How to Clean Faux Fur

Photo from Tuğba İşler. Check out her tutorial on How to Make a Faux Fur Vest: Pattern, Sewing Tips & Detailed Tutorial. Follow her on YouTube: Tuğba İşler.

How to hand wash faux fur 

Although this process is mildly labor-intensive, hand-washing faux fur is by far the best and most gentle way to wash faux fur trim, garments, and home decor.

Tools/materials: 

• Large sink/wash tub
• Mild laundry detergent for hand-washing delicates
• Drying rack or heavy duty hanger 
• Cool to cold water  

1. Combine mild detergent with cool water

Fill the wash tub or sink with enough cool to cold water that it will easily cover the faux fur item.

Depending on the size of the faux fur piece, pour in 1-2 capfuls of mild detergent—such as Woolite Extra Delicates Care, Studio by Tide for Delicates, or The Laundress Wool & Cashmere Shampoo—into the tub or sink. 

Tip: Don’t have a designated wash tub or large utility sink for hand-washing garments?

Improvise with a large plastic storage container—you can even use a bathtub for oversized items, such as faux fur coats or blankets. 

2. Submerge the faux fur garment 

Add the garment to the detergent solution. Gently agitate the water for several minutes, making sure the garment is fully soaked and submerged.

Let soak for 15 to 20 minutes and gently agitate some more.

3. Remove garment from the detergent solution

Take the garment out of the detergent solution and squeeze to release much of the soapy detergent solution, taking care to avoid twisting or wringing the garment.

4. Rinse the faux fur garment

Depending on the size of the faux fur piece you are washing, you may be able to rinse it just by holding the trim or garment under running cold water and continuing to squeeze it, until the water is clear of any residual suds. 

For larger garments, rinse them in the shower, or refill the wash tub with clean water, submerge the garment, and gently agitate to rinse it thoroughly.

5. Gently release excess water

As before, squeeze the wet faux fur garment from one end to the other, releasing excess water, taking care to avoid twisting or wringing the garment. 

Lay out 1 or 2 full size bath towels (depending on the size of the faux fur piece) and lay the damp faux fur item on top of the towels.

Roll the towels, compressing as you go to release more water from the faux fur. 

6. Air dry the faux fur garment 

The first thing to know: Never put faux fur in the dryer as heat can permanently damage the fibers.

Even tumble-drying faux fur without heat in a dryer is damaging!

Either lay flat to dry on a drying rack or hang the garment or trim from a sturdy hangar in a well-venerated location—outdoors, if possible, or else in a tub/shower or somewhere it can drip dry.

Keep wet faux fur away from direct sunlight and heat. 

Tip: Faux fur may take up to 24 or even 48 hours to fully dry. Reposition the garment from time to time, so it doesn’t dry with hard, matted fur on one side. 

7. Restore the faux fur’s plush finish 

Faux fur is prone to drying a little matted, but don’t worry, you can brush out any tangles or irregularities with a wide-tooth comb, clean hair brush, or slicker brush (just not the same one you use on a pet).

Brush the faux fur following its natural direction, and then in the opposite direction, then in the natural direction once more to restore its volume and softness.

Steam the faux fur to remove any hard-set wrinkles or creases. 

Tips for how to machine wash faux fur

With the right settings, you can wash faux fur in a washing machine, too:

• Always wash faux fur on the delicates/gentle cycle

• Water temperature should be set to cold, and spin on lowest possible setting

• Wash the faux fur item in a mesh garment bag, if possible

• Wash with several bulky items (e.g. towels) or other faux fur garments

• Avoid overfilling the washing machine

• Use mild laundry detergent—the same as if you were hand-washing the faux fur item

• Follow final steps above (steps 6, 7) to dry and restore the faux fur’s plush finish

How to remove stains from faux fur

Each of these techniques addresses a different problem. 

Spot clean faux fur

Do you have a stain, spill, or discoloration on your faux fur—of any color or print? Start by spot cleaning the stain with a concentrated application of the same mild detergent you’d use to wash the garment or textile. 

Dampen the targeted area and apply a small amount of the detergent to the faux fur directly, working it in with your fingers without pressing too hard.

Rinse that section of the garment or textile thoroughly with cool water and allow it to air dry completely.

Repeat if necessary, and otherwise follow the grooming instructions above to restore the faux fur. 

For stains on white faux fur

So long as the faux fur in question is purely white—not part of a print—this DIY diluted hydrogen peroxide spray will do the trick. 

In an outdoor work area, combine 1 C. cool water with 1 tsp. hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle. Close the spray bottle and shake gently to agitate. Spray it onto the troubled area and let it air dry out of direct sunlight.

For tough stains or mildew on faux fur

Use this baking soda plus rubbing alcohol and water solution to work on tough stains or clean faux fur that’s yellowed or become musty in storage. 

Thoroughly mix 1 tsp. rubbing alcohol with 1 1/4 C. cool water and 1 Tlbs (heaping) baking soda.

Use a soft, bristled brush to apply the baking soda slurry onto the faux fur, brushing in the natural direction of the fibers. Let air dry completely and brush faux fur again to restore the plush finish. 

More faux fur care tips:

• Even though it’s synthetic, faux fur should be cleaned as if it’s a delicate natural fiber, like wool, with the same type of mild laundry detergent.

• Never add fabric softener when laundering faux fur, as it’s more harmful than good, and can even leave residual stains on the delicate material.

• When air-drying, avoid using any style of clothesline clips to hang the faux fur item, which will leave a crimped mark on the fabric. (Likewise, avoid drying faux fur on any sort of hook or peg as it will also dry in that shape.) 

• For very matted faux fur, spray a bit of hair detangler onto the garment or textile before working on the faux fur with a wide comb or brush. 

How to clean faux fur

I hope you found this guide on how to clean faux fur helpful!

Have you got any tips of your own? Share them in the comments section down below.

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