Caring for & Storing Fur Properly
A fur is made of two parts that both age: the hair and the leather side beneath it. Whoever protects both gets decades of use out of it. Most damage to old furs comes not from wearing them, but from incorrect storage.
Why care is the heart of sustainability
Longevity is the real ecological advantage of natural fur. A piece that is cared for and survives generations replaces many cheap winter jackets. Neglected care, by contrast, turns a repairable coat into a case for the bin within a few summers — through dried-out, brittle leather or moth damage.
Everyday handling
Do
- Use a broad, padded hanger so the shoulders don't stretch out
- Let it hang loosely, don't squash it
- Let a fur that has got wet dry slowly at room temperature, then shake it out
- Dab stains gently, don't rub
- Occasionally brush it out with a soft brush in the direction of the hair
Better not
- Hairdryer, radiator or direct sun for drying — the leather dries out and cracks
- Perfume, hairspray or deodorant on the fur
- Shoulder bags with a narrow strap (they chafe the hair)
- Pressing it into plastic or rolling it up tightly
- Washing machine or ordinary dry cleaning
Storing it properly over summer
Fur likes it cool, dark and airy. In the warm half of the year, when it isn't being worn anyway, the climate is what matters:
- Temperature: cool is better than warm — a furrier's cold storage is typically around 6–10 °C. At home, what counts above all: not next to the radiator, not in the attic.
- Humidity: moderate, roughly 45–55 %. Too dry makes the leather brittle; too damp encourages mould.
- Protective cover: a breathable cover of cotton, linen or muslin. Never plastic — moisture builds up beneath it and the fur “suffocates”.
- No sunlight: UV bleaches the hair and fades the colours.
Moth protection
Clothes moths are the most common cause of ruined furs. Prevent rather than fight:
- Place cedar wood or lavender nearby — as a natural deterrent, not directly on the fur.
- In summer, open the wardrobe several times, shake the fur out and check for feeding marks or webbing.
- Have it cleaned before storing: moths are drawn above all to soiled hair.
Cleaning — a job for the furrier
A fur does not belong in ordinary textile cleaning, and certainly not in the washing machine. Professional cleaning at the furrier is a process of its own that loosens dirt from the hair and conditions the leather side so it stays supple. As a rule of thumb: every one to three years, depending on how often it is worn. If the fur is worn a lot, more often.
Summer storage at the furrier. Many businesses offer to keep furs in climate-controlled cold storage over the summer — moth-proof, at regulated temperature and humidity, for a modest fee. For valuable pieces without a cool storage spot at home, this is the safest solution.
Small repairs — and when to see a professional
Opened seams, a loose hook or a torn-out lining can often still be secured with a little skill. But as soon as the leather side tears, larger patches go bald or a piece is to be remodelled, the furrier's workshop is the right place. What can still become of a coat that is no longer wearable is set out in the guide to selling, remodelling and passing on.
“A well-cared-for fur doesn't age — it gains history.”