Though fur coats, stoles, and other garments are not as commonly sold as they once were, many women have vintage furs gathering dust in their attics and closets. But since they don’t know how to clean fur, it is a shame that these beautiful pieces are stashed away in storage even though they have sentimental value because they were given by a favorite relative.
The key to bringing out an old fur and re-introducing it to your wardrobe is to properly clean it. More than likely, it will need to be aired out and freshened before you will feel comfortable wearing it in public.
Unfortunately, fur is so rare today that many women have no idea how to clean fur. Here are a few methods that your grandmother may have used.
1. How To Clean Fur: White – Using Chemicals
Any type of white fur, such as rabbit or beaver, could be surface-cleaned using a mixture of gasoline (1 pint) and white flour ( 2 TBSP). Form a paste by mixing, and then wash your fur in it. As soon as you have finished washing your fur, squeeze as much of the paste out as possible, then use a stiff-bristled brush to brush the fur back to its original texture. If it is a particularly long-haired fur, a comb should be used instead.
2. How To Clean Fur: Colored – Using Bran
Clean, dry bran can actually be used for cleaning any garment made of colored fur. Look for pure, natural bran in the bulk foods section of your local health food market. At home, put the bran in a flat baking dish or pan and heat it in your oven until it is too hot to handle. This will thoroughly dry the bran. While waiting for the bran to heat, stretch your fur out over an ironing board so it is as flat as possible, and pin it in place. Using your stiff-bristled brush, give it a good once-over. As soon as your bran is heated, rub it in to the fur and brush it again and until most of the bran is removed. Now simply remove your fur from the ironing board and give it a good shake outside, to get rid of all the excess bran. This method not only will clean your fur, but also give it a nice glossy shine.
If no bran is readily available, you can perform the same method using cornmeal (white cornmeal for light-colored furs and yellow for darker ones). The only alteration you should make to the technique is to let the cornmeal sit for 15 minutes before brushing it out.
4. How To Clean Fur: Using Fullers’ Earth
Fullers’ earth is a natural, earthy, claylike material which can be used in the same fashion as bran or cornmeal. It can be purchased from various websites in powdered form.
Keep in mind that safety is of the utmost importance when using any chemicals to clean your fur. Take all appropriate precautions to prevent accidents or exposure to harmful substances or fumes. These are authentic vintage methods from the early 20th century, and are being presented for your information on how to clean fur only. No assertion is made by this author as to their safety or effectiveness.
