When the cold winter period sets in, warm clothes begin to be taken out of the wardrobe and put in order.
One of these everyday winter items is a mink coat. To ensure a long life for this product, it must be properly stored and, of course, cleaned.
The frequency of cleaning depends on factors such as: frequency of wear, climate, weather conditions and human factor.
Fur coats tend to collect dust and other pollutants that may not be visible to the naked eye.
If the contamination of the item is not particularly serious, you can do without dry cleaning. This article will tell you how to clean a mink coat at home without resorting to expensive products.
What is strictly forbidden to do
Cleaning a mink coat, in order to avoid damage to an expensive mink product, must be done using the correct specific methods.
The following actions, which are recommended to be familiar with, will most likely render the fur coat unusable, namely:
- You cannot wash a fur product, this will cause the fur to lose its appearance, and the skin may become rough and dry out;
- After any wet cleaning, you should not dry the fur with a hairdryer or use heaters or a fan for this. When an item gets wet (rain, snow), it will be quite enough to hang it on a hanger or hanger and leave it like that until it dries;
- The use of an iron is also excluded. With its help, it will not be possible to straighten creases or bruises due to improper storage. Here it would also be appropriate to hang it on a hanger or hanger and after a certain time it will straighten out and have its original appearance. We also recommend reading our article on how to smooth fur on a fur coat, read here.
In what cases should you take a product to dry cleaning?
The most common places for fur coats to become dirty are: sleeves, area around pockets, hem, collar. In these places, the fur deteriorates and takes on a greasy appearance from frequent friction. The above methods of cleaning the product, with the correct dosage of cleaning agents, can eliminate dirt, refresh, fluff the undercoat and give shine to the pile. If cleaning at home is unsuccessful, you should not experiment with mink; the best solution would be to take the coat to a trusted dry cleaner.
The mink coat must be cleaned at the end of the winter season before putting it in the closet. It is necessary to comb the pile thoroughly so that if it gets wet, starch, talc or flour does not stick together in the undercoat. You need to store your coat vertically, straightened out, in a cover, in a dark place, putting a few naphthalene tablets in your pockets to make the fur unattractive to moths. A mink coat will thank its owner for careful care and timely cleaning, keeping her warm during the long frosty winter.
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Ways to clean a mink coat at home
Of the many ways to clean mink fur, we note a few of the most effective. But we must not forget that cleaning must be careful and very careful, since this fur is quite capricious and negligence can be costly later. The following methods can be used to clean blue and light mink.
Dry brushing
It is quite possible to remove shallow dust contamination mechanically, i.e., thoroughly comb out the product with a brush.
This method will allow you to remove not only dust and get rid of dirt, but also various lint of fallen hair, remove formed lumps, and also smooth out the lint.
Alcohol or vodka
Also, simple surface stains can be removed by moistening a piece of gauze cloth in alcohol or vodka and using gentle movements to wipe the fur coat in the direction of the villi. This method also helps to rid the lint of fat well.
Vinegar
A vinegar solution will help clean fur from grease, lipstick, coffee and juice stains, and give it shine.
After moistening the swab with it, you need to wipe the fur coat along the pile and let it dry on a hanger. Afterwards, you need to wipe the product with glycerin-soaked cotton wool and hang the item for airing, for example, on a balcony. In the final stage, comb out with a comb.
Shampoo or washing gel
Simple, fresh stains can be removed with shampoo or washing gel. The key point is to use a moisturizing hair shampoo, which will prevent excessive drying of the leather base. Cleaning a mink coat using this method occurs in three stages:
- dilute a little shampoo or gel in warm water until foam forms;
- This solution is applied with a sponge to the desired area of the fur coat and wiped until the dirt is removed;
- The foam is washed off with clean water, the fur is blotted with a dry cloth, and the product is hung to dry.
How do you know if it's time to clean your fur, or should you wait a while?
First, you should check whether your coat needs deep cleansing, or you can get by with combing and airing.
Take the product in your hands, bring it to your face and blow until a funnel is formed, so that the skin is visible. Shake gently. If there is no trace left of your actions, and the fur lies flat again, smell it. The absence of even a slight unpleasant odor will tell you that the fur does not need additional cleaning, so just comb it and hang it for airing, away from drafts and heating.
The fur has lost its shine, become noticeably wrinkled, lost its fluffiness and color - these are sure signs that it’s time to clean it. But even if obvious signs of contamination are not visible, the sheepskin coat should be cleaned after long-term off-season storage; this will “wake up” and refresh it.
How to clean a white mink coat and get rid of yellowness
Hydrogen peroxide
To remove the yellowness that has formed over time, you can clean mink fur at home with hydrogen peroxide. This is done like this:
- peroxide is mixed with water one to one;
- the resulting mixture must be poured into a spray bottle;
- Spray the contents from a spray bottle onto the fur (do not spray white fur too much);
- let the fur coat dry naturally;
- After drying, cleaning is completed by combing the pile.
Blue
Blue will help remove yellowness from a white fur coat. This method is quite old and somewhat extreme; it must be used very carefully.
Linen blue is diluted in water to a slightly bluish color. The resulting liquid is poured into a spray bottle and evenly applied to the yellowed areas of the fur. Without washing off the bluing, let the item dry. Finally, the fur needs to be combed.
Ammonia and salt
Yellowed fur can be returned to its natural color by diluting a tablespoon of ordinary salt and half a teaspoon of ammonia in warm water (250 ml). Moisten a gauze cloth with the resulting mixture and clean your fur coat with it.
Talc
Using talc will not only help remove yellowness from a light fur coat, it perfectly absorbs greasy stains and fights various odors. The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- It is better to spread the fur coat on a flat and clean surface;
- Sprinkle the desired areas with talcum powder in moderate quantities;
- smooth the talc onto the fur with your hands;
- After five minutes (this will be enough to absorb and get rid of the smell), shake off the talc and comb the fur coat to get rid of any remaining mineral.
Features of caring for a light fur coat
A white mink coat requires special care, because any dirt is always visible against a light background. To prevent white mink from turning yellow, it must be stored in a dark case, for example blue. It will help protect the fur from fading. Before placing the “white beauty” in a case, it is better to check whether the package is painted. To do this, you need to wipe the inside of the case with a white rag and see if the dye remains on it. Yellow tones on a mink product may appear when perfume, powder, or foundation gets on the pile.
Owners of white fur are often at a loss as to how to remove yellowed hair, how to remove the yellowness and return the original look to your favorite clothes. A proven method is to take it to the dry cleaner, but there are several folk methods that can restore the whiteness of fur.
The most gentle treatment for white mink skins is the use of talc or chalk. The product is laid out on a flat surface, previously covered with a white cloth. Then, without applying any effort, talc is applied to the fur. After applying the powder, the pile should be shaken and combed. This method allows you to refresh the color of a mink product and rid it of foreign odors absorbed into the fur.
Starch, flour or semolina are sometimes used for cleaning. These products tend to swell with moisture. And if particles remain between the mink’s fibers, then after snow they can ruin the fur.
How to clean a mink coat with store-bought products
Specialized fur cleaning products can now be found in almost any department store.
They are usually presented in the form of sprayers, which are convenient to use when applied to mink fur.
Such products are simply sprayed onto the pile and are absorbed in a matter of minutes, after which the fur coat is combed out.
As a rule, these products consist of a certain amount of essential oils and fats of animal origin.
After their use, the fur coat returns to its original appearance and shine. The following can be recommended:
- "Insaf". The most popular special product for cleaning fur; Prevents the formation of tangles and matting of the undercoat. Eliminates greasy conditions well;
- "Lival licker konz." The comprehensive action of this spray improves the color of a fur coat and makes the fur soft. Available with tinting effect;
- "Fur fresh Salamander." Tints fur, restores shine and eliminates clumps of stray fur;
- "Ultra finish milk". Cleans fur products of any color, adds shine, and prevents the pile from sticking together.
How to clean the lining of a mink coat at home
To thoroughly clean the lining of a fur coat, it is best to tear it off. This must be done very carefully with a tool designed for this purpose to prevent damage to the skin.
After the lining is separated, it is easiest to wash it, making sure to follow the required washing cycle.
After this procedure, the lining should be rinsed well so that there are no streaks left, ironed and sewn back.
If separating the lining from the fur coat is not an option, you can try to get it to the desired look directly on the fur coat.
This method also requires caution, as there is a risk of getting the flesh wet.
Mezdra - the lower part of the skin layer
You need to prepare a soap solution and gently wipe the fabric with a sponge, rub it with a brush and then remove the remaining solution with another damp washcloth.
To dry quickly, you can blot the lining with a cloth napkin and hang the fur coat on a hanger or hanger and dry it at room temperature.
If only the lower lining part becomes very dirty, for example in slush, there is an option to sew another piece of fabric onto the factory lining, which will cover the main lining and subsequently this particular piece can be easily peeled off and washed.
What not to do
There are several strict taboos regarding mink fur. It is better to remember them - the experiment can be expensive. Under no circumstances should you wash mink coats, vests, collars, etc., even by hand. Do not dry your fur coat near a radiator or on a heater.
And if creases appear on it after storage, ironing is strictly prohibited - the fur coat just needs to be allowed to hang. By the way, you need to store a mink coat on hangers strictly in size in a linen cover so that the fur can breathe. And don't forget about the anti-moth sachet.
Methods that are not worth wasting time on
The Internet is replete with many proposed methods of cleaning mink fur that are completely unacceptable, which not only will not help the fur coat achieve the desired look, but will most likely cause even more harm.
After using these methods, most likely the product will be suitable for wearing at the dacha. Such wet and dry cleaning methods include:
- cleaning with sawdust, which needs to be rubbed into the fur;
- the use of starch, which can and will remain in the fur fibers, which will subsequently attract insects;
- cleaning a fur coat with gasoline. This method will not only give a long-lasting, specific smell to the fur coat, but can also ruin the structure and color of the fur;
- ammonia;
- sprinkling delicate fur with hot sand, which then may not be completely removed from the product;
- semolina grits.
