An undyed mink hat will last the owner 10–14 winters, and an arctic fox hat will last 7. But the lifespan will be significantly reduced if you wear it carelessly, store it incorrectly and do not clean it, so it is worth studying the care recommendations - they will help maintain the attractive appearance of the fur.
Complete cleaning involves treating both surfaces: external (fur itself) and internal (leather, textile lining).
Let's look at it in detail, how to clean a fur hat at home.
Cleaning the outside of the hat
It is worth assessing the degree of contamination: the presence of specks in the pile, the degree of loss of shine by the fur, change in color (most often it changes in places where the fur rubs against the head, especially in light-colored products).
Cleaning real fur
Items made from natural fur cannot be washed.
Before cleaning, carefully knock out the product, removing surface deposits of dust from it.
Mechanical method
For processing, you will need a brush with metal teeth - with its help you need to “comb” the cap along the hair growth, removing stuck debris.
You can wrap cloth or cotton wool around the brush to avoid damaging the skin and fibers.
It is worth having a brush in the household: it is used both before dry cleaning to remove large debris, and after - to straighten the pile.
The best option is to carry out the manipulation regularly during the winter season, gradually combing out the accumulated dirt.
This will avoid frequent “general cleanings”, and the fur will always look decent.
Chemical method
This method is used in the presence of deeper contamination. After such cleaning, the hat needs to be combed again to remove any remaining cleaning substances.
Used as a cleaning agent:
Sorbents that collect dirt: starch, sand, bran (they, like sand, need to be preheated), semolina or talc - they are rubbed into the pile and removed by vigorous shaking of the product and a brush.
Acid (acetic essence or lemon juice) is an effective method, but after using it, the hat will inevitably have to be ventilated.
Potato peels with ammonia: rub the dirt with the mixture, after which it is washed off.
Hydrogen peroxide (suitable for light fur) - dilute the solution in half (3%) with water, wipe the hat and let it dry.
Medical alcohol (a cotton swab is moistened in it and used to wipe the stain).
Shampoos for animals (you can choose the option for dogs of a color that matches the shade of your hat): you need to wash carefully, avoiding complete wetness of the fur, using foam rather than the liquid itself.
If the contamination is severe, you can rub the stains with a mixture of starch and gasoline.But not every room is easy to ventilate, and gasoline is volatile and toxic.
Maybe this is the case when you should save yourself the trouble and take the item to the dry cleaner.
Important! When wet cleaning, you need to make sure that the item is completely dry before placing it in the closet. Automatic drying is not recommended for fur products - it is better to leave the hat to dry naturally at room temperature.
Cleaning faux fur
The situation with eco-fur and other artificial materials is simpler due to the possibility of machine washing (without spinning, on a delicate cycle).
At the same time, some chemicals cannot be used when processing artificial fur (for example, gasoline - instead, you can use a carpet or upholstered furniture cleaner).
Important! If you dry a washed hat by placing it on a flat surface, it will become deformed. You need to use a mannequin or an inverted three-liter jar, which will fix the crown put on it in its natural position.
Internal cleaning of the hat
The lining becomes more dirty than the outer part of the hat due to constant contact with skin and hair. Regular cleaning will help prevent bacteria from growing and dirt from affecting your hair.
To get rid of small stains, a solution of alcohol or soap is suitable - you need to wipe the lining with a sponge soaked in it, remove the remaining mixture and dry thoroughly.
If this does not help, you will have to tear off the lining (it is convenient to make markings with colored threads so that there are no problems with sewing) and wash it in the usual way - in the machine. As a last resort, you can sew a new lining from a suitable fabric and sew it on.
How to add shine to fur?
Over time, the product loses its original appearance, but the shine and structure of the fur can be preserved using:
- glycerin;
- lemon juice;
- acetic acid solution.
The composition is applied to the pile with a spray bottle, left for 10 minutes, after which the crown is wiped dry with a towel and paper napkins.
A mixture of fish oil and ammonia with water is also used, but it is not so easy to wash off.
Proper storage
The right solution would be to store fur products in a dark place (closet), where there is enough space for natural air circulation.
You need to protect the item from dust using a textile bag made of breathable fabric - for example, cotton. But, most likely, before the onset of the cold season, the hat will need to be ventilated in any case.
If you clean the fur from minor contaminants and store it away from dust, most likely, the issue of the need for deep cleaning will never have to be addressed and a little regular care will be enough.
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