Table of Contents:
Colleen asked, “Does anyone know the proper way to clean fake fur?”
Faux fur is usually made of a modacrylic, which is extremely heat sensitive. However, there are ways to clean the fur without heat, or even without water. Select one of the methods below to keep your fur looking and feeling clean.
You Will Need:
- Mild detergent or
- A home dry cleaning kit or
- Cornmeal or
- Bran
Methods to Clean the Fur:
- Most fake fur is washable. If your item does not have a tag saying whether it can be washed, you can test a small hidden area of the fur (by washing it with cold water and mild detergent) to determine if washing is safe for the whole item. If it cannot be washed, it has likely been treated with a finish that is water-soluble and if washed, would leave the fur feeling harsh or coarse to the touch.
- If the item is safe to wash, turn the garment inside-out if possible before washing to prevent pilling. Wash it on the gentlest cycle of the washing machine with cold water and mild detergent, or hand wash it in a sink or tub. Allow the fur to air dry or tumble in the dryer with NO HEAT.
- If water is not an option, there are home dry cleaning kits available in the laundry aisle of most supermarkets. Dry clean the fur according to the directions on the package of your selected dry cleaning kit using NO HEAT, even if the package says to use heat. Alternatively, take the item to a professional dry cleaner.
- An alternative to dry cleaning solvents is to use cornmeal or bran. Sprinkle the powder onto the fur and use a stiff brush to work the powder into the fur. Allow the powder to sit overnight to absorb any dirt or oils, then shake out and thoroughly brush the fur to remove the powder.
Additional Tips and Advice
- Do not iron faux fur, as it cannot tolerate the heat. If the fur seems wrinkled, use several heavy books to flatten the garment instead.
Sources
- The Cleaning Encyclopedia by Don Aslett
- How to Clean Practically Anything by Consumer Reports
- Home Comforts: The Art & Science of Keeping House by Cheryl Mendelson
- The Super Stain Remover Book by Jack Cassimatis
My faux fur coat says, “dry clean by silicon method only.” What does that mean? Can I still hand wash?
Wanda,
There is a dry cleaning process called GreenEarth Cleaning, which uses silicone, and according to Wikipedia, is the better dry cleaning process for some specialty fabrics because other dry cleaning solvents (such as Perc) are too harsh. As far as I know, there isn’t currently a home dry cleaning kit that uses the GreenEarth process, so you will need to look for an approved vendor on the GreenEarth Cleaning website. It is usually best to follow the instructions on the garment tag.
Source: Wikipedia – GreenEarth Cleaning
Non-washable/non-dry cleanable faux fur jacket with satin lining . . . How do I clean it???
Someone suggested putting it in a large garbage bag, sprinkling in a container of salt and shaking vigorously.
I welcome all comments and suggestions!
Jill,
That is basically the same concept as Method 4 above. The salt will absorb any dirt or oils on the fur. That method is often used for stuffed animals as they are not flat (whereas for clothing items they can be laid flat and the powder sprinkled over them). You can use the bag method (putting the item in and shaking it) with either of the powders mentioned here as well – cornmeal or bran. It is best to avoid baking soda though as it is such a fine powder that it can be difficult to fully remove from the fur. Since your jacket has a satin lining, it would be better to use one of the powders as the salt is very sharp and could damage the satin. Good luck!