Mk Svetlanaa warm thing for years: a guide to fur care

An independent guide to caring for fur and warm winter clothing. We are not a shop, a factory or an atelier, we sell nothing, and we have no connection to the previous website on this domain. Leave fur cleaning and repair to specialists.

Guides

Practical guides

The first guide in this section explains how to put away a fur coat or other fur garment for the summer so that it comes back to you in the fall in the same condition. Most of the steps take nothing more than some attention and one free evening, and everything that involves cleaning or repairs we leave to specialists.

For a fur coat, summer isn't a break but a season of its own. How you put it away determines what shape it will be in when the first frost arrives.

— Editors' view

What to have ready

  • A wide hanger that matches the shoulder width of the coat, so the fur doesn't stretch or crease.
  • A breathable garment bag made of cotton, linen or another natural fabric, roomy enough for the sleeves and collar.
  • A moth repellent intended for clothing storage, along with its instructions.
  • A spot in a closet or storage room that is cool, dark and dry, where the coat can hang freely.
  • Good light for the inspection — daylight by a window or a bright lamp.
  • Enough time to take the coat to a furrier or a fur cleaning specialist ahead of time if needed.

  1. Pick a dry day

    Start once the season is definitely over and the coat hasn't been worn outside for several days. The fur must be completely dry: never put away a damp coat.

    Sample scenario: on its last outing the coat got caught in wet snow, so the preparation waits until it has dried on a hanger indoors.

  2. Inspect the whole garment

    Check the hair on the shoulders, around the pockets, on the cuffs and along the hem: these are the spots that get the most friction. Look over the seams, lining, loops and fasteners, and check under the collar.

    Sample scenario: the hair on one shoulder is noticeably shorter than on the other — most likely worn down by a bag strap. It's worth writing this down to show the furrier.

  3. Don't remove stains yourself

    Don't try to remove makeup, food or street grime at home: solvents and detergents can damage both the hair and the leather side. Show the stain to a fur cleaning specialist before you put the coat away.

    Sample scenario: there is a dark mark on the collar near the fastener, so the coat goes to a specialist first and only then into the closet.

  4. Send out what needs repair

    A small tear, a seam coming apart or a loose loop won't fix itself over the summer and may get worse the next time you wear the coat. In the spring, repairs can be done without rushing, well before the cold sets in.

    Sample scenario: a seam under the arm has opened slightly — it goes to a furrier rather than being stitched together at home with ordinary thread.

  5. Air it out and shake it

    Hang the coat on a hanger in a cool room by an open window, but out of the sun. Gently shake it so the hair fluffs back up, and let it hang like that until evening.

    Sample scenario: the coat hangs in the shade by an open balcony door all day, and in the evening it is shaken out and slipped into its cover.

  6. Put on a fabric cover

    The cover should be made of breathable fabric and roomy enough that the fur isn't crushed inside. Plastic won't do: the air inside doesn't circulate, and moisture can build up.

    Sample scenario: there's no suitable garment bag yet, so an old cotton duvet cover draped loosely over the hanger stands in for one.

  7. Choose a spot and moth protection

    Hang the coat in a cool, dark, dry place where it doesn't touch the clothes next to it. Place a moth repellent nearby, following its instructions: moths damage natural fur and wool.

    Sample scenario: the coat is moved to the end of the closet, away from a warm wall next to the heating pipe, and the moth repellent goes on the shelf above it.

  8. Check the closet during the summer

    A few times during the season, open the cover and look at the fur: check for bald patches, signs of moths or a musty smell. If anything looks off, it's best to contact a specialist right away.

    Sample scenario: in midsummer there are moth holes in a wool sweater hanging nearby — a sign that it's time to take a close look at the fur coat too.

Common mistakes

  • Putting away a coat that hasn't fully dried after the last snow.
  • Storing fur in a plastic bag or a tightly sealed plastic bin.
  • Hanging the coat on a thin hanger or a hook, which stretches it out of shape.
  • Trying to remove stains with solvents, soapy water or other home remedies.
  • Putting off small repairs until fall, when you suddenly need the coat.
  • Squeezing the coat into an overstuffed closet where the hair gets crushed against other clothes.
  • Drying or “freshening up” fur with a hair dryer, an iron or on a radiator.

Other options

  • If closet space is tight, give the coat at least the end of the rod where it can hang freely, and move some other clothes onto shelves for the summer.
  • If your home stays warm and dry all year round, ask a fur specialist which storage spot would suit your coat best.
  • If you have a shearling coat or a faux fur garment, the routine is almost the same: drying, inspection, a breathable cover and a cool place — check the label for any special requirements.
  • If you no longer need the coat, consider having a furrier restyle it or passing it on to someone who can use it.

Quick self-check

  • The fur is completely dry, and the coat hasn't been out in the snow in recent days.
  • The hair, seams, lining, loops and fasteners have been inspected in good light.
  • Stains have been shown to a cleaning specialist rather than treated with home remedies.
  • Minor damage has been repaired by a furrier.
  • The coat has been aired out in the shade and gently shaken.
  • The coat is hanging on a wide hanger in a roomy fabric cover.
  • The storage spot is cool, dark and dry, and the coat doesn't touch other clothes.
  • A moth repellent has been placed according to its instructions, and a few check-ins are planned for the summer.

Article catalogue for English-speaking readers

This is where standalone articles about fur and warm winter clothing will appear: wearing a coat through slushy city winters and long commutes, coping with humid summers, storing warm clothing between seasons, and giving an old coat a second life. We write them specifically for the English version of the guide, and we stay away from topics that call for a specialist's work.

What we're working on

  • Road salt and slush: keeping the hem and cuffs of a winter coat in good shape.
  • Humid summers and fur: why basements and attics are a poor place for storage.
  • Shearling in a mild, rainy winter: dampness, drying and when to see a specialist.
  • Faux fur on a parka hood: how to keep the trim soft and stop it from matting.
  • An inherited fur coat: questions to ask a furrier before deciding to restyle it.

Editorial rules

  • Articles in this catalogue are written separately for each language version and are not translations.
  • Some articles link to third-party websites, including gaming services; we do not control their content, prices or terms.
  • We do not publish advertising for shops, factories or ateliers, rankings, prices or reviews.
  • Questions

    Short answers about everyday wear, care and storage, and about choosing between natural and faux fur.

  • Sections

    A map of the guide: natural fur, faux fur and other warm clothing, care and storage, repairs and a second life.

  • Collections

    Reading paths: the first snow, summer in the closet and an old coat from Grandma's trunk.

  • Reference

    Glossary: guard hair, underfur, leather side, plucked and sheared fur, furrier, restyling, mouton, shearling and faux fur.

Sources

  • Manufacturers' care recommendations for fur garments
  • Reference books on fur and fur garment materials

The advice in this guide is based on general manufacturer recommendations and on reference literature about fur garments, and it is presented in general terms. If the care label on your garment gives its own instructions, they take priority over ours: whenever they differ, go by the label and by the opinion of a specialist who has seen the item in person.