Is it possible to wash a real fur coat in a washing machine?

Is it possible to wash a natural fur coat in a washing machine? A washing machine and natural fur are incompatible things. One automatic wash, even on the most delicate mode, will “kill” the fur, and the once lush and soft fur coat will fall apart before your eyes. Especially if the product was made more than 3-5 years ago. It is forbidden not only to wash a fur coat made of natural fur in the washing machine, but also to get it wet. Rabbit, mink, muton and arctic fox are cleaned only dry - by professionals or at home.

Does a fur coat need to be washed?

The fur coat is “washed” as rarely as possible and only if there is obvious contamination. Regularity is not needed here: if the season turns out to be calm and clean, then you should wait a while with cleaning. It is enough to properly organize the storage of a fur product: comb it with a slicker brush, treat it with moth repellent, hide it in a special case and hang it in a spacious closet, protected from the sun.

Mink, mouton and rabbit fur coats are cleaned only when dirty.

It is necessary to clean the fur when the fur coat itself “asks” for it. As a rule, the following “symptoms” will indicate problems with cleanliness:

there are stains;
the fluff became dusty;
the original shine and gloss are lost;
the pile has become wrinkled;
the fur became greasy, hard and unattractive.

You can make sure your fur coat is dirty with a quick test. Take a hairdryer, turn it on cold and direct a stream of air onto the product. If the pile “fluffs” and flies away, then washing the fur is not necessary. When the fluff sticks together or doesn’t move, you can’t wait—you’ll have to clean it.

Helps determine the condition of the fur and a “manual” test.Clean mink and mouton are soft, silky and delicate to the touch, but when dirty, the pile becomes hard and hard. In the latter case, it is better to refresh the cape, but do it strictly according to the rules.

Dry wash

Natural fur does not tolerate water, so it is safest to clean your fur coat dry. But this method is only suitable for removing light dirt and dust. If there is a greasy, wine or juice stain on the pile, then gentle “cleaning” will not save you. It's better to try though.

The ideal product for cleaning natural fur is talc.

The most effective means for dry cleaning fur is talc or baby powder. The procedure itself is simple and quick.

The fur coat is laid out on a horizontal surface, floor or table.
The fur is generously sprinkled with powder on top and lightly rubbed into the pile.
Everything is left for 10-15 minutes, during which the talc will absorb dirt and darken.
Darkened talc is removed from the fur coat by brushing and shaking.
If necessary, cleaning is repeated several times.

Some housewives share alternative means for dry cleaning: flour, starch, semolina and bran. These substances are also natural absorbents that can absorb dirt from fur without damaging the fibers. But it is not recommended to use them, since they are “edible” and attract pests - moths. The latter, despite their miniature size, are capable of irreversibly ruining an expensive item in one season.

It is important to choose the right time for cleaning fur. The end of the wearing season, that is, early spring, is considered optimal. If you refresh your fur coat in March or April, you can kill two birds with one stone: firstly, do not put it off until later and ensure proper storage, and secondly, carry out prevention against insects whose larvae wake up in the summer.

Wet cleaning with care

The basic rule when wet cleaning fur is not to wet the inside, the back side of the skin. In water, it loses its softness and plasticity, shrinks, becomes brittle and can crack. Therefore, it is recommended to protect the mink from rain and snow. If wetting does occur, then it is necessary to absorb the moisture and dry the product as soon as possible.

Drying is a separate issue. The fact is that natural fur and flesh do not tolerate high temperatures. It is strictly forbidden to dry a wet fur coat with a hairdryer or on a radiator, as the fur product will immediately shrink, fade, become brittle and thin. The worst thing is if the protein structures of the skin “cook” and the skin breaks.

The fur itself can be cleaned with water, but be careful so that moisture does not get on the inside. It is better to focus on the following instructions:

hang the fur coat on a wide hanger;
fill a basin with water, dissolve shampoo in it and foam;
grab the foam with a sponge and apply evenly to the pile;
leave the foam on the fur for 1-3 minutes so that the cleaning components clean the fibers;
Remove foam with a clean damp sponge or rag;
comb the cape;
dry the product naturally in a ventilated area away from heating devices and direct ultraviolet radiation;
After drying, comb the fur coat again.

Only the fur and undercoat are treated with a soap solution. Instead of regular shampoo, you can use any pet detergent that has a more natural composition. Gels for delicate washing are also suitable.

Grease stains are removed with an alcohol-saline solution:

mix half a liter of water, 40 ml of ammonia and 20 g of salt;
dip the sponge in the solution;
Wipe the stains until they disappear.

The matted and greasy pile is brought back to life with an ammonia solution. Mix ammonia with water in a ratio of 1 to 2, moisten a sponge in the resulting liquid and go over the fur. Then we dry the fur coat and comb it.

Cleaning with sawdust

White and light fur coats are cleaned in a special way. Conventional methods can lead to graying and dulling of the pile, so it is better to use sawdust. They are easy to buy at a regular pet store. It is better to choose shavings of maple, oak and other non-resinous trees. Spruce and pine are prohibited - the resin will ruin the fur. clean the fur coat with sawdust

We proceed like this:

put the sawdust in a basin and moisten it a little with alcohol;
lay the fur coat on the floor;
distribute sawdust over the fur, pressing down to the undercoat;
remove sawdust;
shake the fur coat.

The sawdust will quickly absorb dirt, leaving your white fur coat clean, fresh and fluffy. The main thing is to completely remove the shavings from the pile.