Washing Fur

[Lola Valentine]

I was just wondering if any of you ladies knew how to go about washing fur?

I recently purchased a vintage sweater with a large fur collar, & whilst it's in amazing condition, it has a bit of a dusty smell to it. I can't find any dry cleaners which will clean it for me either. Any tips?

 

[crwritt]

This is interesting to me as well, since my daughter just came across a rabbit fur trimmed wool hat, and asked me how to clean it.
I found this on line:
http://sul-server-2.stanford.edu/byform/mailing-lists/cdl/1998/1527.html
Furs are professionally cleaned with sawdust.
I think you could work cornmeal into the fur, then shake it outdoors and remove the rest with a vaccuum cleaner.

 

[Miss Sis]

Fuller's Earth powder will help if it is greasy from wear but I'm not too sure about the smell?

You can also use bran warmed in the oven, not too hot, to clean fur up.

Actually, if anyone has a really good tip for getting rid of that storage smell from fur, please let us know. I have tried a few things on a coat I have but nothing seems to have done much good.

 

[leaette]

try this: put it in a zippered garment bag with a box of that baking powder for refridgerators. the box that you tear off the sides and there is a mesh on the sides of the box.
put one of those in the bag at the bottom. also, put in some balled up sheets of newspaper. i've heard that newspaper soaks up smells.
i have one box of the powder and newspaper in all of my old suitcases to keep them as fresh as possible.

 

[Miss Sis]

A little more info on the subject of furs from the Aunt Daisy household hints book.

FURS, TO STORE

Make a bag of new unbleached calico. The lime in the calico keeps moths away. Sprinkle moth crystals in the bag. Never hang furs in the sun, as sun perishes the pelt. Air furs in a windy but shady place. Newspaper also discourages moths.

FUR COLLARS, TO CLEAN

1. Heat bran until the hand can only just bear it, then rub it well into soiled and greasy fur. Afterwards beat the fur with a light stick to remove it.
2. For white fur specially, rub in plenty of powdered magnesia, and wrap in a pillow case for some days. Then shake well and beat lightly.

Hope this might be helpful for those with furs.

 

[AllaboutEve]

Thanks Miss Sis, I bought a cashmere sweater with a mink collar recently that I haven't worn or cleaned yet so those tips will come in handy. I may have to take the collar off though I think.

I have my other fur wrapped in acid free tissue and get it out to air 2-3 times during the summer when it's not being worn. I have a lovely Sapphire Mink coming my way soon with a silk velvet lining so I'm hoping that bran will work to clean that one too.

Just one question - Where do you get magnesia from?

 

[Laraquan]

This is precisely what I needed to read. I presume it'd work with faux furs and more recent furs, right? Not just vintage?

 

[Miss Sis]

The tips should work on any real fur but faux fur, I should think you could wash it gently by hand (not in the washing machine) since it is usually made of man-made fibres.