Silver fox is a valuable fur that is distinguished by its pleasant appearance and quality. It protects well from the wind and retains heat.
Often on the street you can see clothes or a collar made of silver fox, a hat, or shoes with elements of fur. If you wear it regularly, you may notice that the pile on things has turned yellow, stuck together, and lost its original, attractive appearance. This means the clothes need cleaning.
You can clean a silver fox product at home without going to the dry cleaner. For this, proven, traditional cleaning methods and professional products are used.
For what reasons does yellowness appear on the fur?
Fur requires proper storage and care. If a silver fox turns yellow, it may be due to several factors. The most common of them:
- Weather. Fur items turn yellow due to regular wetness from snow or rain. Precipitation, when dried, leaves yellowish spots on the hairs of the fur coat.
- Incorrect storage. Fur products require regular ventilation and cleaning.
- Collars and hats often come into contact with the face, onto which oily and foundation creams are applied. In addition, these accessories absorb sweat.
- Natural fur can also turn yellow if some liquids are stored next to it.
- The material turns yellow when exposed to UV radiation. Therefore, experts do not advise purchasing models that are on display.
- The fur turns yellow due to the regular use of perfumes and essential oils.
- Fur items age over time. In this case, it is impossible to return them to their original appearance.
Why does fur turn yellow?
Natural light fur takes on a yellow tint with age.
Over time, dead hair loses its white pigment. Sunlight and precipitation contribute to rapid yellowing. Individual spots may appear from sweat and grease. First, the guard hairs turn yellow, and then the undercoat. Yellowness does not only appear on uniformly white fur. Sable and silver fox, whose fur is only partly white, turn yellow.
Faux fur also turns yellow from prolonged wear. Gradually, dust, dirty sediments, cosmetics, and sweat are absorbed into the villi. Dirt turns the surface yellow or grayish. Therefore, it is important to remove dirt in a timely manner and comb the fur regularly.
Cleaning preparation and safety precautions
There are two ways to bleach yellowed fur: dry cleaning and dry mechanical method. In the latter case, bulk substances are used that are safe for the human body (sand, flour, starch). Dry cleaning involves the use of aggressive substances (aerosols, ammonia, vinegar, etc.). It is necessary to work with such products in a well-ventilated area, wearing a respirator and protective gloves. In addition, when using flammable mixtures, you should adhere to fire safety requirements.
To refresh your fur and not encounter additional problems, you must follow the following rules:
- Before processing, the selected composition must be tested in an inconspicuous place on the item.
- Do not moisten the skin, because... under the influence of moisture it becomes too brittle and rough.
- To preserve the lint, the fur should be rubbed as carefully as possible.
- You should not dry washed fur near heating equipment.
- Long pile should be brushed in the direction of hair growth.
After finishing processing, the fur must be carefully combed and shaken.
General rules and methods
Cleaning a silver fox yourself is not difficult. For this purpose, primitive substances are used that every housewife has at home. Silver fox fur is very similar in structure to rabbit fur. But when cleaning, you should adhere to the following rules:
- Do not wet the base of the fur. Treat only the fleecy part. If water gets on the flesh, it will become rough and hard.
- Before washing, be sure to test the product you choose on the inside of the pile to see how it reacts.
Basic cleaning methods
Soap solution
- To prepare the solution, you will need a mild shampoo or soap in the form of a gel, which must be added to the water.
- Now take a brush, tie its bristles with gauze soaked in the prepared liquid, and carefully walk over the surface of the pile.
- Remove any remaining soap with a sponge or cotton pad, which must first be moistened with clean water.
- Comb the fur with a comb where the teeth are located at a short distance and dry it.
Alcohol (vinegar)
If the pile is stuck together or faded, you can turn to rubbing alcohol for help. It also copes well with dust and greasy stains, but in turn dries out the pile. Therefore, after treatment with this product, the fur must be softened with glycerin.
Take a cotton swab, soak it in alcohol and clean it, first moving against the growth of the hairs, then in the direction of their growth. If there is no alcohol, it can be replaced with vinegar.
Gasoline + talc
This mixture will remove both small dirt and complex stains.
- Mix the ingredients to a thick paste consistency and apply it to problem areas.
- After the gasoline has evaporated and the talc has dried, shake the product. Brush out the remaining mixture with a brush.
Gasoline must be purified; in this state it does not spoil the fur.
Folk remedies for cleaning fur from dirt and yellowness
You can remove yellowness from silver fox fur using home remedies. They are characterized by availability, low price, low risks and ease of use.
Soapy water
To eliminate grease and dirt stains, dilute liquid soap with water. You need to moisten a piece of gauze with the prepared mixture and wrap the brush with this cloth. You need to brush your fur coat in the direction of hair growth. In this case, you need to avoid getting liquid on the material under the pile. The soap solution is washed off with clean water. After processing, the fur product should be shaken, combed and dried naturally.
Alcohol and vinegar
To clean silver fox fur at home, you can use a vinegar solution and alcohol. A mixture of these ingredients, taken in equal proportions, does an excellent job of removing adhered dust and grease stains.
Soak a cotton swab in the solution and treat problem areas. After this, the wool should be wiped with a dry cloth. Vinegar and alcohol have a drying effect, so after processing you need to apply glycerin to the material, which will help renew the fur.
Gasoline and talc
These aggressive substances also make it possible to clean yellowed fur. These products must be purchased at a hardware store, not at a gas station.
To process a fur product, add a little talc to gasoline until a paste-like substance is obtained. The composition is applied to the pile and left to dry. Then it is shaken off the material with a rag or a soft-bristled brush.
It is better to work with these substances in a well-ventilated room or outside. After the procedure, the fur coat should be shaken thoroughly.
Ammonia and peroxide
You can clean fur from yellowness with a solution consisting of 500 ml of water, 1 tbsp. peroxide and 1 tsp. ammonia. In the finished mixture, you need to wet a napkin and carefully wipe the fur with it. To enhance the effect, it is better to dry the treated product in the sun.
Starch and flour
The product must be laid out on a flat surface and flour or starch rubbed into the fur. All manipulations must be done manually. The item is left for 5-10 minutes, after which the powder must be shaken off. Its remains are combed out with a soft bristle brush. Flour and starch do an excellent job of removing small dirt and yellow spots.
General cleaning rules
Before you begin cleaning your silver fox yourself, you need to decide on the method in which the process will be carried out.
After all, if certain conditions of the procedure are not observed, the item can be hopelessly damaged.
Cleaning silver fox fur at home can be done dry or wet, but in both cases the fur coat should first be laid out on a flat surface.
The basic cleaning rules are as follows:
- It is not recommended to wet the material; water makes the skin hard;
- before cleaning, you can shake or beat the item well to get rid of particles of dust and debris;
- Strong friction should be avoided when cleaning so as not to damage the fibers;
- it is necessary to test the selected cleaning product on an inconspicuous area of the product;
- Do not dry your fur coat near heating appliances.
The main point of the home treatment process to help clean yellowed silver fox fur is the choice of cleaning product.
The modern chemical industry offers many different options for specialized cleaning products for home use, but if you don’t want to deal with household chemicals, you can resort to traditional methods.
Reference: silver fox hairs have a specific color, the root is gray, the middle is white, and the tip is black; it is the middle part that acquires a yellow tint.
Specialized chemicals for cleaning fur
Store-bought preparations allow you to quickly remove grease, dirt and yellowness from silver fox fur products. They must be used according to the instructions. The most popular and effective special means are:
- Terre De Sommieres powder. The bulk substance is placed in polymer bottles. The composition should be applied to the fur and left for 5 minutes. Then the powder is shaken off the product. If you couldn’t clean your fur coat in one procedure, you need to repeat it.
- Spray INSAF. First, the fur product must be shaken to remove dust particles from it. Then you need to spray an aerosol on it. You shouldn’t overly moisturize the material, otherwise you can soak the skin. Then you need to brush in the direction of hair growth and dry. The drug can be used for prophylactic purposes.
- Biofur. The products in this line remove even old stains well. In addition, they help restore the structure of natural wool. To clean, the substance is applied to the problematic surface and left for 2-3 minutes. It must be removed with a damp cloth.
- LIVAL LICKER KONZ. This universal product allows you not only to clean the fur, but also to restore the natural color of the product. After using it, the hair becomes silkier and softer. You need to use the product according to the scheme and dosages indicated in the instructions.
- Salamander. This product is available in aerosol form. Its advantage is that it tints faded areas and restores their shine. This spray has a specific odor and contains toxic components, so it must be used in a well-ventilated area and wearing personal protective equipment.
- Ultra Finish Milk. An effective product for cleaning fur products, produced by an Italian company.
Features of cleaning the collar from dust and dirt
To restore the attractiveness of a silver fox collar, it must be regularly cleaned from dirt and dust. For this purpose, you can use the following means:
- The collar, fur side down, should be placed on a damp cloth laid out evenly on the table. By gently tapping from the outside, you can ensure that all dust particles stick to the damp cloth.
- Talc or starch should be evenly distributed over the fur and left for 2-3 hours. After this, the powder must be removed with a comb.
- You can clean the collar using rye or wheat bran by heating it in a frying pan. To do this, they should be evenly distributed over the product and left for half an hour. Bran effectively removes fat, dirt and odor.
- To combat dirt, you can use shampoo for dogs or cats. The drug must be whipped until foam forms and applied to problem areas. The mixture is removed from the wool with a damp towel.
You can also use store-bought products to clean the collar. When purchasing, you should carefully read their composition and purpose.
Cleaning a silver fox collar
The collar is an element of clothing that is more susceptible to greasy and dirty due to contact with skin and hair. Regular cleaning of dirt and dust will help keep the product looking fresh. Effective means:
- Place the collar, nap side down, on a piece of damp light fabric and gently tap the top with a rolling pin. All dust will remain on the material.
- Potato starch or baby powder should be spread over the collar and wait several hours. After the specified time has passed, it is necessary to comb the pile, removing particles of cleaning substances.
- Shampoo for washing dogs and cats will help remove greasy stains and heavy dirt on the collar. A small amount of the product should be dissolved in water until foam is obtained, then apply it to dirty marks and lightly rub in the direction of the pile. After cleansing, the soap solution is removed with a damp cotton cloth. The item must be dried naturally.
Important! If you wash a silver fox collar with either a homemade solution or a professional solution, while completely soaking the product, the item will be irrevocably damaged. Neither hand nor machine wash is suitable for natural fur.
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Methods that should absolutely not be used
In order not to spoil the appearance of a fur coat, hat or collar made of silver fox, you need to familiarize yourself with the techniques that are prohibited from being used for cleaning, storage and use. Experts make the following recommendations:
- It is not recommended to store fur products in plastic bags and covers. For this purpose, it is better to use covers made of cotton materials or non-woven membrane.
- For ventilation, it is not advisable to hang a product made of natural fur in the open sun. This is explained by the fact that the chemicals used for dyeing, tinting and dressing fur change their properties when exposed to ultraviolet radiation. As a result, the product may change its structure and color. To ventilate your fur coat, it is better to choose a shaded place.
- You cannot wash fur items in the machine. This can damage their structure and ruin their appearance.
- After washing, fur collars, hats and fur coats should not be steam treated. To straighten hairs, you need to use specialized products that are sold in clothing and household chemical stores.
- If the skin is torn, do not use ordinary glue, tape, electrical tape or plastic. There are special adhesive compositions for this purpose.
- Do not dry fur coats near heaters. This may cause the product to become deformed.
- You need to use starch, talc and semolina carefully, otherwise the item may lose its original appearance.
- It is not recommended to dry clean your fur coat more than 6 times.
How to properly care for silver fox fur
In order for a piece of natural fur to last as long as possible, it needs to be properly cared for:
- Fur products must be stored in a fabric bag or a special case. Additionally, you should put lavender, geranium inflorescences, orange peels, and an anti-moth preparation there.
- The fur coat should be hung on hangers. It is not advisable to store a fur product in a horizontal position.
- Before storing a fur coat in the spring, it must be thoroughly dried in the fresh air, avoiding direct sunlight.
- If the wool becomes wrinkled during storage, it can be restored by treating it with water from a spray bottle. Then the fur should be carefully combed and dried.
- To remove unpleasant odors, do not apply deodorants, sprays or perfumes to your fur coat.
- It is necessary to comb the fur product using combs with sparse teeth.
To minimize risks, it is better to contact professionals to clean your fur coat.
What is prohibited from using to clean a silver fox?
It is important to remember about those methods that cannot be used for this expensive fur. Leading experts recommend:
- Do not dry-clean silver fox products. For the most difficult stains, it is better to entrust the item to specialists who work with fur.
- Glue the damaged flesh only with special adhesive compounds, without using the usual adhesive tape, electrical tape and other improvised means. Any elastic (rubber) glue will do, you can use casein or Bison Kit. “Moment” and superglue cannot be used - they will crack or break at the seam. But it’s better to have a repairman do the repairs too.
- Do not apply perfume, eau de toilette or other cosmetics to the fur. To eliminate the unpleasant odor, ventilate the item and place it in a case with scented sachets.
- Do not use aerosol insect repellents - they should be in the form of tablets, or use dry herbs and substances in bags (lavender, geranium, citrus zest).
- Any untested care products should be used with caution, scrupulously testing in inconspicuous areas before full treatment.
Tip: fur with long pile is combed in the direction of its growth, cut fur - against it.