Given the right attention, your fur coat will make you look gorgeous for decades. In fact you'll probably tire of it before it wears out. Today's furs may be trendy but in a few years time you may wish to have yours restyled to keep it up-to-date, so pamper it properly. Unless you have a very delicate fur like Chinchilla, your fur coat is a fairly durable item and simply must be treated with common sense. Furs like cold and hate heat. They don't like friction. They don't like chemicals. They like space. They like to be cleaned often but only by a fur professional.

Give it a good home. Be sure you put it in a coat closet that is not exposed to light (light fades fur) or heat. Check for hot water or steam pipes in the wall. Make sure it has room to breathe and isn't being crushed by other garments.

No wire hangers-EVER!  Hang your fur on a broad-shouldered or padded hanger with a long neck. No wire hangers - think Joan Crawford! . Ideally, ask your furrier for a professional quality hanger.

Don't cover it in a garment bag. Your fur prefers air circulation, to prevent its leather side from drying. If you absolutely must keep it in a bag for a short period of time, be sure it is in a loosely woven cloth bag.

Accessorize wisely. Don't pin jewelry on your fur, and avoid sharp necklaces or bracelets that could snag your fur. Don't use your shoulder bag on a consistent basis, since it will wear the hairs way and give your coat a bald spot. Consider wearing a scarf around your neck to protect the collar, which can be quickly matted.

Chemicals and fur do not mix.  Avoid insecticides, mothproofing and other chemicals around your fur, including perfume or hairspray sprayed directly on your fur. Perfume contains alcohol, which can dry your pelts. Once a perfume gets into your fur - including cedar from a cedar chest - it could be there to stay. Oils in the leather of your fur can become rancid and smell.

Raindrops are falling on my fur!  If your fur gets wet, don't panic. Most furs handle snow and a light rain with ease. Shake it out and hang it to dry in a well-ventilated room. Resist the temptation to speed the drying process by using a hair dryer or hanging it near a heat source. Fur does not like heat. After it dries, shake it again. Do not comb or brush it. If its hairs are a little bristly, simply smooth them with your hand. If your fur has been soaked through however, take it immediately to your fur retailer for proper treatment.

Your fur coat and your car, best friends? Probably not. Furs don't do well with friction or crushing, both of which they experience in your car. Use common sense when sliding into the seat so you're not too hard on your fur. To avoid a telltale flattened bottom print on your fur, don't sit on it if possible, or at least not on the same spot consistently. Shake out any spots like that on your fur when you exit your vehicle. On long drives, take your fur off and wear it over you like a blanket, if you need to keep warm.

Keep your fur in mind when you're on the move. Double-check your insurance policy to make sure you're covered in case of loss at a restaurant or while traveling. At a restaurant, if the cloakroom looks suspicious or overcrowded, don't check your coat. Don't hang it on a hook or coat tree. Fold it neatly on a chair at your table and cover with a napkin. On a plane, the closet for hanging luggage is not the best place for your fur. When you get to your destination, you might find your fur too crushed to wear. Instead, leave it lightly on your lap for a super-luxury, cozy blanket or fold it loosely, lining out and place it at the top of an overhead bin very near you. But find a bin that is already nearly full, and put your coat on top of other luggage. Don't tempt anyone to place luggage on top of your coat.

Reservations for 2!  Always send your coat on summer vacation. Nothing shortens the longevity of your fur like keeping it in your closet during a long, hot summer. Send it to your furrier for professional storage. This is important every year, for a fur, a Shearling, a fur-trimmed garment and even a fur hat or scarf. Unless you don't intend to wear your fur for very long, take it in for cold storage. It's not very expensive and is the single best thing you can do to care for your fur. It definitely is necessary.

Annual check-up!  Have your fur cleaned regularly by a fur specialist, not a dry cleaner. Furs must be cleaned by a special process. Your fur should be cleaned every year, unless it has been worn infrequently. In that case, have it cleaned at least every other year. Besides just cleaning, this conditions your fur; makes it look better and is good for your fur. When you take your fur in for cleaning let your furrier check it for any necessary repairs. Always have repairs done immediately, before little problems turn into big headaches. Cleaning is also necessary for Shearlings and fur-trimmed garments and these usually require special attention. (http://www.furs.com/)

Shearling Care: If your Shearling becomes wet from rain hang it up away from everything else. Do not towel dry it. If it gets a small stain you can remove this by gently using an emery board. Use a protective spray, such as "ITA Protector" brand twice a year to guard against the weather and everyday mishaps.

Cold Storage Tips

Cold storage helps preserve the beauty of fur by keeping the skins from drying out and aging prematurely.

Generally the average price across the US for storing your precious furs is $50. Cleaning your furs is an additional $50. Cleaning of fur trimmed garments or Shearlings cost a little more because it is a more complicated process.

Costs for cleaning and storage at large department store chains are sometimes higher depending on the locations. Independent retailers sometimes charge less, are competitive and offer the advantage of on-site storage. Professional cleaning and storage is also available over the Internet. This is the least expensive.

Cleaning and storage by a department store can cost a little more than an independent because they normally don't do the work on the premises but send it to regional or national centers. Storage may cost $40 to $60 and cleaning another $40 to $60. You may pay more in New York City than in Georgia depending on the local labor.

Never pay more than $75 for storage no matter where you are and how upscale the store is, warns Terry Thornton who is in charge of furs at Neiman Marcus.

Some furriers will offer an additional insurance policy to cover loss or damage during storage.

Peter Duffy Furs in New York City has a fur storage and cleaning business handling around 10,000 coats per year. Storage is $45 including pick-up delivery and minor repairs. Cleaning and glazing is $45. Shearlings and fur trimmed cost a bit more.

York Furriers in the Chicago suburb of Elmhurst charges $44 to store and $40 to clean with more for Shearlings.

In Beverly Hills, California, Somper Furs is also competitive charging $45 for storage. Cleaning ranges from $45 to $60 depending on whether it is a coat or jacket.

Keeping your fur at home is not a wise choice. Furs must be kept at a maintained temperature of 50 degrees F. Also do not store in mothballs or cedar, as these odors will adhere to the fur leaving an unpleasant odor.

Have your fur coat appraised and include this in your homeowner's or renter's insurance. Many insurance policies include fur insurance but require an updated appraisal. Some furriers will do this for you.