Washing faux fur in the washing machine

Faux fur is used to make not only outerwear, but also dresses, hats, and cardigans. These things look very elegant, while synthetic pile is easy to care for and more affordable than natural “skins”. This edge is also chosen by people who protect animal rights. Fashionistas are wondering: is it possible to wash faux fur in a washing machine? Let's figure out whether automatic cleaning will harm synthetic fibers.

Will fur survive washing?

There are several ways to clean fur products. The choice of method will depend on the technologies used in sewing clothes, the size of the item and the intensity of contamination. For example, it is not at all necessary to completely wash a faux fur coat if a small stain has formed on its hem.

The edge pile is based on a base of knitwear or leatherette, to which synthetic components are added. The use of synthetics just makes some adjustments to the cleaning process. Regardless of the chosen method of caring for faux fur, it is important to remember certain rules:

• synthetic pile tolerates moisture well, but washing should be done in cool water;
• It is necessary to avoid exposing the product to high temperatures - strong heating of artificial fur will lead to deformation of the pile and loss of its shape. The villi will become hard and dull;
• It is better to avoid classic machine washing, and give preference to dry or wet cleaning. This way you can remove contaminants more quickly and safely;
• It is allowed to take an item to dry cleaning if the manufacturer indicates this option on the product label.

Artificial fur coats with dense, short pile can be washed in an automatic machine, on the most delicate cycle, using special detergents.

It is important to dry synthetic pile well. Drying near radiators, heaters, electric dryers or directly in the sun is strictly prohibited. Faux fur clothing should be dried either in a well-ventilated area or in the fresh air, but only in cloudy weather.

Before putting on a washed item, make sure it is completely dry. If after cleaning the product looks “shaggy” or “crumpled,” then you need to smooth the pile with a damp palm and rub it over the surface with a soft sponge.

White or light-colored fur may turn yellow over time. You can cope with yellowness using folk methods. The use of aggressive agents, stain removers or bleaches leads to disruption of the structure of synthetic fibers and loss of the quality of the item.

We use the machine

How to properly wash fur items in an automatic washing machine? Firstly, it should be understood that machine washing is allowed only if the product manufacturer allows it. The manufacturer's label must be marked accordingly. Typically, the machine can load clothes with short, dense pile. Otherwise, there will be a high probability of pulling a shaggy and hard product out of the machine.

Before washing, you should inspect the clothes, identify complex stains, empty pockets, and remove decorative brooches. Difficult stains are pre-treated with oxygen bleach or baking soda. The algorithm for machine cleaning of faux fur is as follows:

• a fur coat or sheepskin coat must be turned inside out.If the fur trim is the collar of a dress or down jacket, the element should be unfastened;
• load the item into the drum. You need to use gentle liquid gels or baby products;
• start the "Soak" program. Let the item “soak” for about 15 minutes;
• Select delicate or gentle cleaning mode. It is important to set the minimum possible washing time.

It is better not to use the “Spin” option at all, or set the drum rotation speed to 400 rpm.

After washing is completed, you should allow the water to drain from the clothes. It is allowed to slightly “punch” the product to squeeze out excess moisture. It is forbidden to twist or squeeze faux fur too much; it is easily deformed.

Traditional care

Not every manufacturer allows the possibility of washing products with synthetic fur in an automatic washing machine. The preferred method of cleaning artificial fur coats, hats, and sheepskin coats remains hand washing. It allows you not to wet the item completely, but to treat a separate area. This possibility is especially relevant for clothes with light, long pile.

First of all, you need to inspect the fur for heavy contamination. If the affected area is small, local treatment will be sufficient. If you want to “refresh” something that has not been cleaned for a long time, pre-soaking is advisable.

For local cleaning, use a soft sponge. The stain on the product is moistened with cool water, after which a liquid product is applied to the area and foamed. You should wait 3-5 minutes and remove the soap “cap” with a damp sponge. You can rinse the treated area in the shower. When a complete wash is required, proceed as follows:

• fill the bathtub or basin with cold water;
• add detergent, whip up foam, wait until the gel completely dissolves in water;
• immerse the product in a soap solution;
• if you wash a fur coat, synthetic fur blanket or sheepskin coat, leave it to “sit” in the bath for 20 minutes;
• Wash areas where there is dirt: collar area, cuffs, sleeves. Movements should be light and the fur should not be rubbed too hard. The task is to fluff up the lint and rinse the fur with soapy water;
• take the item out and let the water drain;
• fill a container with lukewarm water and rinse the product;
• pour out the water, and then rinse the clothes in cold water several times.

To quickly remove excess water from items, prepare two terry towels. The product is placed between them and pressed lightly with your hands. You can simply leave this “sandwich” for half an hour so that the towels absorb the moisture.

Wet cleaning

Cleaning fur products using external solutions is a popular method of combating stains. The easiest way to do local cleaning is with starch or soda. The stain is treated with an absorbent and the item is left alone for 30 minutes. After the item of clothing is turned over, the particles of the product are shaken out. Remains of soda or starch are combed out with a soft brush.

“Greased” areas can be treated with a mixture of 1 teaspoon of alcohol and a tablespoon of starch. A viscous slurry is applied to the contaminated area. After 10 minutes, the mixture is removed with a sponge or cotton pad, and the remains are combed out with a brush.

Caring for white items

The main problem with light faux fur is the likelihood of yellowing of the fibers.This is quite difficult to deal with, but a solution of table vinegar or citric acid can help.

• Prepare a cleaning solution. In the case of vinegar it will be 3 tbsp. spoons per liter of water. When choosing citric acid – 50 g. per one liter.
• Moisten the “yellowness” with the resulting composition.
• Set the product aside for 15 minutes, then wet the stain again.
• Brush the area with a soft brush.
• Blot the area with a cotton swab and wait until the fur is completely dry.

If these remedies do not help, you can try a mixture of soda, starch and water. The components are made into a thick paste, which is applied to the yellowed area. Afterwards, wait for the mixture to harden and clean it off the pile.

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