Proper Fur Care: Be Kind to Your Fur Coat

An investment in a fur coat is an investment in style, glamour, and beauty. Few other articles of clothing make as strong a statement about the wearer, or convey such a perfect mix of power and femininity. A fur coat is a valuable item, and with only a little work and careful steps taken, one can insure that their fur coat is well taken care of, providing years of beauty. I learned these steps through personal ownership of furs, and from exchanges with others.

First, consider how you will care for your fur coat at home. A fur coat in a closet needs three things: darkness, coolness, and plenty of space. Long exposure to light will fade your fur coat, heat will dry out the pelts, and being jammed and crammed in among many other garments or items will prevent air circulation, which dries out the pelts even further, and causes unsightly matting and scruffing. With these things in mind, choose a closet that is out of sunlight, not near heating vents, and which has plenty of room for the fur coat. Make sure to use a large, padded coat hanger with your fur coat.

Avoid exposing your fur coat to chemicals. This includes perfumes and hairsprays, in addition to items like mothballs and cigarette smoke. These items can give your fur coat a permanent odor, which may require professional treatment to remove.

Exposure to a little snow or rain will not hurt your fur coat. To care for your fur coat properly after wearing it in the snow, for example, simply shake it gently and hang it up to dry in a room with good air circulation, away from heat vents. Do not use a blow dryer on your fur coat! If you want to brush your fur coat, do so with your hands only.

Finally, and most importantly, have your fur coat professionally stored and cleaned during the summer season! Even if your fur coat is only used a few times a year, it is not very expensive at all to have it stored and cleaned each year, especially if you have both services done at the same place of business. The cleaning process, particularly, will maintain and improve your fur coat's glossiness and softness. This will add literally years to the life of your fur coat. An excellent choice to consider in the Illinois/Indiana area (where I live) is Elan Furs.

Ask your fur storage and cleaning representative for more tips on how best to care for your fur coat, and look forward to years of luxurious, fur-clad comfort!