The Best Way to Store a Mink Coat

by Damin Chu

Overview

Mink coats are often sentimental items passed down through generations. Preserving them is often an emotional as well as practical undertaking. There are many theories on the best way to store a mink coat. Mink needs special care or its color and texture will change over time. Furs may experience oxidization, weather damage, signs of age from dirt or insect damage from moths. Proper care takes work, but it can help to prevent these problems.
Winter Months

Mink fur keeps a mink warm during the winter months, therefore the fur is best preserved in cool settings. If you live in a place that has four seasons, you can keep your fur in a closet when it's cold. Make sure there are no heaters near the closet and keep the fur away from direct sunlight. Keep the mink coat on a broad-shouldered hanger and take out any other clothes that might crowd the coat; it should have enough room to breathe. Keep the coat away from mothballs or storage chemicals, which can damage the fur.

Summer Months

During the hotter months, it's best to contact a professional furrier and use their storage facilities. Furriers have light, humidity and temperature-controlled vaults that provide the type of environment that a mink coat needs. These vaults usually maintain a temperature under 50 degrees Fahrenheit with a 50 percent level of humidity.
Preservation Tips

Don't try to clean the fur by combing it or using a store cleaner. It is best to take it to a professional furrier who knows what oils to add to the fur or how to best clean it if it becomes stained or coarse. Before you store it during the hot months, you should have it professionally cleaned.