OT - washing faux fur?

[lindsmom]

My name is lindsmom and I'm completely incompetent at laundry. So my daughter has this favorite sweatshirt with faux fir trim around the hood (and it's lined with it, but I'm not as concerned with that). She had a sweater with similar trim a while back, and she looked so cute in it. Until I washed it. Or dried it. It came out just like uck, fluff but not fluffy. I guess it was just matted fur. Ugh.

So I'm asking anyone out there who has washed their items with this furry trim, do you just line dry it to prevent matting? Or what should I do? I hate to get it dry cleaned, as it only cost like $10. But she loves it, so should I go that way instead?

TIA!

 

[WDWAtLast]

We have hoodies with faux fur - I had to replace one after drying it! It is OK to wash in cold, but it must be hung to dry. The heat from the dryer melts the fur causing it to matt together.

 

[poohfriend77]

Not sure if this is exactly the same thing, but I used to work in a costume rental shop that had lots of "furry" costumes. We'd wash in cold and hang dry. Then we'd brush them with a little brush with very stiff (I think they were metal/wire, but it was a long time ago) bristles. I'm pretty sure it was a dog brush or something. Anyway, the brushing would "fluff" the fur back up and make it look good as new. I know that's probably not necessary for a little bit of trim on the hood, but it might be helpful if someone has a fur collar or something.

 

[trustknoone]

If it were me I'd just take it to the cleaners and see if they think they can do it without messing it up. While I don't know your personal finances you said this was her favorite shirt then it seems worth the expense unless it really will bust the budget. If it's a budget buster I would wash it in cold on hand wash or by hand and lay flat to dry and hope for the best.

 

[3boymthr]

My only suggestion - don't use fabric softner. It's designed to make fibers lay flat.

 

[disneybridetobe]

DD and I have a few furry hoodies. I wash in cold (regular cycle, I don't bother with gentle) and hang them dry. Once they're dry I just "fluff" them up with a hairbrush.

 

[lindsmom]

Thanks everyone for the replies! We'll see what happens (fingers crossed)!