Mink coat care: how to wear, store, clean

To keep your coat in good condition, do not wear it in wet weather. Dry wet clothes in the room on hangers. Do not rub the fur with watches, belts, or bag straps. Pure dark fur with rye bran, sand, cereals, light fur with starch. Rub the substance into the base and use a brush. Yellow stains can be removed using pet shampoo and a hydrogen peroxide solution. Sawdust absorbs traces of fat. Makeup stains can be removed using alcohol-based cleaners. A vinegar solution and fresh air will help get rid of unpleasant odors. Lemon juice, vinegar solution, glycerin or a fat mixture will restore shine. The product should be stored in a well-ventilated cabinet with a breathable lid. Clean, repair and air the item before storing it. Place moth-proof pouches in your pockets. Periodically remove the item, comb and air.

Mink can be cleaned at home using available cleaning products. It is better to blow dry your hair. Swallowed stains are removed topically using liquid. After the procedure, the hair is dried, shaken and combed. Think about how to care for your mink coat.

How to wear a mink coat correctly

Caring for mink fur consists not only of timely cleaning and drying, but also of using them correctly.

To make your coat look fresh and beautiful, follow the rules:

wear a coat only on frosty, dry days;
put on an umbrella to protect the fur from rain and snow;
wear a scarf to prevent the lint from touching your bare neck and absorbing sweat
try not to crush the fluff while wearing it.

Wear with care. When you get home, hang it on hangers so that the product does not lose its shape.

What not to do when wearing

Do not expose the product to direct sunlight or wet rain. Also:

do not spray perfume directly onto the fur,
do not pin the brooch to the item,
avoid cosmetics.

The less deformation and chemical exposure, the better.

Difficulties of keeping mink at home

Minks are capricious animals that recognize only one owner. Such an animal treats other family members coldly, and sometimes even aggressively. Males will be more loyal to people than females.

See 20 interesting facts about hyenas - representatives with a bad reputation

If we talk about small children, then minks do not get along with them. Kids treat animals carelessly, and a mink will not tolerate this. Mink also does not get along well with other pets.

A mink in the house is a hurricane. These predatory representatives of mustelids are incredibly active. They can easily climb onto a table or bookshelf, climb up the curtains to the ceiling, scratch the TV, and also dig up all the flowerpots in the apartment. They are worth constantly watching.

Water procedures for minks are very useful. They should be carried out at least once a day. But you shouldn’t forcibly bathe such an animal, because it may get scared.

Minks love to play, not only with toys, but also with their surroundings. They also like to tidy up the house at their own discretion.

Minks can mark territory. Both males and females do this. The affected area varies. Neither educational measures nor castration correct this.

There will be a high probability that even if all the rules of upbringing and taming are followed, an unfriendly animal will grow out of the mink.

How to care for a mink coat

Take care of your mink fur all winter long. Check the product when you get home. Don't wait for stains to dry. Do not wear fur when it is wet, otherwise it will lose its shape.

How to dry mink

If your fur is wet, dry it properly at home:

Gently shake the product.
Hang your coat over broad shoulders.
Absorb excess moisture by gently pressing a soft cloth against the fur.
Hang the product indoors, away from direct sunlight.

Important. Do not dry your fur with a hairdryer, heater or gas. Do not shake or wrinkle clothes while drying.

How to clean a mink coat

If your coat is stained with street dirt, dry it first.

Before drying, wipe off the reagents along the edges of the long film. Dry mink fur using a soft brush or sponge. In case of heavy dirt, use the vacuum cleaner at the lowest level.

Dry, dusty clothes. If the wool is wet, the dust rolls into the lint, gets stuck deep inside the wool and gives it a gray tint. How to wash a mink coat at home:

rye bran (pure black mink);
semolina;
starch (pure white mink);
sand.

Combine the selected material in a dry frying pan. Make sure that it does not burn, otherwise slag will remain on the wool along with a bitter odor. Spray the fur with the hot mixture. Rub the skin with your hands and leave for a few minutes. Shake the coat and comb the fur.

A steam cleaner or steam generator will help clean the fur and restore its shine. However, use the device only after cleaning and removing stains. Otherwise, the dirt will soften and sink deeper into the fur.

How to protect fur from abrasion

Pocket edges, shoulders, sleeves, hems and collars wear out over time and leave your hair looking unkempt. To avoid rapid wear and tear, do not rub the fur with the straps of handbags, watches, or with your hands hidden in your pockets. Protect your collar with a scarf or scarf. To keep fur from chafing your steering wheel, buy a model with shorter sleeves or leave the coat in the back seat when traveling.

Torn areas are difficult to repair at home. Contact the studio to bring your favorite fur to life.

Pay attention. Mink fur and public transport do not mix. Due to constant rubbing, the fur quickly becomes unusable.

Additional recommendations

White mink fur should be protected from aggressive environmental influences and potent substances. Regular care rules will help maintain the original whiteness longer.

Cleaning a fur coat at home with a professional fur care product.

Mink is an expensive, delicate fur that will not withstand the effects of aggressive substances. It is not recommended to clean mink coats at home using the following means:

bleach;
gasoline;
acetone;
baking soda and caustic soda;
washing powder;
bleach.

It is important to test the effect of even a mild product on an inconspicuous area. An ideal “sample” is a piece of fur.

Storing fur products in summer

Prepare the fur for storage until next winter before summer:

Carefully inspect the fur, look for stains and damage.
Clean, make repairs yourself or through a workshop.
Hang your clean fur coat over your soft, broad shoulders.
Fasten all buttons.
Comb and pack in a lid.
Hang the item in the closet so that it is surrounded by empty space.

About twice a month, remove the product and hang it outside, away from direct sunlight. Before putting your coat back in your closet, be sure to clean the fur.

If possible, do not store fur in your apartment, but take it to a fur cabinet, which is often opened at a dry cleaner. In a special refrigerator with a humidity of no more than 50%, the fur will remain clean and beautiful until the next frost.

Preventing moths

Beware of mole protection. Place the scent packet in your pocket. You can make it yourself from linen or cotton fabric. Place dried lavender, tobacco, dry peel or cotton balls soaked in fir oil inside. Renew bags by airing coats.

Avoid using aerosol products that can damage the structure of the fur.

If there is a smell

The easiest way to refresh mink hair is on the loggia. Before putting your coat in the closet, hang it on a hanger and leave it on a cool balcony for several days. Make sure the fur is not exposed to the sun.

Eliminate persistent unpleasant odors with a vinegar solution. Spray the liquid from a spray bottle and let it dry on your shoulders.

Which case to choose

During storage, fur coats must breathe. Fur coats should be made from natural fabrics in dark colors. Do not wrap fur in plastic or synthetic bags.

Advice. Light mink wool should be wrapped in a blue or blue cover to prevent the wool from turning yellow.

What is special about white mink?

As you can see, the white mink coat in the photo has a very even color, without transitions or halftones. The most popular color variations of white mink fur are grey-beige, topaz, light beige and pearl tones. Since the animal is bred through selective breeding, these spectacular fur coats are delivered to our stores from abroad.

How to clean a mink from yellowness and complex stains

Mink fur can be cleaned dry or wet. If possible, do not over-wet the fur. Stains should be removed locally with a cotton swab. You can clean the fur and hair of a mouton in the same way.

Yellowness

White mink coats are more difficult to care for. Brightly colored fur will turn yellow over time.

This is most often caused by bright light or humidity. Get rid of yellowing with pet shampoo:

Add a few drops of shampoo to warm water.
The skin is thin.
Using a gentle hand, take the foam and apply it to the yellow spots.
Scrub with a brush.
Shake well and let dry.

If there are pale yellow marks, dampen them with a 1:1 hydroxide solution using a cotton pad. After processing, allow to dry.

Fat

How to remove grease stains from mink:

Sprinkle the product onto a flat surface.
Sprinkle with sawdust.
Leave for a few minutes.
Brush and shake the product.

Cosmetics

Get rid of makeup and lipstick with vodka:

Dampen gauze or liquid cotton pad.
Wipe according to the growth of fluff.
Allow to dry.
Brush together.

Vomit

Vomit is removed from fur using dry and wet methods:

Rub the starch into the dirty surface.
Dissolve a small amount of detergent in water.
Pour the solution into a spray bottle.
Spray the surface to be sprayed.
Rub with a sponge.
Let it dry.
Brush away the starch.

Attention. If you are cleaning a brown coat, use a powder without bleach.

Features of seasonal care

You need to take care of expensive fur all the time, and not just when wearing a fur coat. Then the item will delight you with its shine and rich shade.

Winter

The weather in mid-latitudes is unstable. In both December and February, morning snow often gives way to rain, and freezes again in the evening. If the fur coat is wet, when you get home, you need to hang it on hangers and dry it, and then comb it with a brush towards the fur, and then against the pile.

A wet item should not be locked in a closet. It is not always possible to collect water from a mink; if it gets very wet, the fur coat can stretch and shrink, and it is better to take it to the dry cleaner. To sew a torn button, a durable and hard material such as leather is applied to the fur, and cotton thread is used.

A small stain on the mink is wiped with a sponge moistened with:

in purified gasoline;
in ethyl alcohol:
in hair shampoo.

To remove chewing gum that has stuck to a fur coat, apply a plastic bag to it, in which ice is placed. The remaining particles of gum are combed out of the pile with a brush.

Women who wear lipstick or powder foundation must tie a scarf or wear a scarf under the high collar of a fur coat or coat.

It is recommended to take heavily soiled items to the dry cleaner, but this should not be done often. Organic solvents destroy the structure over time and worsen the appearance of the fur.

Summer

After wearing a fur coat in winter, it is important to properly prepare it for storage - clean it from dirt and dry it. The crushed mink must be carefully combed, checked to see if the seams have come apart, and sewn up if this has happened.

Fur clothing must be hung on hard and durable hangers of the appropriate size. Other things should not press down on the fur coat or coat. Mink products cannot be rolled.

Before putting clothes in the closet, they need to be ventilated on the balcony or in the room, but so that the sun's rays do not fall on the product.

To restore shine, glycerin is applied to the pile by hand.

How to restore shine

To make the coat shiny, treat it with a solution of lemon juice, vinegar or glycerin. Mix in equal proportions with water and spray. Wipe with a paper towel and let dry.

Prepare the glitter mixture:

Add 10 g of soap shavings to 100 g of fish oil.
Pour in 10 drops of ammonia.
Dilute the mixture with a liter of hot water. IN
Pour the solution into a spray bottle.
Cool to room temperature.
Spray the wool.
Wipe with a paper towel.

Ultimately, the fur coat is shaken and hung on hangers.

What to do if your fur coat is wrinkled

Folds and creases in fur clothing appear when it is folded incorrectly. A coat made of mouton, astrakhan fur or mink cannot be ironed. To straighten a fur coat, the bathtub is filled with hot water; when steam forms, the item is placed on hangers over it.

After wiping the fold of the clothing with a damp sponge, the lint will be separated with a sparse brush. If the fur is wrinkled in a small area, spray it with water from a spray bottle.

When is the best time to go to dry cleaning?

For difficult and stubborn stains, mink hair should be professionally cleaned. A small stain can be removed by itself. Massive stains of unknown origin are best left to professionals. It is also not recommended to cut your fur coat yourself.

To renew an old product, go to your dry cleaner every two years. The cost of services varies from 1500 to 5000 rubles.

Mink fur is a capricious material that does not tolerate moisture and chemical influences. Be careful with mink fur. Keep it clean and shape while wearing it. Storage rules must be followed. Then your coat will last for several years.

How to protect fur from moths

Even if you store a mink coat in an exemplary manner, it will not save you from moths. Special tools are needed. Anti-moth measures are a mandatory step in preparing for the “non-fur” season, otherwise you risk feeding your mink to these butterflies. You can buy moth repellent in the store. They come in the following types.

Tablets, briquettes. The cheapest and most unsafe form of salvation from moths. The composition contains naphthalene and camphor, the “aroma” from the product is unforgettable and it is difficult to remove it from the fur. It is better to put the tablets on the top tier of the cabinet.
Plates. They have no odor, and the anti-moth effect lasts up to six months. Don't be afraid to put the record directly in your fur coat pocket.
Sections. Plastic pendant with holes on the sides. Inside it there is a plate impregnated with an anti-moth preparation. It may smell like flowers or citrus, or it may have no scent at all. It is advisable to hang two or three such sections in the closet. You can hook it directly onto a hanger with a fur coat (inside the case).
Aerosols. Anti-moth sprays should not be applied directly to the fur. You need to spray the composition inside the cabinet - be sure to treat all the walls, corners and ceiling. If the fur coat will be stored in a case, then you need to spray its entire inner surface.

You can turn to the “experience of your ancestors.” It is known for certain that moths cannot tolerate the smell:

lavender;
geraniums;
tobacco;
citrus fruits.

Against moths, you can make small bags of gauze and place dry orange peels, the contents of a cigarette, dried flowers there, and tie them directly to a hanger inside the case. Or simply drip geranium or lavender essential oil onto a piece of cotton wool or a scarf and put it in your fur coat pocket.

The fur industry is developing rapidly. Fur coat models become more and more interesting from season to season. But trends are an ephemeral concept. And if you expect to wear mink for more than one season, then choose a classic cut and color that will not go out of fashion next winter. You already know how to properly store a mink coat.

Video on the topic

Advantages and disadvantages of dry cleaning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTkm4ytqGbg

Before wondering how to clean a mink coat at home, many people prefer to seek dry cleaning services. And this is quite normal, since special institutions have the following advantages:

It is possible to choose different cleaning methods;
Personal time is saved;
The risk of ruining a fur coat is reduced;
All odors and dirt are eliminated;
A special tool is used for cleaning.

But among the advantages, there are also some disadvantages of dry cleaning. Firstly, you should give your fur coat only to reliable hands and trusted companies. Secondly, you can dry-clean a mink coat only 4-6 times, since in the future it most likely will not survive this procedure.

What you need to know about mink?

When purchasing, be sure to check the quality of the fur from which the fur coat is made.

It should not contain many small parts sewn . The underside of the skin should retain its elasticity and have a natural beige or cream color. Non-compliance with these indicators is a sign that the product was stored in violation of the requirements.
Another sign of quality material is the color of the fur . In really expensive varieties it is brown or black, shimmering in the light.
The quality of the pile can be checked by running your hand over it. It should not be crushed, and after the cessation of exposure it quickly returns to its original form.
Do not forget that mink fur is afraid of water . If you wet it too much, the pile will fall off and the fur coat will quickly become unusable. Therefore, it should only be worn in dry weather.
If getting wet cannot be avoided, then clothes should be dried away from heat sources, in a dry room, hanging on a hanger.
The mink skin itself is quite thin. During wear, this leads to rubbing of fur on the most loaded parts of clothing - shoulders, pockets and cuffs . You should be especially careful with them.

Soap solution

If you were looking for how to clean dirt from a mink coat, then this is one of the most effective methods.

You will need two bowls. One is filled with clean water, the other with a soap solution (ideally, high-quality shampoo mixed with water until foam forms).

Using a sponge, the solution must be applied to the material, avoiding sudden movements so as not to damage it. Contaminated areas require more thorough treatment. Usually it goes to the sleeves and hem, sometimes to the collar.

After this, the solution must be rinsed off with clean water and the fur wiped dry, and finally combed.

We invite you to read: Rust on clothes: 49 ways to remove

Fur Cleaning Basics

In a serious store, when purchasing, they will definitely tell you how and with what to properly clean fur products. The advice of experts should not be neglected. If they are lost or forgotten, then there are basic principles that must be followed.

—>

The first and main one is no washing powders or similar household chemicals . The most reliable way in which the fur coat will not be damaged is dry cleaning in a specialized organization. It is carried out using a dry method, which helps protect the fur from the harmful effects of moisture. It is recommended to submit any fur coat for this procedure once a year, after the end of the season.

However, some contaminants can be easily eliminated at home:

First of all, this applies to ordinary house dust . In this case, the fur coat should be carefully laid out on a damp sheet with the fur facing out and carefully knocked out from the inside. Most of the dust will quickly end up on the wet cloth. After this, the product will need to be shaken a little and hung to dry.
Fur stained with cosmetics, lipstick or foundation can be easily cleaned with alcohol . A small amount of liquid applied to a cotton pad or swab will be enough to remove dirt.

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.

We suggest you familiarize yourself with How to clean chrome faucets

This procedure is recommended to be carried out during each annual fur coat cleaning.

To clean the lining, you need to spread the fur coat on a flat and comfortable surface. The lining must be washed with a special sponge, which has previously been soaked in a soap solution. After this, you need to wipe the lining with a clean, not very wet napkin, and then with a regular cloth so that it absorbs the remaining water. After this procedure, you need to let the fur coat dry, preferably in a room at room temperature.

To make cleaning the lining easier, you can tear it off and wash it. This method allows you not to clean the entire fur coat, but to remove dirt directly from the lining itself.

Is it possible to update a fur coat with your own hands?

Independent attempts to give fur its original appearance can also lead to unexpected consequences.

That's why! You should not trust any advice that can now be found in abundance.

At the same time, there are many proven ways to improve the appearance of a fur coat that has faded over time. It is possible to add freshness to the pile using steam, but it will be more effective to hang it on the balcony in sub-zero temperatures . This is suggested by nature itself - it’s not for nothing that fur-bearing animals look especially luxurious in the snow.

There are also ways to restore lost shine. The most common are:

a solution of water and vinegar, which is used to treat the pile using a sponge;
oil of crushed walnuts. In this case, the nuts are wrapped in gauze and the resulting swab is passed over the fur. The fibers are saturated with oil, regaining shine and additional protection from moisture.

Storage and operating conditions

Caring for a mink coat is easy. It must be protected from moisture; you cannot walk in it during rain, as the fur may become unusable. Wet clothes are shaken and hung to dry away from heat sources.

Mink skins are thin, so the fur coat should be handled carefully. Scuffs primarily appear on the shoulders, cuffs and pockets. If, as a result of improper use, the core has become rough, you must contact a saddler to correct it. You shouldn't do this yourself.

In order for clothes to retain their original appearance and color longer, they should be stored properly. In some workshops that work with natural fur, they not only clean and restore the products, but also store them in special refrigerators.

The main rule is that you cannot leave your coat folded. It is hung on hangers in a dressing room or closet and covered with a spacious cover. The fur coat must be hidden from the sun; warm, dry air is also harmful to it. In the summer it is hung in a cool room, protected from drafts.

The product must be regularly ventilated, shaken and carefully protected from moths. To do this, it is treated with repellent aerosols, and dry anti-moth preparations are placed inside the cover. Pest larvae are afraid of the cold, so it is useful to hang fur clothes in severe frost.

You should especially carefully care for a white mink coat, since any dirt is clearly visible on its surface. Even substances such as perfume, powder, and lipstick can leave unpleasant yellowish stains.

If the pile still turns yellow, the product must be dry cleaned. You can also try cleaning the fur coat yourself using talcum powder or chalk. To do this, it is laid out on a surface covered with a white cloth. The fur is sprinkled with powder on top, then shaken and combed. This method allows you to clean the product from dirt and get rid of unpleasant odors.

Dry cleaning

Cleaning a mink coat using the dry method is the simplest and most gentle method for fur. For this method, products such as talc or starch are well suited, which best help deal with dirt on a white mink coat.

In order to carry out dry cleaning, you must first shake the item from dust, spread a sheet and place the item on it. Then you need to rub the selected cleaning agent into the pile and after a while remove it by shaking the item well.

Another good cleaning agent is sawdust. You can buy such sawdust at any pet store.

To clean them, you need to mix them in a suitable basin with clean gasoline and place the fur coat in it. After such a “wash”, it is necessary to remove sawdust and allow to dry.

Cleaning from dirt

You can clean a mink fur coat from dirt using regular semolina, as it perfectly absorbs any dirt. The surface of the item must be sprinkled with semolina, and then carefully combed with a fine-toothed brush in the direction of the lint growth. In order to completely get rid of all the remaining dirt and semolina after cleaning, you should shake the fur coat well.
If there are fresh traces of dirt, they must be allowed to dry before starting cleaning. And only after that, using a regular cleaning brush, begin to remove dirt. After this “combing”, the fur coat must be shaken well several times.
Regular talc will help get rid of dirt. To do this, you need to pour the product onto the pile and rub the talc with your hands. After cleaning, residues are easily removed from the surface of the fur coat after thorough shaking.

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 their fur coat 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.

Standard storage rules

Proper handling of the item during wear (in winter) and further storage will allow it to look good for a long time. In this case, you must adhere to the following rules:

Do not allow sunlight to fall on the fur, and do not dry the item using a gas stove, fireplace or heating appliances;
wet fur should be dried only at room temperature (the fur coat should hang on hangers);
When wearing a fur product, you should not use handbags with a shoulder strap, backpacks, etc., so that the fur does not become wrinkled or frayed at the points of contact;
When wearing or storing a fur coat, you should not spray aromatic products on it;
You cannot decorate fur clothing with brooches and other decorations.

Before storing a fur coat in the summer, you should first check its condition. Take it to the dry cleaner and take other necessary measures to avoid doing this when cold weather sets in.