Fur coats are a luxurious and stylish investment, but they require careful maintenance to keep them in top condition. One of the biggest challenges is preventing dust accumulation, which can cause the natural oils in the fur to dry out, making the pelt brittle and susceptible to tearing. To keep dust at bay, it is recommended to store fur coats in a 100% cotton bag when not in use, as this allows the coat to breathe and prevents dust from settling on the fur. Additionally, regular cleaning is essential, with experts recommending a professional cleaning at least once a year to remove dust, oils, and odours, helping to maintain the coat's shine and structure.
What You'll Learn
Use a cotton bag for storage
Cotton bags are breathable, allowing air circulation to prevent the coat from drying out and cracking. Cotton also helps to keep dust and dirt from accumulating on the coat.
Cotton garment bags can be purchased online and are not too expensive. They have zippers that make them super convenient. If you want to save money, a cheap cotton sheet will do the trick. Drape the sheet over the coat, wrapping it firmly but not too tightly, and use large plastic clothespins to keep the sheet in place.
Make sure the coat has room to breathe in the storage area. Do not overfill the closet or stuff the coat into a crowded closet. Coats need ample room for safe storage. If you don't have room for a fur coat in a closet, store the coat in another area.
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Avoid plastic bags
It is important to never store your fur coat in a plastic bag. Fur needs to breathe, and plastic will make the fur fall out and the hide get brittle. The fur's natural sheen and luster will be lost.
Use a 100% cotton bag to store your fur coat. The cotton bag will keep dust and dirt from accumulating on the coat. It will also allow the coat to breathe, ensuring the hide does not dry out and crack.
If you are storing your coat in a closet, ensure there is ample space for the coat to hang freely. Avoid overcrowding, as this can cause matting and damage to the garment.
Additionally, when hanging your coat, use a broad-shouldered padded hanger to keep the shoulders from losing their shape.
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Hang your coat away from heat sources
Heat is one of the biggest enemies of fur coats. It can dry out the pelts, leaving your coat with a dull, dry appearance. Too much heat will cause the fur to become brittle and result in serious damage. Therefore, it is important to hang your coat away from heat sources.
At home, avoid hanging your coat near radiators or heat vents. Choose the coolest room in the house, preferably with air conditioning, and store your coat in the closet. If you can, pick a room with good air circulation to prevent the hide from drying out and cracking.
If you are out and about, avoid heat sources such as heaters, fires, and direct sunlight. The sun's heat can cause oxidization and discolouration, so it is best to keep your coat shielded from direct sunlight.
When driving, take your coat off and place it in the back seat, away from the heater vents. You can also turn down the seat heating to avoid exposing your coat to unnecessary heat.
In addition, be mindful of the temperature in your home. Furs perform best in cold, dark places with 45-50% humidity. If you can control the temperature in your home, set it to around 45 degrees Fahrenheit. This will help slow the aging process of your fur and protect it from drying out.
Remember, heat will damage your coat and cause it to become brittle, so always hang it away from heat sources to maintain its quality and longevity.
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Shake out your coat
Shaking out your coat is an important step in keeping it dust-free. This should be done outside, as the dust and debris will fly in all directions. Hold your coat by the shoulders and shake it several times to release the dust and debris that have gathered over time. After shaking, you can use a fur brush to brush the coat in short, soft strokes from top to bottom, always following the direction of the hair. It is important to only work on small sections at a time and to avoid using long brush strokes, as this can stretch the garment and damage the hide.
Shaking your coat will also help to remove excess moisture if it gets caught in light rain or snow. In this case, you should shake out as much water as possible and then hang the coat to dry in a well-ventilated room. Do not use a blow dryer or any other form of direct heat on the fur. Once the coat is dry, shake it again to fluff the fur.
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Use a fur brush
Using a fur brush is an effective way to keep dust off your fur coat. Here is a step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Hang Your Fur Coat Properly
Before you start brushing, ensure your fur coat is hung properly. Use a broad, padded hanger to prevent the shoulders from losing their form and avoid stretching and deforming the fur.
Step 2: Brush the Fur
Take a proper fur brush and start brushing from the top of the coat, working your way down. Always brush in the direction of the hair, using small and even strokes, and work on small sections at a time. Fur brushes have widely spaced teeth and soft edges to prevent damage to the skin of the fur.
Step 3: Avoid Common Mistakes
Avoid making long strokes along the length of the coat, as this can cause stretching. Do not use a "normal" brush, as the teeth on a regular brush are too fine and can damage the coat.
Step 4: Brush the Entire Coat
Once the fur is completely dry, brush the entire coat again with a fur brush. Work in the direction of the fur and focus on small sections at a time.
Step 5: Conditioning (Optional)
If your fur coat is dry and brittle, you may want to consider conditioning it. Mix one part vinegar with two parts olive oil or flaxseed oil. Remove the lining of the coat and apply the conditioning solution directly to the skin or pelt of the coat, massaging it gently to help the coat absorb the oil. Hang the coat properly and let it dry completely before wearing it again.
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Frequently asked questions
Keeping dust off your fur coat is important, as dust particles can wear away at the natural fibres of the coat, causing it to look dull and unhealthy. To prevent this, store your coat in a 100% cotton bag, as cotton keeps dust and dirt from accumulating. You should also hang your coat on a padded hanger to protect the shape of the shoulders, and brush your coat with a specially-designed fur brush to remove dust and debris.
Fur coats should be cleaned professionally at least once a year, and ideally twice a year. This is because the natural oils in the pelts of real fur coats can dry out, causing the coat to become brittle and prone to tearing. If you wear your coat a lot (more than six times a season), or if it is exposed to beauty products or smoke, you should clean it twice a year.
You can clean your fur coat at home by taking it outside and shaking it to remove dust particles. You can also use a fur brush to remove large dirt particles. For very small stains, lightly dampen a clean cloth and gently dab the stain. For larger stains, you can recreate the sawdust technique used by professional furriers: lay your coat on a flat surface, sprinkle sawdust over the stained areas, leave overnight, then vacuum up the sawdust in the morning.
When storing your fur coat, hang it in a cool, dark place to protect it from damaging light and insects. Store it in a cotton bag to keep dust out of the fur, and to allow the coat to breathe and prevent the hide from drying out and cracking. Give the coat plenty of space between other garments to provide room for air circulation.