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i find your post very informative. I am looking on the inet for info on how to unshrink or strech fox fur/skin.
I bought my first fox fur coat online. It is second hand vintage. For hygienic reasons, I washed the coat manually by hands by soaking it for a day in the bathtub with tap water and mild laundry soalp. I rinsed it, and with the help of my hubby wrung it to remove excess water and then hanged outside to dry.
When it was dry and i tried to put it on, to my horror it has shrank. My arms could not anymore fit in the sleeves area.
How can i "unshrink" or strecth the fox fur. And also how to make it softer. Can I use fabric softener? I could not find any info on the net till I came across your site.
Put some fabric softener in water with your coat. Soak it until the hide is soft and pliable. Let it drip dry. Don't put in the sun. As it's drying, try to gently pull and stretch the leather. You may get some of your size back doing it this way. But, you have to continuously pull and stretch while it's drying... every couple of hours. You never really want to wash leather like you did. You can maybe lightly sponge clean it, but, not completely submerge it. As you found out, leather really shrinks and hardens when drying after it's been wet. I don't know for sure if this will work for you, but, it is the only thing I could think of. Good luck. - Rick
i find your post very informative. I am looking on the inet for info on how to unshrink or strech fox fur/skin.
ReplyDeleteI bought my first fox fur coat online. It is second hand vintage. For hygienic reasons, I washed the coat manually by hands by soaking it for a day in the bathtub with tap water and mild laundry soalp. I rinsed it, and with the help of my hubby wrung it to remove excess water and then hanged outside to dry.
When it was dry and i tried to put it on, to my horror it has shrank. My arms could not anymore fit in the sleeves area.
How can i "unshrink" or strecth the fox fur. And also how to make it softer. Can I use fabric softener? I could not find any info on the net till I came across your site.
thanks for any info
Dear Anonymous:
ReplyDeletePut some fabric softener in water with your coat. Soak it until the hide is soft and pliable. Let it drip dry. Don't put in the sun. As it's drying, try to gently pull and stretch the leather. You may get some of your size back doing it this way. But, you have to continuously pull and stretch while it's drying... every couple of hours. You never really want to wash leather like you did. You can maybe lightly sponge clean it, but, not completely submerge it. As you found out, leather really shrinks and hardens when drying after it's been wet. I don't know for sure if this will work for you, but, it is the only thing I could think of. Good luck. - Rick