How to Care for Furs

Having fur is a major investment for many people. Whether in coat form or a stole---or purchased for yourself, received as a gift or inherited---it is important to know just how to take care of your fur. Like leather, fur requires special care to keep it in top condition. By not properly caring for your fur, you can significantly shorten its shelf life. Improperly maintained fur can begin to lose patches or simply fall apart completely. Caring for fur is relatively easy, but it's absolutely necessary for good upkeep of your garment.

Things You'll Need

• Padded hanger
• Professional furrier
• Fur cleaner

Instructions

1. Hang your fur in your closet using a padded, broad-shouldered hanger. Do not use wire hangers. You can also get a professional fur hanger from your furrier if need be. Make sure the closet you choose to store your fur in has adequate room so that the fur can breathe properly and is not crammed against other clothes.

2. Keep the fur away from moisture, direct sunlight and strong scents. Scents such as mothballs, cedar or perfumes can become trapped in the fur and be nearly impossible to get rid of. If the fur gets wet, shake out the excess moisture and let the fur dry in a room with little moisture and sunlight. If the coat has been completely soaked, take it to your fur cleaner as soon as possible for treatment.

3. Try not to sit on your coat to keep from creating a flat imprint on the garment. Take your coat off and lay it across your lap, if possible. Also, try not to carry heavy purses or shoulder bags often when wearing your fur, as they can also cause indentations.

4. Send your fur off to a furrier during the summer months. Furriers are specially trained to keep fur in top condition. You can find a furrier in your local phone book. Keeping fur at home during the summer when it is especially hot can lead to damage.

5. Have your fur professionally cleaned once a year by a specially trained fur cleaner. Do not send your fur to a dry cleaner, as it may not have fur-cleaning expertise. If you have not worn your fur much, you can reduce the amount of cleaning to once every other year.

References

• Fur Care