How to clean a mink coat (expert recommendations)

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In the autumn-winter period, a fur coat is the favorite item in every woman's wardrobe. It's beautiful, comfortable and stylish. But over time, this wardrobe detail can get dirty. Unnecessary yellow spots may also appear if the item has not been used for a long time. There are many dry cleaners for cleaning fur coats, but this method is not always available to housewives for some reason. Don’t rush to get upset, in this article we will look in detail at how to wash a mink coat at home, as well as coats made from other furs.

Is it possible to clean a mink coat?

To restore it to its former beauty, you must use one of several methods:

Comb and cotton pads . To use this method, you need to soak cotton pads in water, put them on a comb and use them to comb the fur. This way you can collect all the dust.
Soap solution. This method not only removes dust, but also neutralizes the natural smell of fur after long wear and restores the shine of the pile. To use it, just moisten the sponge in a solution of water with shampoo or any other neutral product and then walk it over the product.
Dry cleaning . This method involves pouring dry starch onto the surface of the fur coat. Next, you need to rub it deeper into the fur, but carefully so as not to disturb the structure of the pile. The last step is to shake off the starch from the product. If the starch turns grey, the procedure must be repeated.

Is it possible to wash a fur coat (fur coat) at home?

Surely, every housewife knows that before storing fur products, be it a fur coat, sheepskin coat, hat or fur coat, they must be cleaned.

Important! You need to be careful and careful when cleaning at home. It's very easy to ruin something you love. Fur and fur products require an individual, delicate approach.

Sometimes circumstances arise such that it is not possible to take a fur coat or fur coat to the dry cleaner. In this case, there is only one way out - to do everything yourself. But before you start cleaning the product, you need to carefully study this issue. First of all, you need to determine which fur coat will be washed. It can be made of natural or faux fur, with or without lining, short or long in length. Or is it even a sheepskin coat?

Important! The easiest material to clean at home is a faux fur coat.

Video: types of cleaning or how to dry clean fur coats

How to get rid of:

Yellowness. To get rid of this type of contamination, you can use dry and wet cleaning. Dry cleaning involves using starch, chalk or semolina for this process. To solve this problem, you need to sprinkle these powders on the fur, wait a few minutes and then comb the pile until these additives completely disappear. As for wet cleaning, hydrogen peroxide is very often used for mink. To achieve a better result, peroxide is dissolved with water and a few drops of ammonia are added. A high-quality cleansing mixture ultimately consists of a glass of water, a spoonful of peroxide and a few drops of alcohol. The finished mixture is applied to the fur using cotton pads or cloth. After treatment, the fur must be dried naturally.
Fat. The best way to get rid of such stains is regular school chalk. It needs to be crushed to the state of flour and sprinkled on the area of contamination. Leave it until it has completely absorbed the oil and then comb it out. If not all of the stain has disappeared or it is too voluminous, the procedure can be repeated several times until the stain is completely removed.
Vomiting. This type of pollution is organic, so it requires a special approach to removal. There is only one effective way to remove organic matter from fur. To do this, you first need to sprinkle starch on the most contaminated areas and thoroughly rub it into the pile. Next, you should make a soap solution from washing powder and water and apply it with a spray bottle to the areas sprinkled with starch and the areas around them. Then you need to remove everything with a sponge, and after drying, comb out the remains.

Important! It is very advisable to take washing powder that will be as neutral as possible and without the use of bleach. Children's hand washing powders are best suited for these purposes.

If you cannot remove the stain manually, it is better not to repeat the procedure but to have the fur dry-cleaned, because the composition of the vomit can be very different and professional help and appropriate products will be required to completely remove it from the fur. If you are too actively searching for the best method on your own, you can greatly harm your expensive fur.

Champagne. Some girls first use starch or chalk to clean fur, which absorbs liquid. Next comes the process of wet cleaning of the residue, which includes treatment with a solution of water and shampoo. Some housewives treat the remnants of champagne stains not with liquid but with foam. This significantly shortens the drying process.

Important! If moisture remains after any type of cleaning, then it is worth leaving the fur coat to dry in natural conditions. If you don’t do this and try to dry the fur with a hairdryer or near a radiator, the quality of the pile will deteriorate greatly.

Sweet. If there is contamination from this type of food, then you need to use a cleaning method that is very similar to the previous one, but has some significant differences. To treat the stain, you need to moisten it with plain water, after first laying the product on a flat surface. Next, you need to go over the stain with a sponge soaked in shampoo and try not to leave too much of this product. Next, you need to go through the water again, removing any remaining shampoo. As a result, not a trace will remain of the stain, and the fur coat will have to dry naturally.
From foundation. Such stains can be removed with medical alcohol, but you should be careful with this product, so it is best to use its solution. To clean, you need to treat the contaminated area with a cotton pad slightly moistened in the solution.

How to clean a mink coat:

White. The main contamination of such a fur coat is yellowness. The method of dealing with it has already been described above.
Light. Even if the fur coat is not white, you should still adhere to the principles of working with white fur so as not to cause the unpleasant consequences of fading.
Black. For this type of fur, it is very important to use neutral products without bleach.
Blue. This type of fur coat is best cleaned with dry products or neutral solutions with shampoo so that the color does not suffer.

How to dry after washing

So, cleaning the mink coat at home was successful and all that remains is to dry it. On average, drying at a temperature of 20-25 degrees takes about 8-10 hours. You can’t put it on before that! It’s better not to even touch it, but leave it until completely dry.

You need to dry it either on good wooden hangers (plastic and metal ones may not hold up) or on the back of a chair. Please note that moisture evaporates gradually. As soon as the collar dries, immediately start combing it, otherwise the fur will stick together and it will be impossible to fluff it up.

To ensure smooth drying, follow the recommendations:

Freshly dried clothing should not be treated with hot air or steam. In principle, a fur coat does not need ironing. Heat treatment can cause a fur coat to shrink several sizes.
Make sure that the fur coat does not crumple while drying. Subsequently, it may retain the acquired shape and it will be impossible to wear it.
It is strictly forbidden to wring out the fur coat; the water must drain out on its own. Before washing fur, prepare a chair or coat hanger and place a rag or cotton wool under it.

How to properly care for mink fur?

Proper care of this type of fur fits into several recommendations that should be followed:

Cleaning once a year. This is quite enough for each product that is not exposed to chemicals. If your fur coat constantly smells of perfume and sometimes gets dirty with cosmetics, then you should clean it twice.
You can store a fur coat only in a dry place where there is no access to sunlight, and for storage it is better to use special covers with slots.
If the winter weather does not allow you to “walk” your fur coat, then you should hang it on the balcony so that it stays in the cold for at least a day.

Cleaning dark mink

Almost all methods are suitable for dark furs, except those that use bleaching agents. There is another interesting method for which walnuts and bran are used. The last component perfectly absorbs remaining dirt, and the nuts return freshness and shine to the mink. Step-by-step instruction:

The bran should be heated in a microwave or oven. The temperature should be up to 60 degrees, otherwise the bran will burn.
Grind the bran and sprinkle the powder over all impurities. Gently rub the mixture in with your hands until it absorbs all the fat.
Shake off any remaining bran or use a vacuum cleaner on the quietest setting. Next, be sure to comb the mink fur with a brush.

At this stage, cleaning the fur product is completed. Walnuts are necessary for the care and restoration of shine to the mink. They are crushed and wrapped in 2-3 layers of gauze, and then the entire pile is wiped from roots to ends. The oil secreted by nuts nourishes the hairs. They become more elastic and dense, begin to shine again, and there is no stickiness.

How to get rid of dusty, unpleasant odor and restore freshness to fur

Fur is able to absorb and retain many aromas for a long time. Imagine, your fur coat absorbs the smells of food, perfume, cigarettes, and public transport every day. When these odors are mixed, the result is an unpleasant, persistent composition. You can get rid of unpleasant odors in the following ways:

Regularly clean the product from dirt and dust.
In winter, take the fur coat out onto the balcony and leave it in the cold for a couple of days. All unpleasant odors will freeze out. If it is not possible to freeze the product outside, then carefully fold it and place it in the freezer.
In summer, dry the fur coat several times in a cool, dry place without exposure to sunlight. Store your fur coat on wide hangers so that it does not come into contact with other items of clothing. Instead of a polyethylene cover, a fabric one is used. Place bags of coffee beans in your pockets. But remember that coffee masks odors and does not remove them, so your fur coat must be perfectly clean!
Vinegar, gasoline, alcohol, and ammonia remove odors.
Starch, semolina, and flour absorb all the odors.

Washing stained areas on a fur coat

So, it is not recommended to wash the entire fur coat, but you can still try washing the soiled areas of the fur coat with your hands. As a rule, the collar, cuffs and hem of a fur coat are most often contaminated.

These areas can be washed in warm water with shampoo and using a suede brush. The procedure must be carried out very quickly, and you must try not to let the fur coat get too wet.

Gently run the brush through the fur in the direction of hair growth, then comb it out with a comb. If the fur is short, it needs to be combed against the pile.

Made from artificial material

Fur made from synthetic fibers is more practical to use. Such a fur coat can even be washed in a machine using a delicate cycle without wringing. The possibility of washing is specified on the manufacturer's label sewn into the clothing.

But do not forget that fur, even if it is artificial, is not very friendly with water, so bath procedures are used as a last resort.

According to reviews from owners, a faux fur coat can be cleaned well if it is wrapped in a wet sheet, beaten with a carpet flapper and dried.

All possible methods of cleaning faux fur are described in detail in this article, easily and without negative consequences.

How not to wash

Natural fur should be protected from moisture. The flesh must remain dry during all cleaning options. Then the fur coat will last as many seasons as this type of fur is usually worn.

Do you want to extend its service life by 4-6 seasons? Take it to a fur and fur dry cleaner. There, in addition to cleaning, the fur is fattened, impregnated with waterproofing agents, and disinfected from parasites. It doesn't warp or dry out. The fur coat does not shrink, the fur retains its shine, fluffiness, and beauty.

Conclusion: washing is not always suitable even for faux fur. Follow the fur coat manufacturer's recommendations. Choose dry cleaning with organic solvents for items made from natural fur. Give preference to dry and wet cleaning rather than washing when caring for faux fur.

Bleaching yellowed fur at home

Yellowed and grayed fur on a white fur coat can be revived yourself; dry cleaning is expensive, and home cleaning will cost pennies.
It is better to entrust deep and severe contamination to professionals!

A simple and easy way to restore the whiteness of a fur coat is to clean it with hydrogen peroxide. Dilute 10 ml peroxide in half a liter of clean water. Pour the liquid into a spray bottle and distribute over the entire area of the product. Take the treated item outside or onto the balcony. It is advisable to carry out the procedure in sunny weather. After drying, comb the pile.

A mixture of soda and alcohol gives a good effect. Recipe: 300 ml of water, 5 g of ethyl alcohol or vodka and 15 g of soda. Mix the ingredients and apply the mixture to the fur with a sponge. For soft bristles, you can use a brush.

Another useful method is a mixture of alcohol and water in a 1:1 ratio. 5 drops of glycerin are added to the solution. The finished product is poured into a spray bottle and sprayed onto the item. Next you need to go from top to bottom with a brush with stiff bristles. From such exposure, the white fur will begin to shine before your eyes.

Blue will help restore the original whiteness. You can buy it at a hardware store. The granules must be diluted in water until a pale blue tint appears. Soak a soft foam sponge in the blue liquid, squeeze well and distribute along the length of the pile.

Be sure to test before applying! A white fur coat can turn blue!

Leave the cleaned product to dry in a well-ventilated room.

When processing a fur product, adhere to the following rules:

Always test the product you choose on a small, inconspicuous area.
Wear rubber gloves. If you use caustic solutions, open the windows.
Do not dry the item near open fire sources or near heating appliances.
Before washing in a machine, assess the possible risks and read the labels.

A fur coat, shoes, hat and other items made of faux fur are considered stylish, but they must be worn carefully and carefully. Unstable weather, slush on the roads, and cosmetics leave marks that require removal. You can return things to their former aesthetic appearance using expensive dry cleaning or inexpensive household products. People's experience stores many useful and effective recipes that you can safely use and save your family budget. Don't forget to put your clothes in a case for storage!

The article has been verified by the editors

Features of cleaning light-colored mink

If a black or brown mink coat is cleaned once every 1-2 seasons, then snow-white items will have to be refreshed much more often. The bottom of the product, collar, sleeves, and pocket entry area may become dirty after just a few wears. Regular fabric clothes can be easily washed in the washing machine by adding bleach. With fur products, not everything is so simple; it is recommended to use one of the following products:

natural absorbent substances (semolina, potato or corn starch) - suitable for cleaning the entire product;
alcohol, vinegar essence, hydrogen peroxide - effectively remove yellow greasy stains;
Shampoos for washing hair or animals - suitable for washing the entire product or individual areas.

As a rule, starch is most often used. It is finely ground, the powder is easy to sprinkle on the lint and is also easy to remove after cleaning. If it turns dark gray or brown during processing, it is better to repeat the procedure again.

A very dirty vest or fur coat can be cleaned in another tricky way. Cover the darkened areas with a thin layer of starch, and then spray with a soap solution from a spray bottle. Wait until the composition dries, clean with a brush or comb with an animal slicker.

Detergents

Water cleaning is carried out with foam soap solutions. It is better to take textile gel, hair or pet hair shampoo. Dissolve one tablespoon in a small amount of water and beat until foamy. They clean the pile with it, being careful not to wet the fur base. Household chemicals for fur are available in household supermarkets. They should be used in accordance with the information on the packaging.

Use these recommendations if you want to know how to wash a fur collar, down jacket trim, or coat. We also mentioned dry products for fur and suede - soda, salt, starch, semolina, mustard. Their advantage is that cleaning occurs without moisture, which natural fur and suede do not like.

Whitening

Whitening light fur is done with a solution of lemon juice in water (1:1 ratio) or hydrogen peroxide (pharmacy solution). Both products are best applied by spray. Then you should wipe the pile with a sponge, soft brush, or flannel cloth and let it dry. Shake to fluff up the fur.

IMPORTANT: when choosing a way to wash a jacket with fur, do not use detergents with a bleaching effect.

Dry cleaning

For dry cleaning of a mouton fur coat, one of the following products is suitable :

wheat bran;
talc;
semolina;
starch;
fine sand.

Proceed as follows:

The fur coat is laid out on a flat surface.
The selected cleaning product is preheated in a dry, hot frying pan.
Spread it evenly over the surface.
Carefully begin to rub it into the fur.
Leave the product in this condition for some time so that dirt and grease are absorbed.
Lift the fur coat and shake well several times.

How to wring out and dry a washed item?

You should not wring out a fur coat after washing, so as not to spoil the appearance of the product and the structure of the fur. At the end of rinsing, you need to remove it from the water and run your hand along the entire length of the product so that excess water drains away. Then the product should be placed in a horizontal position on a grate above the bathtub or on the side and wait several hours until all the water has drained.

Then the fur coat should be hung on hangers. It is advisable to dry natural fur in a well-ventilated area, away from the sun and heating devices. You cannot speed up the process with a hair dryer or heating radiators.

We suggest you familiarize yourself with how long you can store melon and how (in an apartment, refrigerator, cut)

How to provide conditions for storing fur products

The place where you want to store your fur coat should be dark and quite spacious so that the fur does not mat, and most importantly, cool. If you decide to take your fur coat to the dry cleaner for the winter, then all this is provided without fail.

All additional accessories must be removed without fail.

If an anti-moth aerosol is not used, a decent way to solve a pest problem is to put bags of anti-parasite impregnation in your pockets, and the most effective solution is considered to be anti-moth tablets.

It is important to periodically check the condition of the product throughout the entire storage period, because since it is quite difficult to preserve a mink coat from moths, it is important to promptly notice the activity of parasites

This is the most important thing that owners of luxurious furs should remember after the end of the winter season.

Is it possible to use a washing machine?

Is it possible and how to wash a mouton fur coat? Washing by hand or in a washing machine is the worst thing you can do with a mouton fur coat. In addition, wearing a fur coat is risky even when exposed to rain or sleet.

As a result of prolonged contact with water, the natural fat present on the leather base (hide) is leveled. And this leads to the loss of fur elasticity and visual appeal.

Another important point that makes washing a mouton difficult. When moisture is absorbed, the fur becomes so heavy that it is impossible to even lift it with your hands.

Moreover, an automatic machine will not be able to cope with such a task . The result is a damaged item and equipment.

The only thing acceptable for a natural fur coat is surface wet and dry cleaning, as well as professional dry cleaning.

Proper storage of fur

Often, after long-term storage, many discover that the fur coat has turned yellow or gray. Sometimes even large brown spots appear - all this is due to failure to follow basic rules. If fur products are stored incorrectly, they can permanently lose their original appearance and even run the risk of becoming moth prey. Having purchased a fur product, you need to remember how to care for a mink coat or hat.

After winter, it is strongly recommended to dry your fur coat in the fresh air (balcony or street), but so that the sun's rays do not hit it. Next, shake out the product and place it in a fabric bag. A special plastic bag is also suitable, inside which you should put an anti-moth remedy or a piece of soap. Be sure to first remove all stains and comb the pile.

Important! The polyethylene cover must be pierced in several places or left slightly open for air circulation. The package cannot be crushed or placed on a shelf - only a vertical position is suitable, that is, it must be hung in a closet. It is advisable to keep light fur away from colored items so that they do not stain outer clothing. White mink turns yellow due to sunlight, for this reason it is advisable to choose a thick cover.

It is better to check the condition of the fur vest several times a season. Perhaps the pile has become wrinkled somewhere and needs to be straightened. To do this, wipe it with a slightly damp sponge, dry it and put the fur coat back into the case.

Before buying a mink coat, you should find out how to care for the fur coat, otherwise your favorite item can quickly change its appearance. There are many cleaning methods: from regular shampoo to bran and walnuts. In addition to processing, it will not be superfluous to store outerwear correctly.

How to wash the lining at home?

If everything is very clear with cleaning fur, then all that remains is to figure out how to proceed with the lining.

There are two ways to clean it:

directly on the product;
pre-rebuff.

Each option has certain difficulties. In the first case, there is a high risk of damage to the product as a whole, in the second, it will take a lot of time and effort.

Having decided to renew the lining fabric without ripping, prepare a soap solution and a soft sponge . Next, you need to dissolve a little soap in warm water. Lightly moisten the sponge in the liquid and begin processing.

Once completed, wipe the fabric again with clean water. Dry with paper napkins. Hair dryers and irons cannot be used.

In the second case, the torn lining is washed by first soaking it in soapy water . After washing and drying, the fabric is ironed and sewn in its original place.

When washing the lining, do not pour too hot water. This will lead to its shrinkage.