This article answers questions about how to clean a mink hat at home, and what folk remedies you will need for this.
A mink hat is a very valuable and beautiful headdress. Not everyone can afford it due to the high price. But if such an item appears in your wardrobe, you need to know how to care for it and how to clean it so that the item lasts a long time and does not lose its appearance.
Review of folk remedies for cleaning a mink hat
The following recommendations will help you avoid damaging your fur hat during processing:
- if the stains are fresh and have not yet become embedded in the fabric, then you can try to comb out the product using a metal brush;
- You cannot wash a fur hat by hand or in a machine - because of this, the product will lose its shape and it will not always be possible to restore it;
- to maintain the shape of the product during cleaning, it is recommended to make a stand in the form of a 3-liter jar;
- To dry the hat, you cannot use a hairdryer or any heating devices - it is better to hang it on the balcony so that the sun's rays do not fall on it.
Saline solution
For cleansing, you need to prepare a saline solution: take at least 1 tbsp for 1 glass of warm water. salt. Additionally, you can add a little 96% alcohol to enhance the effectiveness of the composition. After mixing the components, you need to dip the brush into the solution and process the product.
Shampoo
This is an effective and quick way to clean a fur hat at home. Before cleaning, to make the process easier, knock out dust and brush off large dirt with a brush with soft bristles. It is recommended to carefully select shampoo. So, it must be “clean”, without containing a balm or conditioner - such a composition will negatively affect the structure of the fur.
Cleaning instructions:
- The product is placed on a stand so that the hat does not become deformed. In this case, the container should not be too small, otherwise the hat will lose its shape.
- Prepare a suitable solution for cleansing: pour warm water into a container, add shampoo and whisk. Need foam.
- The product is covered with foam, left to soak for 2-4 minutes, after which it is removed with a clean sponge - the dirt will go away along with the foam.
The main thing is not to wet the hat too much. After cleaning, it is left to dry without removing it from the jar.
Sawdust
They have high-quality adsorbing properties. They are sold in hardware stores and veterinary pharmacies. The main thing is to use hardwood sawdust, since softwood can contaminate the product with resin and glue the pile together. Sprinkle the product onto your headdress and rub in gently with your fingers. After 2-3 minutes, you should shake the product - the dirt will go away along with the sawdust.
Gasoline and starch against grease stains
Mix the components together to obtain a paste-like mass and apply to the fur. When the composition dries, it is removed with a brush. All you have to do is dry the hat in the open air - you cannot use a hairdryer or household appliances.
Ammonia or medical alcohol
These substances will help you wash your mink and fox hat at home. It can be used in its pure form or with the addition of vinegar essence to enhance the effect (in a 1:1 ratio). Also suitable for removing stains is a mixture of 96% alcohol and water in equal proportions, 2 tsp. salt. It is enough to prepare a suitable composition, moisten a cotton swab with it, wipe off the dirt and leave to dry. The vinegar included in the solution will eliminate unpleasant odors.
Additionally, if there is greasy dirt, sprinkle the fur product with a small amount of talcum powder, after 1.5 hours, shake off the dust, and remove the residue with a brush. To restore whiteness, it is worth making a composition of ammonia, peroxide and water in the same ratio. After drying the product, the surface of the pile is treated with glycerin. This action will restore the softness of the product after cleaning.
Temperature effects using hot bran
This method will allow you to get rid of various contaminants. It is best to use wheat or rye raw materials - you need 1 liter of bran. They are placed in a saucepan and simmered on low heat, stirring constantly. It is important to ensure that the raw materials do not burn to the pan - this will spoil the properties of the cleaning product. Heat for a couple of minutes to warm the product, cover a flat surface with a cloth, place a hat on top, sprinkle with bran, gently rubbing into the pile. When the entire product has been cleaned in this way, you need to shake out the remaining bran.
Salt
This substance copes well with various contaminants. Instructions:
- Dilute any amount of salt (at least 1 tbsp) with 200 ml of water.
- Add 1-3 drops of technical alcohol.
- Soak a clean rag in the resulting solution and wipe the pile.
This method is suitable for cleaning a dark mink hat. Dry away from heating equipment.
Mustard
Suitable for cleaning a mink hat at home. Take 1 tbsp. mustard, pour in clean water to obtain a slurry, apply the mixture, wait for 20 minutes for the mass to dry, clean it with a brush. Suitable for cleaning products of brown, black and blue colors.
To wash a knitted mink hat, you need the most delicate cleaning methods. If the stains are fresh, it is better to take a little shampoo or dish gel - they make a foam based on them and apply it to the product. Natural lemon juice also helps: take it and water in the same ratio, mix, moisten a clean cloth or piece of cotton wool with it, and apply to the surface.
Subtleties of processing a mink hat at home
There are many means by which you can achieve, if not the original appearance of fur, then a very well-groomed version of it. There are only three ways to clean fur: dry, wet and local stain removal. When using any method of processing a fur surface, be extremely careful and attentive, handle it with care and precision .
The results of fur refreshment will not give the desired effect if the product is not properly prepared for the procedure. There are basic rules without which you cannot start cleaning:
- the product must be dust free;
- the pile must be combed out with a brush;
- fittings and overhead decorative elements are temporarily removed;
- the cap is placed on the blank/jar/pan.
- That's it, now you can start the procedure itself. What to clean, which is guaranteed to help - we will consider further.
Professional cleaning products
For a mink hat, as for a fur coat, you can purchase special cleaning products. The most effective are considered:
- "Insaf". The composition fights pollution, protects against insects and moths. After processing, a thin, invisible film is formed on the surface of the pile, which repels dust and small dirt. It has an antistatic effect, which prevents fur from matting.
- "Ultra finish milk". A composition that will restore silkiness, softness, and renew the mink hat.
- "Fur fresh professional" from "SALAMANDER". Available in the form of a spray to restore the shade of the color of the headdress.
You can wash a knitted hat with suitable household chemicals designed for wool or silk. But the work must be done carefully so that the material does not get wet to the ground - because of this, the product may decrease in size. When choosing professional products, you must carefully read the instructions and strictly follow them when using them to avoid damage to the material.
Cleaning faux fur correctly
Faux fur is in many ways more practical than natural fur. But cleaning it includes a number of rules and features.
- To prevent faux fur from becoming deformed, it should not be washed at high temperatures. In addition to the fact that the fabric base may lose its original shape, the fibers will lose their smoothness and shine.
- Unlike natural fur, artificial fur does not have a direction along which the hair “grows,” like an animal’s. Therefore, after washing it is necessary to smooth the pile with your hands. When the fur is dry, it should be combed thoroughly. Thanks to this, the product will look neat, and the fibers will not get tangled.
- You can also use dry cleaning.
- You should not dry your hat near heating devices, especially on radiators. This causes the faux fur to deteriorate and lose its shape, as does the hat itself.
- If the ball on the headdress is one of the light colors, you need to be very careful and careful when washing it. If the fur darkens, it will be impossible to return its original color.
Removing dirt and yellowness from white fur items
Cleaning a white mink hat at home can be more difficult due to limited approved ingredients. In addition, long-term storage can lead to yellowing of the fur, and the wrong choice of cleaning products can change the color and leave permanent stains. There are several effective and safe cleaning methods for light-colored hats:
- Using peroxide. Water and the main component are added to the container in equal proportions, then the headdress is treated with the composition and dried in the sun. This method will not only get rid of dirt, but also make the fur shiny.
- Chalk, talc and starch. These substances will return the products to their whiteness and softness. Simply sprinkle the cap with the chosen product, leave for an hour, then shake to remove grains of the substance.
- Combined option for cleansing old dirt. To do this, first sprinkle the fur hat with chalk (you can replace it with talcum powder), then clean the product with shampoo foam, massaging the pile. After 1-2 hours you need to remove the residue with a brush.
- Vinegar. Moisten a clean cloth with the composition, treat the dirt, comb out the residue with a brush, and apply a little glycerin to the pile.
- Semolina. Take 2 kg of cereal, pour it into a bowl, place the hat in the container and “wash” it with careful movements. After cleansing, simply shake off the semolina and brush it off.
- Solutions using peroxide and ammonia. The solution is poured into a bottle with a spray, the hat is treated, evenly distributing the composition over the fur. The hat is left in the sun, after which the material is treated with vinegar to restore shine and softness.
When choosing absorbent products for cleaning (semolina, starch), you should remove them as thoroughly as possible after processing. When wet or exposed to moisture, they will become “bait” for moths.
Elimination of unpleasant odors
Over time, after wearing the item regularly, the lining of the hat may acquire an unpleasant odor. In this case, it is enough to wash it, first remove it from the product, or completely replace it.
Important! The lining should be washed only in warm water, never in hot water. Otherwise, it will shrink, and it will be possible to restore the product only after completely replacing this part.
You can use the following tool:
- dissolve 1 tsp. ammonia or salt in 0.5 liters of water;
- moisten a soft cloth or sponge in the liquid and lightly rub the dirty areas;
- At the end of the procedure, blot the fur with a clean, dry cloth and dry the hat in a well-ventilated area or in the fresh air.
How to clean the lining of a mink hat
To clean the inside of a fur hat, choose a method based on the complexity of the dirt:
- Weak. Wipe stains using soapy water and a soft brush. The main thing is to try not to get the material and fur pile too wet. The remains are removed with a damp cloth, and the headdress is sent to dry.
- Obsolete. To clean the lining of a fur hat, it is steamed, cleaned with washing powder, dish gel, or you can even wash it. After treatment, it is enough to dry the lining fabric. If the contamination is too old, you need to purchase new replacement material.
Steps
Hand washing of headwear
Fill a small plastic bowl with cold water.
Warm and hot water can cause the hat to fade or shrink (it all depends on the specific material). You only need to pour enough water to immerse your things in it. If you are only going to wash a couple of hats, you can even use a large plastic bowl instead of a basin.
Add liquid detergent to the water.
Stir a teaspoon of detergent or soap into the water until completely dissolved. The type of detergent you use will depend on the material your hat is made from and what you are cleaning.
Do a spot test.
If this is your first time washing a hat using this method, you should first wet only a small area of the item with the prepared soap solution before immersing it completely. Keep the area in the solution for about a couple of minutes.
- Test the color fastness on the wet area. You may notice that the paint has started to fade and stain the water. If the water does not stain, try blotting the hat on some light-colored item.
- When you blot your hat, it is better to take a light-colored item that you don’t mind at all, or one that can be easily bleached.
- For testing, choose a section of the hat that will not be visible when worn. Even if it fades, it will not spoil your appearance.
- If during the test you do not notice any signs that the item is shedding, you can move on to the next step.
Wet your head completely.
If after two minutes no traces of fading paints appear on the tested area of the headdress, then you can completely immerse the headdress in the soap solution. For a simple wash with light stains, you should soak the hat for about 30 minutes. If dirt has adhered to your hat, or if it has particularly stubborn stains, you may need to soak it for several hours.
Rinse your hat.
Remove the hat from the soapy solution. Rinse it under a strong stream of water from the tap to remove the detergent. The water should be cold so that the headdress does not begin to shed and shrink. Continue rinsing until the hat is no longer sticky to the touch and there is no visible soap in the water running off it.
Squeeze out excess water. Take the headdress with your palms and gently squeeze it. Place the hat on a clean towel and continue to blot the water until it stops dripping from the headdress
Do not twist the hat while doing push-ups, as this may cause it to lose its shape and begin to pill.
Let the hat dry.
Place the hat where there is good air circulation. It should be laid flat on the towel without deforming its normal shape. You can place a fan nearby, but do not use a hot hair dryer to dry your hair. The heating may cause the hat to shrink. Do not place the hat in direct sun as it may fade.
Washing a knitted hat in the washing machine
Place delicate knitted hats in a laundry net. Some hand-knitted hats, especially wool ones, may become distorted when washed in the washing machine. To prevent this from happening, they should first be placed in a net or bag for washing clothes, or in a cap. Close the washing net with a lock or tie it if it doesn’t have one.
This will prevent the hat from falling out of it, which is especially important when the washing machine has a small load.
If possible, load your washing machine completely.
Woolen items tend to shed when washed without a full load in the washing machine. Despite the fact that the hat should be protected from such a nuisance by a mesh for washing clothes, it can open during the washing process. Other co-washable items should be in the same color scheme as your hat. The most ideal option would be to wash knitted items together.
Run a cold wash cycle before putting items in the washing machine.
Allow the washing machine to fill with cold water, then press pause and place the items in the washing machine before actively washing.
If your washing machine has a front door, place items in it as normal before you start washing. Although this is not the most ideal option, nothing should happen to your knitted hat.
Storage recommendations
Improper storage of a headdress can cause damage to the hat, changes in its appearance, and deformation. Helpful Tips:
- It is recommended to store fur products in a fabric bag;
- keep the product in a bag, in an unventilated room;
- to avoid damage by moths, place a special insect repellent or a handkerchief soaked in lavender oil nearby;
- maximum humidity – 60%;
- the headdress should be ventilated periodically;
- the temperature should be about +10°C;
- Dark hats should not be dried in the open sun - this may cause color loss.
By following all the rules for cleaning mink hats, you can extend their service life and maintain their appearance for a long time.
Shampoo or washing gel
Simple, fresh stains can be removed with shampoo or washing gel. The key point is to use a moisturizing hair shampoo, which will prevent excessive drying of the leather base. Cleaning a mink coat using this method occurs in three stages:
- dilute a little shampoo or gel in warm water until foam forms;
- This solution is applied with a sponge to the desired area of the fur coat and wiped until the dirt is removed;
- The foam is washed off with clean water, the fur is blotted with a dry cloth, and the product is hung to dry.
Hat with pompom
There are two washing options here. If the pompom is made from the same yarn as the hat, then it must be washed together with the headdress. Most likely, the threads of the pompom have become matted due to washing, so after drying you will have to tidy it up and return it to its fluffiness. This is done with a wide-toothed comb, preferably made of wood. You can also straighten the pompom with a knitting needle, unraveling the thread. Do this carefully so as not to tear the threads out of the pompom.
With a pompom made of fur, things are much more complicated. Natural fur does not need to be wet, otherwise it can be damaged. You'll have to rip off the pompom. The headdress is washed in the described way, and the pompom is simply cleaned by dry cleaning, for example, using bran or starch.
What to do if you can’t rip off the pompom?
In this case, cunning housewives came up with their own way of washing. The pompom is simply tied tightly in film and tied tightly at the base. Then the cap is washed by hand, trying to prevent moisture from getting on the bag. Still, a little moisture may seep in, but usually this does not spoil the fur much. When the headdress is dry, the film is removed and the fur is combed with a brush.