Faux fur is in demand due to its durability, environmental friendliness and affordability. But this material has one drawback: it is difficult to figure out how to wash it.
Synthetic fur is often sent to the laundromat without the risk of it being damaged by water at home. However, you can wash such products yourself. And if you do everything correctly, things will not spoil and additional costs will be avoided.
Materials that look like fur are very different. This has its advantages. For example, you can choose an option of any length and color, with or without patterns, painted like animal skin, etc. But due to the complex composition of synthetic fibers, there are no general instructions for washing. However, there are still a number of useful recommendations. After studying them, you can clean faux fur at home without damage.
Is the material washable?
Disputes between lovers of real and faux fur continue to this day. To make the right choice, you need to familiarize yourself with all the disadvantages and advantages of both materials. As a rule, synthetics are preferred due to cost savings and from an environmental point of view.
In artificial fur, unlike real fur, the direction of growth of the villi is not specified. Because of this, after washing the material may look wrinkled and shaggy. But a damp item can be easily smoothed with the palm of your hand, and a dry item can be combed with a brush in the required direction.
White or other light-colored material turns yellow if improperly washed. Do not use caustic detergents that are difficult to rinse, and do not dry items in the sun. It is difficult to bleach synthetic fur; it is much easier to maintain its attractive appearance.
General recommendations
Before washing the collar of a down jacket, it is necessary to prepare the product; just because of one fur, you should not wash the entire thing.
Preparatory work is carried out as follows:
- The jacket collar is carefully unfastened from the entire garment.
- Next is to find out what type of fur we will clean. How can you determine this? The base will tell you whether it is natural or artificial; natural fur will have leather, while artificial fur will have a fabric base.
- Before carrying out work, carefully study all available information from the manufacturer on the tag.
- Be sure to shake out the decorative element and use a vacuum cleaner with a brush.
Depending on the quality of the fur, further cleaning is carried out in different ways. Is it possible to wash fur from a down jacket in a machine? How to wash a fur collar? We will look for answers to these questions further.
How to care for faux fur
So, what are you allowed to do with this material:
1. Synthetic pile is not sensitive to frost, humidity and wind. Faux fur products are suitable even for harsh climates. They can be worn without fear in the cold season.
2. The material is afraid of elevated temperatures. When heated strongly, the fibers and synthetic base become softer and lose their shape. The fabric may not melt, but the faux fur will lose its shine and smoothness.
3. The easiest way to care for the material is dry cleaning. But when submitting things for such processing, you need to read the information about the composition of the fibers and the manufacturer’s warnings. However, not every dry cleaner will accept synthetic outerwear.
4. Faux fur is not dried in a centrifuge or electric dryer. Washed items are hung on hangers so that the bright rays of the sun cannot reach them. Before using these items, you need to be sure that they are completely dry.
In order not to waste extra time and effort, and also to maintain the original appearance of the products, you need to regularly care for them.
How to prevent contamination on the fur edge
If you have just purchased a jacket or down jacket, and the fur on the hood looks new, it would be a good idea to take preventative measures to prevent the risk of contamination.
Thanks to a simple procedure, the fur will last you much longer and retain its presentable appearance. First you need to unfasten the fur from the hood, if possible, and spread it on a hard surface, for example on a table. After this, you should moisten a cotton pad with alcohol and wipe the edge of the hood lengthwise and crosswise with quick, vigorous movements. If necessary, you can repeat this procedure one more time. Then you need to let the product dry. After the fur has dried, you need to comb it with a comb or a brush with hard bristles. After this alcohol treatment, the fur will become shiny, fluffy and will retain its original freshness longer.
How to prepare material for washing?
Not everyone knows that synthetic fur also contains natural fibers. Clothing from this fabric is made using a single piece. That is, the seams cannot come apart over time.
But no matter how stable the material is, it must be prepared before washing:
1. Carefully examine the labels on the product and make sure that it can be washed. For some things, most often with a pattern, this procedure is prohibited.
2. Determine the size of the pile. If it is long, machine wash is excluded, otherwise the material will wrinkle.
3. Clean the item from dust and lightly brush it with a brush.
When is the best time to go to dry cleaning?
Home washing does not always cope with stains. In winter, wool is susceptible to temperature changes. There is a risk of chemical reagents that are sprinkled on the streets getting on the pile. They, together with snow, can damage the structure of the fur.
If the item has not been cleaned during the winter, take it to the dry cleaner after the end of the season. Fur capes are processed 7-8 times during their service life. Employees are warned if the wool is artificial or dyed. For washing, gentle products will be used that do not change color or structure.
A natural fur coat, stole or down jacket with a fur collar looks expensive and elegant. Clothing requires proper and timely care. Having carefully studied the manufacturer’s instructions and selected products for dry and wet washing, the product will delight you with its appearance for a long time.
Rules for automatic washing of faux fur
The procedure must be carried out with the utmost caution and is not always possible. The first step is to understand the structure and quality of the material. For example, for thick short fur, machine washing is acceptable, taking into account the following recommendations:
1. Latest automatic machines with a round hole are undesirable for this material. Outdated options using vertical load are much more suitable. They make it easier to regulate the washing and spinning force.
2. You need to use very soft powders or liquid detergents for washing silk, wool and other capricious fabrics.
3. Synthetic fur is washed separately from other materials. The trim of the hood is unfastened in advance, the hat is turned inside out, and the fur is not placed in the same machine with the jacket.
4. The artificial pile is placed in the machine drum without turning on the device. The machine is partially filled with water (for a vertical load) or the soaking mode is turned on (if the load is frontal).
5. After 15-20 minutes, turn on the delicate rinse mode. Synthetic fur should not be kept in water for more than half an hour, otherwise the fibers may deteriorate and the pigment may be lost.
6. Some models have a delicate spin function. At high intensity, it is better to remove the wet product from the machine and gently squeeze it by hand. The fur should not be twisted, but squeezed with your palms.
A clean product is hung on hangers or a bar in the bathroom until water drains from it. Then things are moved into the air, but only into a dark place. Comb the surface with soft brushes with a small number of teeth.
Methods for cleaning fur from a down jacket
Jacket collars are often decorated with natural, artificial pile. They are removable, which makes the washing process easier. It is possible to wash synthetic material with a machine in a delicate mode. You can remove stains and unpleasant odors from real fur yourself. If you have any doubts or difficulties, give the down jacket to the cleaning company's employees.
Dry wash
If the fur cannot be removed from the collar, the element is cleaned of stains and unpleasant odors using folk methods.
You can remove dirt with potatoes:
- Mix vegetable starch with gasoline until a thick, homogeneous slurry is obtained. It is used instead of washing powder;
- apply the composition to the fur;
- leave to soak for 30-40 minutes;
- Walk through the pile with a brush, removing traces of the substance.
Talc is effective in combating stains on fur products. Sprinkle the substance onto the collar. Rub it between the pile with your hand and shake the down jacket several times. You can clean a rabbit vest or cape using this method.
To remove grease and dirt, use a mixture of alcohol and salt. It will take 1 tsp. ammonia and 2 tsp. crystalline substance. Mix the ingredients, apply to the fur, and after a couple of minutes, remove the grains with a brush.
Wet cleaning
If the clothes are not very dirty, there are no visible stains, the fur needs to be refreshed - use medical alcohol for surface washing. Moisten a cotton pad with it, gently, without pressing, wipe the villi. The surface will remain damp: leave to dry. Do not use electrical appliances to speed up the process. A heater or hair dryer can deform the edge and ruin the result.
White materials tend to turn yellow. It will not be difficult to restore the original appearance of fur. It is necessary to mix an equal amount of water and hydrogen peroxide, and carefully spray the washing solution over the entire surface of the edge. Leave the product, after 10 minutes, wipe the lint with a dry cloth, comb the collar with a fine brush.
Accessories made from natural raccoon are washed using animal shampoo. The product is diluted with a small amount of water. After moistening a sponge with a soapy solution, carefully pass it over the fur, removing moisture from the villi with a dry piece of cloth.
Rules for hand washing faux fur
Long shaggy pile can only be washed by hand. This type of washing is always considered safer than machine washing, but there are a number of nuances here:
1. If it is possible to clean the product partially, when it is dirty only in one place, this should be used. A cotton swab or disk is moistened with soap and water and wiped the stained area. Leave for 5 or 10 minutes, and then remove the remaining detergent with damp cotton wool.
2. A whole synthetic fur item will require a large container. A hat or collar can be soaked in a basin, but a coat will only fit in a bathtub, where the washing powder must first be dissolved.
3. Faux fur is placed in water at a temperature of up to 40 degrees and checked that the base of the fabric and the fibers are completely saturated. In contaminated areas, the fur is squeezed by hand or simply left to soak for about half an hour.
4. Clean fur is rinsed by hand, without pressing too much, then the pile will not detach from the soft base. First of all, remove the foam with warm water, then use cool water to remove the remaining soap so that the fibers shine.
5. You can rinse the item a second time by adding vinegar to the water. Then the pile will smooth out and acquire a glossy shine.
Synthetic fur should not be dried near radiators or other heating devices. The material can be blotted with a towel without friction or compression to avoid deformation.
Suitable detergents for washing fur items
It should be remembered that you cannot wash fur with ordinary powder.
The granules of the product get clogged between the villi, are poorly washed out with water, and after drying they form an unpleasant coating and lead to dulling of the pile. Dry cleaners use professional detergents, and at home you can use liquid gel for washing wool or shampoo for caring for animals. We recommend:
How to wash a Thinsulate jacket
Using liquid laundry detergent
The label of the product should indicate that it is suitable for the care of delicate fabrics and recommended for washing wool. Gels intended for children's things are suitable.
Shampoo application
You can protect the pile of a natural fur collar during washing by using shampoo designed to care for animal hair. Its composition removes fat deposits, but does not damage the structure of the pile.
How to freshen mink at home?
Peroxide in different proportions is mixed with water. It is convenient to pour this mixture into a spray bottle and use it to treat (on all sides) the mink. After this, the fur coat should hang and dry, then it can be combed; in some cases, shampoo will help.
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How to wash a Cheburashka fur coat?
Take the required amount of lukewarm water, thoroughly dissolve the washing gel in it and immerse the fur coat. Gently press it down onto the bottom of the tub with your hands until it is completely saturated with water. Turn the product from side to side several times, gently squeezing it with your hands, and leave for half an hour.
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Is it possible to put a permanent fur collar in the washing machine?
If the fur is sewn to the collar of a leather jacket, there are not many options for refreshing it quickly and without loss. The collar sewn to the product can only be cleaned manually , very carefully, avoiding contact of moisture with the skin. For those who are not confident in their actions, the right decision is to dry-clean a leather jacket with fur.
You can tidy up a down jacket with a sewn-on fur collar in the washing machine, choosing a delicate cycle and using liquid detergents.
By adding two or three tennis balls to the drum of the washing machine, you can avoid the formation of lumps of unstraightened fluff in the jacket after washing.
The easiest way to refresh the fur is on the collar of your parka. The product can be washed by hand or in a machine. Parkas are washed at a temperature not exceeding 40 C, choosing a mode for synthetic fabrics, using soft (liquid) detergents.
Spin mode and automatic drying are disabled. Parkas made from membrane fabric are washed only by hand, using special powders for this type of fabric.
