Home Cleaning Tips for Furs

by Gail Logan

Overview

Furs are delicate and pricey items that should be cleaned regularly to maintain their natural softness and luxurious appearance. It is usually best to take furs to be cleaned by a professional furrier if they are heavily soiled, but they can be freshened or spot cleaned at home easily with the right steps.
Freshening Furs

If furs smell musty after storage, they may need to be freshened up. Begin by laying the fur down on a flat surface. Sprinkle cornstarch or baking soda across the fur and allow it to sit for at least 15 minutes. Wet a clean cloth and wring out so that it is only slightly damp. Rub it into the fur carefully. The powder will draw out the dirt from the fur's fibers as it penetrates the pelt. Using a blow dryer, blow off the cornstarch from the fur. Using a natural bristle brush, brush the fur in the direction it naturally falls. Allow the fur to dry completely before storing to avoid mildew accumulating.

Spot Cleaning Furs

If the furs have soiled spots, it is best to spot clean the furs rather than clean the entire pelt. Soak a wash cloth in water and wring it out so that it is damp. Squirt a small amount of mild detergent onto the cloth. Rub the cloth in the natural direction of the fur lightly until the spot is removed. Rinse the wash cloth out with water and dampen the affected spot again to remove soap residue. Blow dry with a dryer in the direction of the fur. Set the dryer on the "cool" setting. Do not use a heat setting, as this can damage the fur.
Deep Cleaning

For cleaning an entire pelt, obtain a powder mixture of ground up corncobs and walnut shells. This can often be purchased from a taxidermy shop. The powder acts as a cleaning agent when sprinkled over the furs. After the powder has set, it will have absorbed dirt and oils from the hairs. Shake out the fur and blow dry the powders from the fur. Finally, brush the fur with a natural bristle brush to help restore the natural sheen.

Overview