Unless you have a very delicate fur like chinchilla, your
fur coat is a fairly durable item and must simply be treated
with common sense. Furs like cold, hate heat. They don't like
friction. They don't like chemicals. They like space. They
like to be cleaned often, but only by a fur professional.
1. Insure your fur on your homeowner's policy for its
replacement value, so you won't be heartbroken in case of theft.
Furriers usually offer nominal insurance coverage while your
coat is in storage and sometimes make further coverage available
for a small fee.
2. Give it a good home. Be sure you put it in a coat closet
that is not exposed to light (which will fade your fur) or heat.
Check for hot water or steam pipes in the wall. Then be sure it
has room to breathe and isn't being crushed by other garments.
3. Hang your fur on a broad-shouldered or padded hanger with a
long neck. No wire hangers. Ideally, ask your furrier for a
professional hanger.
4. Don't cover it in a garment bag. Your fur prefers air
circulation, to prevent its leather side from drying. If you
absolutely must keep it in a bag for a short period of time, be
sure it is in a loosely woven cloth bag.
5. Accessorize wisely. Don't pin jewelry on your fur, and avoid
sharp necklaces or bracelets that could snag your fur. Don't
use your shoulder bag on a consistent basis, since it will wear
the hairs off and give your coat a bald spot. Consider wearing
a scarf around your neck to protect the collar, which can be
quickly matted.
6. Avoid insecticides, mothproofing and other chemicals around
on your fur, including perfume or hairspray directly on your
fur. Perfume contains alcohol, which can dry your pelts. Once
a perfume gets into your fur -- including cedar from a cedar
chest -- it could be there to stay. Oils in the leather of your
fur can become rancid and smell.
7. If your fur gets wet, don't panic. Most furs handle snow and
a light rain with ease. Shake it out and hang it to dry in a
well-ventilated room, at home or office. Resist the temptation
to speed the drying process by using a hair dryer or hanging it
near a heat source. Fur does not like heat. After it dries,
shake it again. Do not comb or brush it. If its hairs are a
little bristly, simply smooth them with your hand. If your fur
has been soaked through, however, take it immediately to your
fur retailer for proper treatment.
8. Your fur coat and your car, best friends? Probably not.
Furs don't do well with friction or crushing, both of which they
experience in your car. Use common sense when sliding into the
seat, so you're not too hard on your fur. To avoid a telltale
flattened bottom print on your fur, don't sit on it if possible,
or at least not on the same spot consistently. Shake out any
spots like that on your fur when you exit your vehicle. On long
drives, take off your fur and wear it over you like a blanket,
if you need to keep warm.
9. Keep your fur in mind when you're on the move. Double-check
your insurance policy to make sure you're covered in case of
loss at a restaurant or while traveling. At a restaurant, if
the cloak room looks suspicious or overcrowded, don't check your
coat. Don't hang it on a hook or coat tree. Fold it neatly on
a chair at your table and cover with a napkin.
On a plane, the closet for hanging luggage is not the best
place for your fur. When you get to your destination, you might
find your fur too crushed to wear. Instead, leave it lightly on
your lap for a super-lux, cozy blanket or fold it loosely,
lining out, and place it at the top of an overhead bin very near
you. But find a bin that is already nearly full, and put your
coat on top of other luggage. Don't tempt anyone to place
luggage on top of your coat.
10. Always send your coat on summer vacation. Nothing shortens
the longevity of your fur like keeping it in your closet during
a long, hot summer. Send it to your furrier for professional
storage. This is important every year, for a fur, a shearling,
a fur-trimmed garment and even a fur hat or scarf. Unless you
don't intend to wear your fur for very long, take it in for cold
storage. It's not very expensive, and this is the single best
thing you can do to care for your fur. It definitely is
necessary.
11. Have your fur cleaned regularly by a fur specialist, not a
dry cleaner. Furs must be cleaned by a special process. Your
fur should be cleaned every year, unless it hasn't been worn
hardly at all. In that case, have it cleaned at least every
other year. Besides just cleaning, this conditions your fur,
makes it look better and is good for your fur. When you take
your fur in for cleaning, this is also the time when your
furrier gives it a check-up for any necessary repairs. Always
have repairs done immediately, before little problems turn into
big headaches.
Cleaning is also necessary for shearlings and fur-trimmed
garments, but these usually require special attention.
