of using a vacuum cleaner, it is better to lightly and carefully beat out the fur coat from the wrong side with your hand or a special beater.
The fur coat loves to be brushed, so periodic cleaning with a special mink fur brush will be useful.
Many people buy brushes for fur coats in pet stores and use them . This is a good alternative, but it is best to use a specialized tool so as not to harm the fur.
Using abrasives
When dry cleaning, adsorbents work best - substances that perfectly absorb dirt.
Suitable for mink fur:
- potato starch,
- talc,
- sawdust from deciduous trees (only deciduous so that there is no resin),
- semolina.
Cleaning is carried out as follows:
You need to lay out a large white sheet on the floor, and lay the fur coat on it, pile side up.- Take any of the most suitable substances (starch and semolina are more suitable for white fur) and thoroughly sprinkle the entire surface of the product with it.
- Lightly rub the substance into the pile using soft, gentle movements.
- Leave the fur coat like this for half an hour.
- After this, shake the product thoroughly - most of the abrasive will leave the fur.
- Gently beat out the fur coat from the wrong side with your hands, and then brush the fur with a special brush to get rid of any remaining substance.
After shaking off, you will see how much dirt the adsorbent has absorbed .
The fur will take on a much more pleasant appearance.
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?
Tidying up a white or light fur coat
In an urban environment, white fur requires especially careful care. In its absence, it quickly loses its presentable appearance, acquiring a gray or yellowish color.
Fortunately, there are several ways to return a white fur coat to its original appearance:
- dry cleaning with starch, semolina or chalk - these substances will absorb all the dirt;
- wet cleaning with a hydrogen peroxide solution using the method described above instantly removes yellowness;
- wet cleaning with a solution of water, salt and ammonia also combats yellowness.
One of the most effective ways to clean white fur is to use sawdust with gasoline . To do this you need:
Buy sawdust from deciduous wood (birch, oak, beech) at a pet store and prepare gasoline.- Soak the sawdust in gasoline (this will improve the cleaning properties) and dry them slightly.
- Having laid out the fur coat on a sheet, gradually pour sawdust onto the fur and process the product very carefully.
- After the procedure, shake off the sawdust, carefully knock out the remains, and comb out small particles with a brush.
After the procedure, you need to hang the fur coat on hangers outside or in a ventilated area to remove the smell.
How and with what to clean a dark mink coat?
The main task of caring for a mink coat is to give it shine. To do this, you can use a mixture of lard, water and ammonia.
Instructions:
- Dissolve 100 g of rendered pork fat in a liter of boiling water.
- Add 2 ml of ammonia and shake the mixture
- Pour it into a spray bottle and shake the bottle several times
- Apply the solution to the entire fur coat and hang the product on the balcony
- Let the product dry and comb it
How and with what to clean a dark mink coat?
How to wash the lining?
The lining of a fur coat also gets dirty and needs regular cleaning no less than fur. But how can you clean it at home if the fur coat itself cannot be washed? Unfortunately, it is rare to find fur coats from which the lining can be easily removed.
You will have to proceed as follows:
- Carefully tear off the fabric (this can be quickly done in a studio for little money).
- Place the fabric in warm water, add liquid powder (or regular powder if it does not leave streaks) and lightly wash by hand.
- Dry the product and then gently iron it at the lowest temperature.
- Using a thin needle, carefully sew the lining back. You can also contact the studio for this.
You need to wash the lining very carefully so that it does not shrink during the cleaning process. The water temperature should be no more than 40 degrees.
It is best to dry it outside or in a ventilated area, but as far as possible from radiators and heaters. To clean some individual parts of the lining from stains, it is not necessary to separate them from the fur coat.
To do this you need:
Turn the coat inside out and hang it on hangers.- Make a warm soapy solution.
- Soak a sponge in the solution, wring it out well and lightly rub the stains with it. The fabric should not get too wet - this can damage the product.
- Dry the cleaned area thoroughly with a dry, absorbent towel.
- Leave the fur coat hanging until the lining is completely dry.
This procedure is recommended to be carried out during each annual fur coat cleaning.
How to properly dry a product at home?
After all cleaning procedures, it is very important to properly dry the mink coat. Even if everything was done correctly and carefully during the cleaning process, during drying there is a risk of seriously harming the fur product.
To avoid this, you must adhere to the following rules:
- You should not try to dry the fur with a hairdryer, even with cold air and at low speed - sudden drying can deform part of the product;
- do not dry your fur coat near an open fire, radiator, heaters or other heat sources - this dries out the fur and flesh, causing them to lose their appearance and quality;
- Do not dry the fur in the sun - direct rays are harmful to it.
After cleaning (and also after being exposed to heavy snow or rain, when the fur is slightly wet), you need to thoroughly shake off the fur coat, and then hang it on hangers and let it dry on its own.
It should hang in a cool, well-ventilated area. After complete drying, you need to shake the product again so that the pile lies as before, and lightly smooth it with your hand.
You can use a special fur brush. Naturally, under no circumstances should you try to iron a fur coat.
You cannot comb the fur with a brush while it is wet - this is detrimental to it . It is better to wait until it dries completely and only then start combing.
Cleaning a mink coat with talcum powder to prevent vomiting
Talc is an excellent fur cleaner. Its action is based on adsorption abilities. This substance is ideal for removing grease and adding shine.
Instructions:
- Remove vomit with a damp cloth
- Lay the product on the floor and sprinkle dirty and greasy areas with talcum powder
- Rub the powder clockwise, shake off the talc little by little
- After this, add a new portion and rub again
- Rinse out the talc and shake the product well.
Cleaning a mink coat with talcum powder
