Alright, for those of you that use a washing machine to wash fur, how does that go? I want to stray away from borax as its just messy and can never seem to get it all out. I don't have a special washing machine but rather run some when my wife isn't around. What everyone's process? I think I would skin, flesh, wash, board. My concern is will I make the washing machine stink like coyote? 80% of what I catch is coyote and the rest fox as far as putting up.

I just use 5 gallon pails the #1 thing to avoid it hot water that hair will come out in clumps I washed a coon once in too warm of water ruined it, I then snap the water out and hang the pelt in the wind on a yard light pole to dry if wet outside in the shed with fans blowing on it.

Does anyone use the dryer on tumble mode?

I use a Rubbermaid mop bucket with a wringer, for coyote fur the down wringer works a little better than the side wringer

I use a washing machine and like it. But I wouldn't use the same machine you wash your clothes in.

I wash coyote and coons and I use our home machine have 0 problems. Now if a animal is a mudball I will hit it with the garden hose. On coon I will get the big blobs of fat off but thats about all I do to them. As for any mess in the washer maybe a few small hair balls but thats about it. Hang them over night with a fan to dry and comb the burrs out before fleshing
Our dog blanket leaves way more hair in the washer than any of the critters.
And I just run them through a rinse cycle I don't add anything to the water
J

I have a deep sink in my cellar and use just cold water to wash the furs and then hang over night to dry out and then work on the skin and then board.

You need a tumbler and some corn cob grit.

My Maytag tumbler! LOL The heat element was out (did not need it was gas anyways) 110 plug in. Have yet to use it I should give it a go for all or the room it takes up in the shop the thing us over 6 1/2 feet tall! LOL

Thought about doing this a couple of years ago but never ended up with it. Does this really add enough value to the fur to make it worth the extra time? I will always hose off the muddy ones or at least give them a good bath in the creek, but that's about as far as I go. The wet ones always get dried and brushed prior to fleshing.

You have the most understanding wife ever! Good job!

Awesome idea!

There is no reason to wash every piece of fur you catch. That coming from one who did exactly that! Muddy critters get washed. Bazookaed critters get washed. That is all. It is a waste of time, unless they are covered in soaked in blood or mud. You can comb them out and will in the long run, grade better than washing, as I feel that washing takes too much fur out. Another thing is washing too long. A fine furred yote , if washed for more than a few minutes, can tangle the fur together, and will do more harm than good. Never wash a coon, fox or cat. If they have a bloody spot, just spot wash them, don't submerge the whole skin. They are too hard to get dry, once skinned, and it is easy to get taint in those skins. One fur I always wash is badger. You can help a badger tremendously, if done right.

Dry and comb out. Very few hides need washing.

I have an old wringer washer that I use. Usually only wash coyotes, will wash coons if real muddy. I use cold water with a little Woolite. I also do the badgers as they are normally real dirty. Just my opinion, I think it helps the appearance of any fur out critter. Will also make them smell a little better. Might be wasting my time, but I enjoy making that hide look as good as possible.

This is all you need to know

Unless the pelt is extra dirty, muddy or bloody, your wasting your time doing it that could be better spent working on another one. Much better to brush or rinse the animal before breaking it open to do so.

Excessive water use is not good for pelts, it can cause them to mold, mildew and continue to grow bad bacteria while drying. Even if you feel they are dry, you have provided the catalyst for growth !

All you are doing is really satisfying your own need for prepping them, if they go to a professional auction they are drummed any way, and all your work has been for nothing anyway, plus your charged for it !

I agree with Grit! Most of it is a waste of time. I ment to say in my above post that muddy critters get washed with a hose and hung on the carcass to dry. Keep as much water from the skin side as possible.

Yep if I have to wash one I did something or it's wet out! A drain tub with a screen (oven rack) saves a lot of washing.

Only wash what needs washed (muddy).

Shot coyotes get spot washed by hand and only the bloody spots.


You guys that are using your home machine must not wash many critters!