How to Clean a Genuine Sheepskin Rug

A used dirty and matted sheepskin can be transformed into a clean and fluffy one. A new sheepskin with chemical odor or a clean sheepskin with the unwanted pet odor can be made perfectly tolerable. The cost to have professionally cleaned sheepskin products sometimes does not make financial sense as the cleaning price may come close to the price of a new product. Moreover, dry cleaning often leaves chemical residue on your natural product. However, it is not recommended to dry clean the dyed skins due to the risk that washing will remove the coloring.

As always, consult first the manufacturer’s product care instructions if they are available.

When washing your sheepskin keep in mind the following points:

1. Very old leather may be too fragile for washing. For example, it is risky to wash the sheepskins that are 10 years old or older. They may crack or break during the wash but some people reported that they successfully washed 30 year old sheepskin rugs. If the skin tears, put it back into shape, let it dry and later stitch the tear.

2. Use the detergent specially formulated for leather.

3. Avoid intense agitation. Agitation is defined as any motion (besides spinning) that flips or rotates the product.

4. Do not expose the sheepskin to a hot air flow.

You can hand wash or machine wash a sheepskin. Large sheepskins should be washed in a bathtub or big commercial washing machines. Before washing the sheepskin, shake it outside to remove the dust, particles of dirt and other loose materials stuck in the wool. Then comb it gently with a special sheepskin carding brush or a pet brush. Combing will accomplish two things – it will get out all the tangles to avoid wool matting during the wash and will remove dirt, debris and hardened mud stuck to the fur. Some wool will come out during the brushing process but do not worry about it. That is normal. If your sheepskin rug is big and you cannot take it outside to shake, use a vacuum cleaner but never use a brush roll. Brush roll will may pull the the fur from the skin and cause a permanent damage.

Use proper detergent

Use a special woolskin shampoo that is non-alkaline, non-ionic and does not contain biological enzymes. Do NOT use Woolite, regular laundry detergents, fabric softener or bleach. Woolite is designed for wool and is not safe for leather. If you use the wrong detergent, the sheepskin might shrink, mat or become hard and stiff. Whether you are using a washing machine or hand washing, remember that the sheepskin cannot be agitated too much. Intense motions will make it felt. Felting is irreversible.

Our research shows that customers had good results washing sheepskin products with biodegradable plant based detergents – “Kookaburra Wash”, “Outback Gold Wool Wash” and “Lambland Sheepskin Shampoo”. You can also try “Mattes Liquid Melp Sheepskin Cleaner”. They are suitable not only for sheepskin rugs but also for other products made out of leather such as shearling slippers or shearling insoles, leather gloves, shearling coats, car seat covers, lambskin mattress toppers, dog beds, saddle pads, shearling lined riding pants, etc. They work well on stains, including the urine stains. Kookaburra markets its wash as being “gentle on fibers, tough on stains and odors.” These products are pretty cost effective and will last for a while as you need to use only a small amount. Some customers complained about the overpowering aroma of these products while the others found it to be pleasant. The manufacturers state that their products are hypoallergenic for those with detergent sensitivity. Some customers successfully used hair shampoo to wash their sheepskin pelts.

Keep in mind that when dealing with stains, the time is of the essence. The longer you let the stain sit, the harder it will be to take it out. Try to spring into action as soon as possible after you notice baby’s diaper leaks, pet’s urine or waste, food or drinks or some other smelly or sticky matter on your sheepskin. Remove the solid matter first. If the stain is relatively small, spot clean only the affected area. Start blotting the stain with a dry cloth or a paper towel. Soak up as much liquid as you can. Then use a dry cloth. If the stain is visible, use a wool wash by gently rub it into the skin with your fingers or a toothbrush. Blot the skin with a damp cloth and then with a dry cloth. If the bad odor still lingers after the skin dries, generously sprinkle the affected area with baking soda and let it sit for 2-24 hours. Shake out or vacuum the rug to remove the powder.

If a large portion of the skin is soiled, wash the entire skin.

Machine washing sheepskin rug

Wash on wool wash cycle. If your washer does not have it, please use the most gentle cycle. If you have a big sheepskin rug use industrial heavy duty washing and drying machines at a laundromat but make sure their washing machine can do a gentle cycle (wool cycle preferred) and a slow spin. Washing large sheepskins at home can break your washer or dryer. Super dirty skins should be washed twice to get out all the stains and dirt.

Hand washing sheepskin rug

Fill you bathtub about 1/3 with cold or lukewarm water not warmer than 100 degrees F. Use a small amount of sheepskin woolskin wash. Let the pelt soak for about 30 minutes. Gently massage, knead and swish the sheepskin around for 3-5 minutes. Release the dirty water and refill the bath with fresh water multiple times until the water is reasonably clean and there is no soap residue on the sheepskin.

Alternatively, you can wash a big skin outside using a garden hose. Wet the rug and apply diluted sheepskin wash. Use a sponge or massage the skin with your fingers as if you were washing your own hair. Rinse out the wash. The thicker the skin the more dust, dirt and household debris it collects and may need multiple rinses.

After you finish rinsing your skin, roll it up and squeeze out as much water as you can by pressing on it. Do not wring or twist it as this will distort the skin. Let it drain for about 20 minutes or roll the skin in the towels to get rid of the excess water. You can then transfer it to a washing machine and slowly spin out the remaining water.

Drying and brushing

Leather needs to dry slowly and naturally in a well ventilated place. Give it plenty of time to dry – from several days up to a week. Avoid hot air flow at all cost. Dry your sheepskin away from the direct heat such as direct sun and do not place it under a heat pump, on a radiator or on floors with under floor heating and do not iron it. It is okay to use a dehumidifier to expedite the drying process. Some customers reported that they used a hair dryer on a cool setting and it expedited the drying process.  If you are drying it outside, put it in the shade. Your skin will dry faster on a warm breezy day.

Exposure to high heat may harden the hide or cause it to shrink. Small sheepskins under 3 feet long can be dried in a tumble dryer on a low heat or air dry setting. It is very important not to use high heat to avoid damaging the skin. For the best results finish drying the skin by letting it air dry flat. Larger pelts can be dried on a drying rack or hung up to dry but it is best to dry them flat. Hanging may stretch out the pelt. Wet sheepskins are very heavy and you have to make sure that whatever your skin is laying on can support that weight. A large plastic table or other hard clean surface will work well. Place a large towel under the hide to absorb the water and change it if it gets too wet. Gently stretch the damp skin to shape it to avoid curling of the edges.

Please note that a wet skin can have a strong animal odor. Do not worry about it. That wet dog smell will fade when the skin gets dry.

Since the wool of a wet skin is curly it is recommended to gently brush it while it is still damp and then brush it again thoroughly after the skin completely dries to make the hair straight, fluffy and tangle free.

Washing and grooming will make your sheepskin products look almost like new!