Extending the life of a fur coat

The best way to store your fur coat is in a cool place or fur closet.

Having a cooled fur closet is essential to maintain the quality of your fur coat. Exposure to heat can dry out leather and fur, causing irreparable damage and significantly shortening the life of the coat. To prevent this, it is essential to store your fur coat in a cool place at all times.

In a residential environment, the north side of the house generally offers the coolest conditions, making it an ideal fur closet space. A basement can serve as a suitable storage space due to its naturally lower temperatures. It is also important to ensure that the cellar is not damp, as moisture is just as damaging as heat.

Maintaining the natural oils and shine of a fur coat

To ensure the quality of your fur coat, it is crucial to pay attention to the fur closet temperature. The lower the temperature, the better your fur coat will retain its shine and natural oils. Ideally, the temperature should remain between 2 and 12 degrees Celsius (35 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit). These cool conditions are especially important during the warm summer months, when ambient temperatures can rise significantly. During this period, it is essential to take extra precautions, such as using air conditioning or considering special fur closet solutions, such as a refrigerated fur closet unit specifically designed for fur.

By storing your fur coat in the right conditions, you will not only protect the natural oils and shine of the fur, but you will also help to extend the life of the garment. This means that your fur coat will not only retain its luxurious appearance, but will also last for many years, thus optimally protecting your investment in this precious garment. Following these guidelines carefully will ensure that your fur coat always looks its best and retains its original charm.

Maintaining the suppleness of a fur coat

When you touch the fur of a fur coat, you immediately feel the suppleness of the leather, which is a sign of good quality and care. However, if a fur coat is not stored properly in a fur closet, the leather can feel hard and stiff after a while. This is an indication that the fur coat has not been stored properly and that the leather is starting to deteriorate, which negatively affects the lifespan and comfort of your fur coat.

Fur coats that have not been worn for a long time can sometimes feel a bit stiffer. This is not necessarily a sign of permanent damage, but it does indicate that it is time to take action. A professional cleaning can work wonders; specialist companies can clean and treat the fur, which will restore its original suppleness. These cleaning processes restore the natural oils of the leather, making it soft and flexible again.

To maintain the suppleness of your fur coat, it is essential to store it at a temperature between 2 and 12 degrees Celsius (35 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit). In addition to temperature, humidity also plays a crucial role. Air that is too dry can cause the leather to dry out and become stiff, while an environment that is too humid can cause mold to form. Finding the right balance of a fur closet condition, with controlled temperature and humidity, is the key to maintaining the quality and suppleness of your fur coat for the long term.

Following these guidelines will ensure that your fur coat not only looks good, but also remains comfortable to wear, even after years of use.

Cracks in the fur coat leather: what can you do?

Keeping the leather of a fur coat in good condition is very important for the longevity and appearance of the garment. Leather is a part of a fur coat and is sensitive to changes in the environment. If the coat is stored too warm, this can lead to the leather drying out. Dried out leather loses its flexibility and can eventually develop small cracks. These cracks are often difficult to notice, but cause serious damage to the fur coat.

A simple way to check if the leather of your fur coat has cracks is to gently blow on the fur. This causes the hairs to part, making the leather visible. If you notice small cracks during this inspection, this is a clear sign that the leather is starting to deteriorate. This can indicate that the fur coat has reached the end of its natural life, especially if timely measures are not taken to prevent further damage.

Cracking is often an irreversible process, which means prevention is the best approach. To prevent this, it is essential to always store your fur coat under the right conditions in a fur closet. As mentioned earlier, the fur closet temperature should be between 2 and 12 degrees Celsius (35 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit). This cool and controlled environment helps to keep the leather supple and prevents it from drying out, which reduces the risk of cracking.

It is also important to properly regulate the humidity in the fur closet. Air that is too dry can further dry out the leather, while an environment that is too humid can lead to mold and other problems. A well-balanced fur closet not only helps to prevent cracking, but also extends the overall life of your fur coat, allowing you to enjoy it for longer.

If you notice that the leather is already showing cracks, it is advisable to consult a specialist as soon as possible. They can assess to what extent the coat can still be saved and what steps you can take to limit further damage.

The biggest danger to a fur coat are moths

Warm temperatures speed up the life cycle of moths, while cold temperatures slow it down.

Temperature: The ideal temperature for moths to survive is between 20-30°C. This ensures optimal growth and reproduction.

Humidity: High humidity can promote the growth of moth larvae, while low humidity can slow down their development.

Food availability: The more fibre available for larvae to feed on, the faster they can grow and pupate.

Carefully remember these elements and you can better understand the life cycle of moths in your clothes and take appropriate measures to avoid and control them.

An Fur closet undoubtedly affects the reproduction and survival rates of moths. The optimal conditions for moths are an environment with a relative humidity of around 70-80% and a temperature between 20-30°C ensures optimal growth and reproduction.

It is also important to recognise the markings of moths in your clothing to prevent worse damage. If you see holes in your clothes that is a sign that there are moths in your clothes. Small, irregular holes in garments, especially in dark and quiet places in your wardrobe, are a clear sign that moth larvae are feeding on the fibres.

Larvae and pupae: you can see the larvae with the naked eye, they are small white or cream-coloured worms and are usually 1-2 cm long. The cocoons or pupae are silky tubes or lint attached to the fibres.

Adult moths: the presence of adult moths in your home, especially near your wardrobe, is a clear signal. Clothes moths are mainly moths and prefer dark spaces. They are long and narrow about 1 cm long, and light yellow or beige in colour. A common food moth is wider.

Moth droppings: small, dark grains resembling sand or fine dust on your clothes or in your closet may be droppings of moth larvae.

Silky webs: moth larvae can leave silky threads or webs on or between garments.

Damaged seams or hems: moth larvae often hide in seams, hems or folds of clothes and feed in them. Therefore, check these areas carefully.

Schedule a six-monthly cleaning for your fur coat.

Cleaning a fur coat is not that expensive and the look, feel and shine of the fur can improve tremendously with a professional cleaning. Also, the fur coat will usually become much smoother. Moreover, cleaning a fur coat is not harmful to the fur itself, if the leather is still in good condition. After all, fur is cleaned without chemical products. Therefore, visit a fur shop for a professional cleaning.

Is an air conditioner enough to store a fur coat?

While an air conditioner can help lower the temperature in a room, it is often not enough to maintain the optimal cold temperature needed to store a fur coat. While an air conditioner can cool the environment, it is difficult to maintain a constant temperature of 2 to 12 degrees Celsius, especially during the hot summer months.

Maintaining the natural oils and sheen of a fur coat requires a more controlled fur closet, such as a dedicated cold room. These areas are designed to maintain a stable low temperature, which is essential to prevent damage to the fur.

An air conditioner not only lowers the temperature, it also removes moisture from the air. This can lead to an environment that is too dry, which can be detrimental to a fur coat. Fur needs a certain level of humidity to retain the natural oils that keep it soft and shiny. Air that is too dry can cause the coat to dry out, making it stiff, brittle and eventually damaged.

It is therefore important to monitor the humidity in the room where the fur coat is stored. The ideal relative humidity for storing furs is between 30% and 80%. For optimum conditions, contacting a fur closet specialist that can precisely regulate both temperature and humidity is the best choice.

If you do not have access to such a room, consider storing your fur coat in a professional fur closet. Professional fur closets maintain the correct temperature and humidity levels, which are essential for the long-term protection of your garment. These fur closets are designed to provide the perfect balance of coolness and humidity, allowing the fur to retain its natural properties and protect it from drying out and other damage.