How to Care for Real Fur: Blankets, Coats & More

A genuine fur piece — whether it's a fox fur blanket, a mink coat, a rabbit fur jacket, or a small accessory — is an investment that rewards you for decades when cared for properly. At Tati Furs in Siatista, Greece, we've been crafting handmade fur products for generations, and we know that the difference between a fur piece that lasts 10 years and one that lasts 40 often comes down to care.

This guide covers fur care tips for every type of real fur product: how to handle it daily, how to clean it, and how to store it correctly through every season.

Why Real Fur Needs Special Care

Real fur is a natural material with a unique biological structure — a dense underfur for insulation layered beneath longer, lustrous guard hairs, all anchored to a natural leather hide. Unlike synthetic textiles, it responds to heat, moisture, light, and pressure in ways that require specific handling.

The principles, however, are simple: keep fur cool, keep it clean, and give it room to breathe. Apply those three rules consistently and your fur piece will remain as beautiful decades from now as the day you bought it.

General Fur Care Tips for All Products

These rules apply whether you own a fur blanket, a full-length mink coat, or a small fur collar.

Air It Regularly

Every fur piece benefits from being aired in a cool, shaded spot for 30 to 60 minutes every few weeks. This refreshes the fibers, removes trapped moisture, and prevents odor. Never air fur in direct sunlight — UV exposure degrades the natural proteins in the fur and causes colors to fade irreversibly.

A shaded balcony or a well-ventilated room is ideal.

Shake Out — Don't Beat

Give blankets and larger pieces a gentle shake to remove dust and restore the natural lie of the fur. Never beat or aggressively shake a fur garment — this can stress the seams and damage the hide.

 

Brush with Care

Use a soft-bristle fur brush or wide-tooth fur comb to restore flattened or slightly matted fur. Always brush in the direction of the fur, using light strokes. Never brush against the grain or use fine-toothed plastic brushes, which tear guard hairs. This applies to blankets, coats, and accessories alike.

Keep Away from Heat

Heat is the single biggest enemy of real fur. Radiators, fireplaces, car heating vents, hair dryers, and sunny windowsills all dry out the leather hide, causing it to crack and become brittle — damage that cannot be reversed. Keep all fur products away from direct heat sources at all times.

Caring for Fur Blankets

A fur blanket experiences different wear patterns than a garment — it's laid flat, sat on, and regularly compressed under body weight. This means airings are especially important to restore the natural volume and prevent matting.

• Shake and air every 2–3 weeks during active use
• Rotate which side faces up to distribute wear evenly
• Spot clean spills immediately by blotting — never rubbing — with a lightly damp cloth
• Lay flat or loosely folded when not in use; never leave heavy objects resting on top of it

Caring for Fur Coats and Jackets

A mink coat, fox fur jacket, or any fur outerwear requires attention to how it's worn, hung, and stored.

Hanging

Always hang fur coats and jackets on a wide, padded hanger — never a thin wire hanger, which creates pressure points that permanently distort the shoulders. The hanger should be broad enough to support the full width of the shoulders without bunching.

Give the coat space in your wardrobe. Fur compressed between other garments will mat and lose its shape. If possible, dedicate a section of the wardrobe to your fur pieces with room on either side.

Wet Weather

If your fur coat gets wet in rain or snow, shake it gently and hang it in a well-ventilated area at room temperature to dry naturally. Never use a hair dryer or place it near a radiator. Once dry, give it a gentle shake and it should return to its natural state.

Do not wear fur in heavy rain if avoidable — prolonged saturation is harder on the hide than a light shower.

Perfume and Chemicals

Spray perfume, hairspray, and deodorant before putting on your fur coat, never after. These products contain alcohol and chemicals that damage fur fibers and dry out the hide over time. The same applies to any fur accessory worn close to the neck or face.

Explore our mink coat collection for pieces built to last a lifetime with proper care.

Caring for Fur Accessories

Fur scarves, collars, cuffs, pompoms, and trim pieces are small but equally valuable. Because they're handled frequently and worn close to the skin, they're exposed to more oils, sweat, and friction than larger pieces.

• Store flat or loosely rolled in a breathable cotton pouch — never stuffed into a bag or pocket
• Air regularly, especially after extended wear
• Keep away from jewelry clasps and rough surfaces that can snag guard hairs
• Spot clean as needed with a barely damp cloth; allow to air dry fully before storing

How to Clean Real Fur

Spot Cleaning at Home

For small stains on any fur product, act quickly. Blot the area gently with a clean, lightly damp cloth. Do not rub, do not use soap or detergent, and do not soak the area. Allow it to air dry naturally at room temperature.

Professional Cleaning

All real fur products — blankets, coats, jackets, and accessories — should be professionally cleaned by a furrier or specialist dry cleaner with specific fur experience. Standard dry cleaning processes are not suitable for fur and can cause serious damage.

How often:

• Fur coats and jackets in regular use: once per year
• Fur blankets in regular use: once per year
• Occasional-use pieces: every two years
• Accessories: as needed, based on wear

What to Never Do

• Never machine wash any real fur product
• Never tumble dry
• Never use a hair dryer or iron
• Never apply household detergents or stain removers
• Never use mothballs — they damage fibers and leave a persistent odor
• Never dry clean at a standard cleaner without confirmed fur experience

 

Storing Real Fur Correctly

The Right Conditions

The ideal storage environment for any real fur product is cool, dark, and slightly humid: around 7°C–10°C (45°F–50°F) with 45–55% relative humidity. These conditions keep the hide supple and the fibers healthy through the off-season.

For high-value pieces such as full-length mink coats, professional cold storage offered by furriers is the best option during summer months.

Bags and Covers

Always use a breathable fabric bag — cotton or muslin — to protect fur during storage. Never use plastic bags or airtight containers, which trap moisture and create conditions for mildew and fiber damage.

• For blankets: fold loosely and place in a cotton storage bag. Never vacuum-pack.
• For coats: use a full-length breathable garment bag on a wide hanger.
• For accessories: store flat in a cotton pouch or small fabric bag.

Pest Deterrence

Skip mothballs entirely. Use lavender sachets instead — they deter moths naturally without the chemical damage that mothballs cause to fur fibers.

Seasonal Transitions

Putting Fur Away for Summer

Before storing any fur piece at the end of the season:

• Air thoroughly in a cool, shaded spot
• Inspect carefully for stains, shedding, or any damage
• Have it professionally cleaned if it's been in heavy use
• Store in the correct bag or cover, in a cool and dark location

Bringing Fur Back Out

At the start of the season, remove your fur from storage and let it breathe for at least an hour before use. If it looks flat, hang a fur coat in a steamy bathroom for 10–15 minutes to help the fibers relax. For blankets, a gentle shake and a short airing will restore their natural volume.

When to See a Professional Furrier

Contact a specialist if you notice:

• Persistent or worsening shedding
• Stiffness, cracking, or flaking of the hide
• Matting that doesn't respond to brushing
• Tears, thin patches, or visible pelt damage
• Odor that doesn't clear with airing

Most damage is repairable when caught early. Our artisans at Tati Furs in Siatista have decades of experience in fur repair and restoration across all product types. Don't hesitate to get in touch.

Browse our full collection of handmade genuine fur products — from fox fur blankets to fox coats — each crafted to last generations with the right care.