The biggest threat to the fur is the wrong storage conditions and, of course, insects that can cause irreparable damage to your favorite fur coat. How to protect the fur from pests, so that the thing for a long time pleased you with the warmth and presentable appearance?
Which insects are dangerous for fur?
Despite the common misconception, damage to a fur product can be caused not only by the familiar to the majority of dress mole, but also by many other insects. Conventionally, all fur pests can be divided into two categories:
- Those who use spun and down fur hair as their nutrition, which is fur coat, wool and furniture moth;
- Those who are attracted to the mezdra of the fur plate are all kinds of skin beetles.
Insects can completely destroy the hair on large surfaces of fur plates, leave visible “bald spots”, make the fur product untid and heavily worn out. Areas damaged by moths are most noticeable on products made of fox fur, astrakhan, sable, as well as coats of transverse mink.
To prevent damage to the fur insects, it is necessary to take care of careful prevention of their appearance: after all, to prevent the appearance and spread of moths is much easier and cheaper than to fight pests and eliminate the effects of their vital functions.
Prevention is the best way to fight moths
To prevent a moth from appearing in the house and to protect fur things from it, it is enough to follow these simple rules:
- Dry regularly, dust and air your favorite fur coat. Fresh air and ultraviolet rays are the worst enemies of the moth;
- Store your furry products in specially designed textile covers. Do not use plastic bags and covers for this purpose – they often form condensate and moisture is fatal for natural furs;
- Systematically treat the wardrobes and cabinets where the fur garments are stored with special insecticide preparations. Modern moth control products are odourless, applied quickly and evenly, do not need to be washed away and last for several months;
- Carefully comb the hair of the coat before storing it. This will allow not only to unravel the dumped areas of long pile, but also mechanically remove the insect larvae.
Act effectively!
Despite the proven efficacy and availability of special moth control products, many furriers continue to operate in the same way as before, using dubious recipes and methods.
Rumours dictate the miraculous properties of dried lavender and orange peels, which should be placed in a cupboard where fur items are stored. However, there is no use other than a pleasant aroma – essential oils have no effect on larvae or adult butterflies. Back in the last century, wrapping fur garments in thick newspapers was a popular way of fighting moths. This was done so that the lead contained in the ink in the printing press could affect the larvae of the moths and destroy insects. However, lead has long been unused in modern printing, and there is no need to turn your cabinet into a waste paper storage facility.
It is also believed that professional cleaning can protect your fur from insect infestation. To some extent this is true – during cleaning, possible contaminants that may attract moths are removed. And do not try to clean the fur at home – in most cases, it only aggravates the problem, and not completely removed cleaning compositions and moisture can become a risk factor, and cause an even greater spread of moths.
These simple but effective measures will help to preserve the presentable appearance of your favorite fur coat for a long time, and will protect it from insects.