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How to Take Care of Your Fur Coats

10th Mar 2015

How to Take Care of Your Fur Coats

Garments made of fur need special care so that they can look at their best and last for many years to come. Here are the basic principles of fur care that apply to every fur coat and garment in general.

  1. Water is bad for your fur coat. A light rain or snow will create you no problem as long as you shake them off your fur and allow it to dry naturally in room temperature . If your fur gets soaked you would rather have it inspected by a professional. There will be an issue if the water reaches the skin . Fur skins are processed in  way that make the fatty acids of the skins more dissolvable to water. The fatty acids are a structural component that make a skin soft. The underfur and guardhair are by nature waterproof
  2. Prolonged exposure to sun light is not good for your fur either. Dark colours are more tolerant but whites are very sensitive turn yellowish over time . Normal use , even daily will not harm your fur .However storage or hanging in a spot that is constantly being hit by the sun will make your fur age faster. Don not leave your fur inside a car on  a sunny day for prolonged time.
  3. Heat sources should be avoided as well . Do not hang or store your fur coat near a radiator , stove or any source of heat . It makes the skins dry and susceptible to tears and hair shedding.
  4. Protect your fur's guardhair . Do not sit on your fur , either that be a car seat , a sofa  etc . If this is constantly repeated the guardhair breaks and you will have uneven spots on the pressure points . The same applies for shoulder bags and belts . Sheared  fur is more resiliant since it has underfur only
  5. Store your fur in a comfortable manner . Do not stack several clothes in a closet. Allow room for proper ventialtion and avoid  very humid storage areas. If your coat is very expensive you should consider a professional vault . Consult with the vault keeper and calculate costs . Fur is a commodity that can be resold easily and should be seen as an investment. The better its condition the higher its value as a used garment. Also furs can be remodelled . If the skin and hair have been properly taken care of the remodelling will be possible . A fur in bad condition cannot be remodelled and here is why : The furrier will have at some time of the remodellling process to wet the fur and have it stretched and stapled on a cardboard or wooden plank . If your fur skins are dry they will be ripped during that stage.
  6. Have your fur steamed and glazed once a year . Steaming removes odors , dirt , dust  and microoroganisms . This is good both for you and your fur . Also steaming is like giving your hair a shower - it enhances sheen and volume and makes your coat look at its best . plus it is a very economic service
  7. Do not have your fur coat dry cleaned even by a professional cleaning service , unless you really have to- annoying odors that cannot go way with steaming, persistent stains (if lining is stained you are much better of changing the lining no matter the cost) . Dry cleaning utilizes chemicals that wash off the fatty acids from the skin and reduces their longevity.