The service life of hats and fur coats is different. Rabbit fur loses its appearance the fastest - up to 4 years, an arctic fox fur coat can be worn for 6-7 years, a mink hat - 10-12, and otter and beaver fur will last the longest, which can be worn for up to 20 years. During this entire period, the fur product may become dirty and lose its original shine. You can get rid of dirt and restore its former beauty in the simplest ways, at home, on your own, without resorting to dry cleaning.
When to clean fur
Cleaning of fur products is resorted to in the following cases if:
- there is dirt and dust on the surface;
- the uniform color structure is lost;
- there are particles of debris between the hairs;
- tangled lumps are formed and the ends of the hairs are cut.
Cleaning fur yourself is only possible if it is not too dirty. Otherwise, of course, it is better to find a specialized dry cleaner and entrust your fur to it.
What not to do at home
It is prohibited to carry out the following experiments with fur items on your own:
- wash and remove stains with washing powder or detergents;
- dry the fur over heating devices or near a fire (it should be dried naturally in a thoroughly ventilated area);
- clean the fur with a vacuum cleaner;
- Smooth it with an iron - the fur will even out on its own.
It is better to clean and dry fur products in spring and summer, when it is warm and natural drying is possible. It is also not recommended to dry the fur in direct sunlight, as it will lose its natural color.
Tips for cleaning fur at home
- Before starting the cleaning procedure, the fur product is not knocked out too much, and then cleaned with a special brush;
- If the fur is wrinkled, it is better to moisten it with a sponge. Then the fur is combed, allowed to dry and, after complete drying, knocked out;
- Potato peels make an excellent cleanser. It should be washed thoroughly and mixed with a few drops of ammonia. The mixture is distributed onto the contaminated area, rubbed lightly with a brush, washed off and wiped;
- To restore the softness of the fur surface that has become rough over time, take glycerin, petroleum jelly and egg yolk. Mix everything and add 250 ml of warm water. The resulting composition is wiped over the leather base of the fur, dried, crumpled and slightly pulled in different directions;
- You can restore the beautiful shine by using a cloth soaked in vinegar essence, glycerin, lemon juice or citric acid. The fur product should be treated with one of the above substances, and then thoroughly wiped with a napkin;
- You can clean faux fur using a soap solution: dilute 2 tablespoons of detergent for synthetic fabrics in 1 liter of water. Beat the foam and apply it to the brush, rub the fur along the pile. The remaining solution is removed with a slightly damp cotton cloth;
- Faux fur should be treated with antistatic aerosols.They will help protect the fur from dirt and remove electrostatic charges that attract dust.
Cleaning fur at home
Even if a fur product is in a closet in a case, it is still not immune from contamination, at least by the same dust. Fur stores sell special brushes that can be used to clean fur. You can simply comb the lint with it. More thorough cleaning of fur is carried out in different ways, depending on what animal the fur product is made from.
- Add shine to mink
The first thing you need for mink fur is to restore its shine. It is lost as a result of leaching of the fat composition. To do this, dissolve 100 g of fish or pork fat and 10 g of soap in 1 liter of boiling water. After stirring, add 10 drops of ammonia and cool the mixture to room temperature (30-35 degrees). The mixture is then applied to the fur using a brush.
- How to clean an Arctic fox
Take 1 small spoon of ammonia and the same 3 tablespoons of table salt for half a liter of water, mix. Soak a cotton swab in the solution and begin to carefully remove the stain. The last stage is drying the fur product.
- Cleaning a rabbit
Mix acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide (both 5%). Moisten a cotton swab and treat the surface in the direction of villi growth. At the end of cleaning, remove any remaining solution without touching the leather base of the item.
- How to clean goat fur
Goat fur is cleaned with cool soapy water, then wiped with a damp cloth. After the procedure, the product is dried.
- Lightening doodle
Hydrogen peroxide (3-5%) will help lighten yellowed astrakhan fur.To do this, dilute a teaspoon of it in a glass of water and drop a few drops of ammonia.
- Cleaning beaver and otter fur
To clean the fur product, place it on a clean horizontal surface and sprinkle hot sand on top. Then wipe gently with your palm. Dirty sand is shaken off and clean sand is added again. This is done several times.
How to clean dark fur
For fur products of dark shades, ordinary bran and walnuts are perfect. The bran is heated in the oven to 60-70 degrees. Then they gently rub them into the fur, collecting all the dirt. The thing is shaken off. The nuts are crushed and the resulting powder is tied into a gauze cloth and folded in half. Use this swab to wipe the fur in the direction of the villi. Walnut oil nourishes the hair well, giving it a lively and effective shine. At the end of cleaning, the product is combed with a special bristle brush.
Cleaning light fur
In order to clean light natural fur, you can use the following methods:
- Starch is the best of all cleaning agents for white fur coats, collars or hats made of natural fur. Having generously poured it directly onto the fur, gently knead the product until the powder has collected all the dust. Then the item is shaken and combed. The procedure is repeated a couple more times.
- Wheat or rye bran, semolina or potato flour are also suitable for cleaning white fur. Sprinkle generously with one of the indicated adsorbents and gently rub in your palms along with the fur. Then the product is shaken and cleaned with a soft brush.
- To prevent white fur from turning yellow, it is wiped with a solution of hydrogen peroxide. To do this, take a large spoon of peroxide and stir it in a liter of water.Gently blot the fibers, then dry. It is recommended to wipe fur that has turned yellow over time with a more concentrated solution of hydrogen peroxide.
- To remove a greasy stain on a white fur item, dissolve a teaspoon of ammonia and 3 small spoons of table salt in half a liter of water.
You should be careful in maintaining the proportions between substances for cleaning fur. Although they help remove dirt and stains, too much alcohol, vinegar or hydrogen peroxide can ruin a fur product.
