A thrifted faux fur coat can often be cleaned at home, but only if the care label and construction look sturdy enough for moisture. Check the lining, seams, backing, trim, and any glued details before you do anything else. If the coat has fragile trim, a brittle backing, leather or suede, or a label that clearly rules out wet cleaning, send it to a professional cleaner instead of forcing it at home.
Start here: can this coat be cleaned at home?
Read the garment label first, because it sets the ceiling for what the coat can tolerate. If the label says dry clean only, treat that as the safest default unless the construction is unusually simple and you are willing to accept the risk of trying a different method.
Then inspect the coat closely:
- Lining: look for tears, loose hems, stains, and areas that may bleed when damp.
- Seams: tug gently at stress points, especially under the arms, along the shoulders, and around pockets.
- Backing: part the pile and check whether the base fabric feels soft and flexible or stiff, cracked, or sticky.
- Trim: identify faux fur trim separately from leather, suede, wool, velvet, or knit sections.
- Glued details: beads, rhinestones, patches, appliqués, and decorative tape can loosen in water.
The backing matters as much as the pile. If it sheds flakes, cracks, or feels like old rubber, home washing is a bad bet. Mixed materials are another warning sign, because they can shrink, bleed, or distort at different rates.
What you need, and what to skip
You do not need many products to clean faux fur safely. A short, gentle list is usually enough.
Use:
- Mild detergent made for delicate laundry
- A clean tub or basin
- Several clean towels
- A soft cloth or sponge for spot cleaning
- A wide-tooth comb or a soft brush, including a pet slicker brush if the coat tolerates it, for fluffing after drying
- Cool or lukewarm water
Skip:
- Bleach
- Fabric softener
- Hot water
- Steam, hair dryers, radiators, and direct sun for drying
- Harsh stain removers unless both the coat label and the product label say they are safe for the fabric and trim
- Anything that depends on vigorous scrubbing
A mesh laundry bag can help only if machine washing is already allowed by the label and the coat’s construction. It is not a fix for fragile trim or weak backing.
Choose your cleaning path
Pick the least aggressive method that matches the coat’s condition.
If the coat is mostly clean, start with spot cleaning. That handles dust, small marks, and light odor without soaking the backing.
If the label allows wet cleaning and the coat is fully synthetic, with no fragile trim or weak backing, hand washing gives you more control than a machine.
If the coat has delicate trim, glued details, severe odor, heavy staining, a brittle backing, or leather or suede parts, send it to a professional cleaner.
Machine washing is only worth considering when the label allows it and the coat is simple, sturdy, and mostly synthetic. Even then, use the gentlest cycle available and a mesh laundry bag. If the coat is bulky, heavily trimmed, or already fragile, do not risk it. If the label says dry clean only and the construction looks delicate, that is another reason to stop.
When in doubt, choose spot cleaning first. It is the safest way to learn how the coat reacts before you commit to more water.
How to spot clean dirt, spots, and odor
Spot cleaning is the safest first move for a thrifted faux fur coat. Work in small areas, keep moisture light, and test in a hidden spot first so you do not flatten the pile or leave rings.
- Test a hidden area.
Dampen a cloth with water and a drop of mild detergent, then press it on an inside seam or hem. Blot it dry and wait for the area to dry. If the color shifts, the backing stiffens, or the pile clumps, stop.
- Lift loose dirt first.
Brush the surface gently in the direction the fur lies. This removes dust before you add moisture.
- Dab, do not soak.
Use a barely damp cloth or sponge with a tiny amount of diluted detergent. Press the spot lightly, then blot with a clean dry towel. Repeat with clean cloth sections so you do not spread the stain.
- Tackle odor in the lining and surface.
For a mild musty smell, air the coat in a dry room with good airflow, then brush it again. If the odor seems trapped in the lining, clean the lining lightly instead of soaking the pile. For stubborn odor, do not mask it with perfume or heavy sprays; that usually just adds another layer to remove later.
- Dry the spot flat.
Blot away as much moisture as you can with a towel and let the area air-dry before brushing again.
If the stain stays after a careful second pass, stop. Scrubbing harder usually makes faux fur look worse, not cleaner.
How to hand wash a faux fur coat safely
Hand washing works only for coats that look sturdy enough to tolerate water. Keep the motion slow and the soak short, because faux fur can feel fine at first and then turn gummy or stringy if it gets too wet or too much handling.
- Fill a clean tub with cool or lukewarm water.
Add a small amount of mild detergent and swish it until it is evenly mixed.
- Submerge the coat gently.
Press it under the water without twisting or scrubbing. Let it soak briefly so the water reaches the lining and backing.
- Move it through the water lightly.
Use your hands to press and lift the coat a few times. Do not wring it, knead it, or rub the pile against itself.
- Drain and rinse.
Let the soapy water out, then refill with clean water and press the coat through the rinse until the water runs clear. Repeat if needed.
- Support the coat while wet.
Lift it with both hands and let the water drip out. Never twist it to force water out, because that can stretch the backing and crush the pile.
If the backing starts to ripple, the lining pulls away, or the coat sheds heavily in the wash, the method was too aggressive. Stop and move to drying with as little handling as possible.
How to dry it without matting the pile
Drying faux fur the right way matters as much as washing it. If you rush this part, the backing can warp and the fibers can clump into hard sections.
- Remove extra water with towels.
Lay the coat on a clean towel, then roll it up gently or press another towel on top. Blot, do not squeeze.
- Reshape the coat.
Smooth the collar, sleeves, and hem back into place while the coat is still damp.
- Dry it flat or fully supported.
Lay it on a dry towel or on a wide, well-supported surface so the weight does not stretch the shoulders. If you hang it, use a broad, padded hanger only if the label and construction can handle it.
- Keep heat away.
Let it air-dry in a room with good airflow. No radiator, no dryer, and no direct heat source.
- Turn and replace towels as needed.
If the towel underneath becomes damp, swap it for a dry one so moisture does not stay trapped in the backing.
A coat is not ready just because the surface feels dry. The lining and backing can hold moisture longer than the pile does, so check the inside before you wear it again.
Fluff, smooth, and fix common problems
Once the coat is fully dry, restore the nap by brushing it gently in small sections. A wide-tooth comb or a pet slicker brush works if you use light strokes and keep them moving in the direction of the pile.
If the coat looks flat, brush it first and then shake it out gently. For a few matted spots, finger-separate the fibers and brush from the ends upward. Do not pull hard at knots, because that can break the fibers or loosen the backing.
For shedding, check whether the coat is actually loose from age or whether you are seeing leftover lint from the cleaning process. Light shedding can happen with thrifted faux fur, but heavy shedding after drying suggests the backing may be failing.
If odor remains, air the coat again in a dry, ventilated space and brush the lining as well as the outside. A stubborn musty smell often lives in the lining or backing, not just the pile.
If a stain still shows after a careful spot-cleaning pass, do not keep scrubbing. A second gentle pass is reasonable; aggressive repeat work is not. If the nap stays flat after brushing, or the fibers keep clumping, that is a sign the coat needs a professional cleaner rather than more water at home.
When to stop and hand it to a pro
Stop at home and take the coat to a professional cleaner if you see any of these signs:
- Leather or suede trim
- Glued embellishments that may loosen in water
- A brittle, cracked, or sticky backing
- Open seams or peeling lining
- Heavy staining from oil, makeup, ink, or unknown residue
- A musty odor that stays after drying and airing
- Large areas of matting or shedding
- A care label that says dry clean only and a construction that looks fragile
The right cleaner can sometimes rescue a thrifted coat that home care would damage. If the coat already looks weak, the safer win is keeping it wearable rather than pushing for a full wash at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a faux fur coat in the washing machine?
Only if the care label allows it and the coat has simple, sturdy construction. Even then, a mesh laundry bag, cool water, and the gentlest cycle are the least risky setup. If the coat has trim, glued details, or a fragile backing, hand cleaning or professional care is safer.
How do I get rid of a musty smell in a thrifted faux fur coat?
Start with airflow, gentle brushing, and targeted cleaning of the lining and spot areas. A musty smell often sits in the backing or lining, not just the pile. If the odor remains after the coat fully dries, stop and use a cleaner rather than masking it.