I recently purchased a very nice antique sporran with a silver cantle and silver balls on the tassles. These are probably plated only, I am guessing. The fur face is a very light color, and some of the tarnish from the balls has left dark streaks on it. How does one clean tarnish from fur without damaging the fur and leather bits? I'm not sure what kind of fur, but I'm guessing it may be seal, if that matters.

My first impulse would be to bring it to a fur specialist and see what they say about it: many furriers will offer fur cleaning services through their storefront, and there are a few dry cleaners around as well who advertise as “leather and fur specialists”. A furrier in particular will have experience with food/makeup/other types of stains in fur.

If you’re feeling adventurous and want to save money, you can try this techniques here, and alternate with a rubbing alcohol solution and home made fur conditioner.

http://www.ebay.com/gds/Top-5-Ways-t...8706294/g.html

The prudent approach would be to find a section of fur that’s invisible (perhaps the rear side of the panel’s overhang, or the underside of a fur gusset), and determine what adverse reaction if any the material might have to the alcohol mixture followed by the conditioner. Then if a bad outcomes seems likely you can just bring it to the pros.

Any pictures of this sporran?

I've already pulled off all the silver bits for cleaning, but here is what it looked like when I bought it.

Attachment 33297

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wareyin

I've already pulled off all the silver bits for cleaning, but here is what it looked like when I bought it.

Attachment 33297

---

Looks great! My suggestion still stands, it just depends on how proactive you want to be personally for the project.

I use only one type of silver cleaner these days, that being an unflavored toothpaste. Any residue washes out with cold water and dried by hand. The products that my wife uses (Tarn-X) is an acid wash and leaves a chemical film on the metal that will be harder to remove from fabric and fur. I did find through experiments, of similar staining on her wool coat, that a mild hair shampoo and cold water soak will take out the discoloring.

I can't say this will work on your sporran (which is beautiful) but I would hope so. I expect a furrier will use a chemical that won't destroy the follicles of the fur during the cleaning process. Good luck.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tarheel

I use only one type of silver cleaner these days, that being an unflavored toothpaste. Any residue washes out with cold water and dried by hand. The products that my wife uses (Tarn-X) is an acid wash and leaves a chemical film on the metal that will be harder to remove from fabric and fur. I did find through experiments, of similar staining on her wool coat, that a mild hair shampoo and cold water soak will take out the discoloring.

I can't say this will work on your sporran (which is beautiful) but I would hope so. I expect a furrier will use a chemical that won't destroy the follicles of the fur during the cleaning process. Good luck.

---

Do you use toothpaste on silver plated items, or only solid silver? I would be worried that the abrasives would be harmful to silver plated things.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wareyin

Do you use toothpaste on silver plated items, or only solid silver? I would be worried that the abrasives would be harmful to silver plated things.

---

All my silver pieces were made before 1960 and are solid (Sterling).

I also would worry about wearing a plated finish off with abrasive polishing. I would consider the chemical washes and a wash that neutralizes the finish afterward. It is possible to apply a clear coat after an acceptable shine is achieved. That requires removing all metal from the sporran.

I have used a little baby shampoo with cold water and very gentle rubbing without damaging this kind of fur. However, as others have suggested, try this on an invisible area first ... under the cantle if you have removed it.