Sheepskin care guide
A genuine sheepskin stays beautiful for many years, and it needs less care than most people think. The lanolin in the wool naturally repels dirt and odours, so most of the work comes down to shaking, airing and brushing. Below you will find our care instructions for each type of sheepskin.
General care – for all sheepskins
- Shake the sheepskin regularly. At least 2–3 times a month, and more often if you sit or walk on it.
- Vacuum on the lowest suction setting. This keeps the wool light and airy.
- Air the sheepskin outdoors in the shade, ideally in cold, dry weather. Fresh air removes odours naturally. Avoid rain.
- Brush smooth-haired sheepskins with a sheepskin brush when the wool looks matted. Curly sheepskins must not be brushed.
- Deal with stains straight away. Wet stains are far easier to remove than dried-in ones.
Washing
Applies to all sheepskins unless your sheepskin type below says otherwise.
- Hand wash only. Use the lather from a wool soap with lanolin and wash the wool.
- Remove the soap with a damp cloth, rinsing and wringing it out many times, or rinse with cold water.
- Try to avoid soaking the leather side – it can become stiff.
- Shake off the excess water. Do not wring the sheepskin.
- Dry the sheepskin wool side down on a drying rack, and stretch it now and then so it keeps its shape.
Avoid
- Washing machines (see the exceptions for merino/New Zealand and baby sheepskins) and tumble dryers
- Direct sunlight on dyed sheepskins – the colour can fade
- Heat from radiators, fireplaces or underfloor heating on a high setting – the leather can dry out
- Chemical cleaning agents, bleach and perfume
- Storing in plastic – the wool needs to breathe
How to remove stains
First, blot up as much liquid as possible with a dry towel or kitchen roll. Do not rub, and do not pour water directly onto the stain – it spreads the stain and can damage the leather side. For a large stain, you can lay a towel on the wool side and stand on it. Gently brush or scrape off dried-in dirt first.
Then find the stain in the table and follow the steps in order.
| What have you spilt on the sheepskin? | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beer and spirits | 1 | 2 | – |
| Bleach / chlorine | 1 | 9 | – |
| Blood | 1 | 2 | – |
| Butter | 4 | 2 | – |
| Candle wax | 7 | 4 | – |
| Chewing gum | 5 | 4 | – |
| Chocolate | 4 | 1 | – |
| Coffee | 1 | 6 | – |
| Fizzy drinks | 1 | 2 | – |
| Cooking oil | 4 | 2 | – |
| Cream | 1 | 4 | – |
| Egg (raw) | 1 | 9 | – |
| Paint (acrylic) | 1 | 2 | – |
| Paint (oil-based) | 4 | – | – |
| Mud (dry) | 8 | 4 | – |
| Salad dressing | 1 | 4 | – |
| Wine | 1 | 6 | – |
| Vomit | 1 | 3 | – |
| Urine (fresh) | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Urine (old) | 9 | – | – |
- Lukewarm water – dab on a very small amount with a cloth, then dry with a dry cloth.
- Whisk 1 tsp wool detergent and 1 tsp white vinegar into 1 litre of warm water, and gently work the lather into the wool.
- Clear household disinfectant.
- Dry stain remover – follow the instructions on the product.
- Chill with ice cubes in a plastic bag, then pick or scrape off the hardened residue.
- Mix 1/3 cup white vinegar with 2/3 cup water, apply gently with a cloth, and wipe with a damp cloth.
- Place absorbent paper over the wax and run a hot iron over the paper. The wax melts and is absorbed.
- Vacuum on the lowest suction setting.
- Have the sheepskin professionally cleaned.
Red wine: Keep blotting and soaking it up until the cloth no longer picks up any colour. The stain often becomes more visible as the sheepskin dries – so repeat the treatment.
Merino / New Zealand sheepskins
Applies to our merino sheepskins and sheepskins from New Zealand – both long-haired and short-haired.
Care
- Shake the sheepskin and vacuum it on the lowest suction setting at least 2–3 times a month.
- Brush long-haired sheepskins when the wool looks matted – this makes it soft and fluffy again.
Hand washing – our recommendation
- Use the lather from a wool soap with lanolin and wash the wool by hand.
- Remove the soap with a damp cloth, rinsing and wringing it out many times.
- Shake off the excess water. Do not wring the sheepskin.
Machine washing – only if necessary
The sheepskin can be machine washed, but we advise against it. The leather side becomes harder after machine washing, and the wool can felt.
- Wool or delicates programme, 30 °C maximum.
- Mild liquid wool detergent only.
- Spin on the wool or delicates setting only.
- If the leather side has gone hard, you can soften it by pulling it over the edge of a table.
Drying
- Dry the sheepskin wool side down on a drying rack.
- Stretch the sheepskin now and then while it dries so it keeps its shape.
- No tumble dryer, no direct sunlight and no direct heat.
- Brush the wool once the sheepskin is completely dry.
We recommend having dyed sheepskins professionally cleaned.
Baby sheepskins
Our baby sheepskins are medically tanned and can therefore be washed.
- Stains and everyday care: as described under general care and stains.
- Machine washing is possible on a wool or delicates programme at 30 °C maximum, with wool detergent or no detergent at all – but only do it when necessary.
- Air dry wool side down, away from sunlight and heat. No tumble dryer.
- If the leather side has gone stiff, you can soften it by pulling it over the edge of a table.
Icelandic sheepskins
Icelandic sheepskins in natural colours are undyed and can therefore also be used outdoors. Dyed Icelandic sheepskins must be kept out of direct sunlight.
Care
- Shake the sheepskin and vacuum it on the lowest suction setting at least 2–3 times a month.
- Brush it when it looks matted.
Washing
- Hand wash only. Do not machine wash.
- Wash the wool with the lather from a wool soap with lanolin, and rinse with cold water.
- Try to avoid soaking the leather side – it can become stiff.
- Shake off the excess water.
Drying
- Wool side down on a drying rack, stretching the sheepskin now and then.
- No tumble dryer, no direct sunlight and no direct heat.
English sheepskins
English sheepskins are undyed and can be used both indoors and outdoors. They are among the softest sheepskins we offer.
- Care: shake, vacuum on the lowest suction setting and brush regularly.
- Washing: hand wash only with a wool soap with lanolin, and rinse with cold water. Do not machine wash.
- Drying: wool side down on a drying rack, away from sunlight and heat. No tumble dryer.
Tibetan sheepskins (curly)
Tibetan sheepskins have fine corkscrew curls. They are dyed (except the white ones) and must be kept out of direct sunlight.
Care
- Shake the sheepskin and vacuum it on the lowest suction setting. Do not brush it – this ruins the curls.
- If the curls have gone limp, lightly dampen the wool and scrunch the curls by hand, one handful at a time.
Washing
- Hand wash only, in cold water with a wool soap with lanolin. Do not machine wash.
- Rinse with cold water, and avoid getting the leather side wet.
- Shake off the water and scrunch the curls so they keep their shape.
Drying
- Wool side down on a drying rack, stretching the sheepskin now and then.
- No tumble dryer, no direct sunlight and no direct heat.
We recommend having dyed sheepskins professionally cleaned.
The right care kit
With a wool soap with lanolin and a sheepskin brush, you have everything you need for both washing and everyday care.
Not sure how to treat your sheepskin? Get in touch with our customer service team – we are happy to help.