Faux fur care handbook, from washing to storing

When the weather turns cold, faux fur blankets give you the heavyweight warmth you want. But I'm sure you've heard that faux fur could be a bit of a hassle. It is true that damaging it is quite simple, but it is just as simple to maintain and avoid such damages! Faux fur is a one-of-a-kind fabric that, when properly cared for, may last a lifetime.

 

Washing: hand washing vs machine washing

Hand washing pros:

• It can help maximize the lifespan of your faux fur products
• It can help maintain the natural sheen and keep it fluffy

Hand washing cons:

• It takes more time and efforts 
• Big and heave faux fur blankets and coats can be a real pain to wash by hand

Hand washing step by step:

1. Fill a basin or bathtub halfway with cold water.
2. Soak your fake fur in water. Allow it to soak for a few minutes before swishing it around. If you must use soap, make sure it is mild and natural. Heavy detergents and bleach should be avoided as they might permanently destroy your faux fur.
3. Fill the sink or tub with cold water and then empty it.
4. You may need to rinse several times to remove any residual detergent or debris.
5. Do not wring the clean fake fur; instead, compress or push it to remove the water.
6. Hang your fake fur blanket in your bathroom, near an open window, or even outside (but never directly in the sun!). The more air that circulates your fake fur home furnishings, the quicker they will dry.
7. Once dried, the synthetic fur may appear odd until it is brushed out. Brush the fur back into place with a wide-toothed comb.

Now let’s move on to machine washing faux fur. Now you may have read elsewhere that faux fur cannot be machine washed. Well, that’s not entirely the case. Heat is the number one problem you would like to avoid when taking care of faux fur. So if you would like to machine wash your faux fur, make sure to wash it in cold water and avoid a high-temperature dryer. 

Machine washing pros:

• it will save you the hassle of doing it yourself, apparently 
• It might be the only option when it comes to large and heavy faux fur products

Machine washing cons:

• It could damage the faux fur if not done properly

Machine washing step by step:

1. Remove the fake fur goods and shake them to remove any dust.
2. Set the machine on the delicate cycle and only use cold water.
3. If your washing machine has an air-dry setting, use it to dry. Because faux fur absorbs so much water, your blanket may require a second spin cycle. If you must use a dryer, select the lowest heat setting to avoid heat damage to the faux fur.
4. Brush the fur back into place with a wide-toothed comb. After drying, shake the blanket to fluff it up again.

How to dry a faux fur blanket 

Faux fur can be either hang dried or machine dried, as described above in the washing options. Just keep in mind that avoid heat and direct strong sunlight when drying your faux fur. 

The best way to store a faux fur blanket

It's critical to keep your faux fur somewhere dry and away from humidity. Faux fur CAN get wet because it isn't real and is typically made with synthetic fibers, but humidity can cause it to frizz, which isn't attractive!

It's best to store faux fur in something like a garment bag or container. It will flatten if packed too tightly between other garments, and you want the fur to retain its fluffy volume and look! Even if you can't find a container or garment bag, make sure the fur has enough room to breathe! Yeah, faux fur needs to breathe as well. 

Finally, do not store your faux fur anywhere that is constantly exposed to light, sunlight, or heat. Overexposure to sunlight can cause discoloration in any fabric, as well as damage to the fibers. So keep it safely hidden away in the dark until you're ready to use it again!