How to wash real sheepskin?
Real sheepskin is an absolute eye-catcher in every household and is particularly popular due to its durability and easy care. Sheepskin is a sustainable, natural material that not only looks chic, but is also warm and fluffy. But what if the sheepskin loses its soft and fluffy properties over time or you accidentally spill something on the sheepskin? Don't worry, sheepskin is generally a very easy-care product and even a stain on your sheepskin does not directly mean that you have to dispose of it. However, there are a few points to consider when caring for and cleaning sheepskin. In the following blog post we will give you the most important tips that you should keep in mind when caring for and cleaning sheepskin so that your sheepskin stays in good condition for a long time.
What is real sheepskin?
Real sheepskin is a natural product that, in contrast to its artificially produced alternatives, has many natural superpowers.
Sheepskin offers an absolute feel-good factor thanks to its fluffy and soft texture, both in winter and summer. Because of its temperature-balancing properties, sheepskin keeps you comfortably warm in winter and can even have a cooling effect in warm temperatures in summer.
In addition, despite its cuddly guarantee, sheepskin is a quite robust material, which means it is very durable and maintains its quality over a long period of time, which also makes it a sustainable product. In contrast to synthetically produced alternatives, real sheepskin is also biodegradable, which increases the sustainability aspect.
Real sheepskin also offers the great advantage that it naturally contains oils that repel house dust mites. This means that sheepskin not only ensures a generally healthier living, but is also hypoallergenic, making sheepskin a very good option for allergy sufferers to decorate the house comfortably and elegantly.
How to properly prepare your sheepskin for cleaning?
If you want to clean your sheepskin, it is advisable to first find out about the manufacturer's care instructions and follow them. Manufacturers often also state whether the sheepskin can be washed in the washing machine or not.
You didn't receive any care instructions with your sheepskin? No problem: We'll show you how to gently clean your sheepskin.
It is important not to use normal laundry soap when cleaning sheepskin, as this would dry out the sheepskin. In order to maintain the natural suppleness and shine of the sheepskin, it is important to use special wool and sheepskin soap.
In addition, lukewarm water should always be used when cleaning sheepskin.
You will also need a towel and a soft brush. Special sheepskin brushes are best suited for the gentlest care possible, as these are softer than conventional brushes and keep the sheepskin soft and fluffy without damaging it.
If there are fresh stains on your sheepskin, it also makes sense to try to remove the stain immediately by carefully dabbing instead of washing. To do this, take a towel and carefully dab the dirty area. You can slightly dampen the towel, but you should be careful not to use too much water.
How to wash real sheepskin by hand?
Basically, sheepskins do not need to be washed regularly as they have a self-cleaning and dirt-repellent function. However, if stains have already penetrated deeply into the sheepskin, washing is often unavoidable.
In order to get the sheepskin clean again as gently as possible, we recommend that you wash your sheepskin by hand. This is often sufficient, especially for smaller amounts of dirt. Below we give you step-by-step instructions to ensure that your sheepskin is not only clean after washing, but also remains soft and cozy.
- Soak the sheepskin in lukewarm water:
To clean the sheepskin gently, you should fill lukewarm water into a tub in which the sheepskin has enough space. Be careful not to use hot water as this dries out the natural oils in the fur, making it dull and brittle.
- Use mild soap:
Make sure that you use special wool and sheepskin soap, as this gently cleans your sheepskin and maintains its shine and suppleness.
- To incorporate the sheepskin soap well and remove dirt from the sheepskin, gently knead and press the sheepskin. Avoid rubbing too hard and pay particular attention to the sensitive areas of the sheepskin.
- Finally, it is important to rinse the sheepskin thoroughly so that all soap residue is removed. Use lukewarm water again for this.
How to dry your sheepskin?
Once you have successfully removed stains and dirt from your sheepskin, it is important to dry the sheepskin properly. In order to maintain the cuddly factor and the shine of your sheepskin, there are a few things to consider.
First you should remove any water residue from the sheepskin. To do this, carefully squeeze the sheepskin without twisting it. Do not use a tumble dryer. Instead, you should let the sheepskin air dry. To do this, place it on a flat surface on a towel and pull it into shape. When choosing a place to dry it, be sure to dry the sheepskin away from direct sunlight and heat sources. To avoid matting, you should also shake your sheepskin regularly while it dries. After each shaking, the sheepskin should be laid flat back on the towel and pulled into shape.
Once the sheepskin is completely dry, brush it with a special sheepskin brush to make it soft and fluffy again.
How to wash your sheepskin in the washing machine?
As an alternative to hand washing, some sheepskins can also be washed in the washing machine. Especially if you don't feel like it or don't have the time to wash it by hand, a round in the washing machine can be an alternative. Basically, you should first check whether the manufacturer allows cleaning using a washing machine, as not every sheepskin is machine washable. According to the manufacturer, if you can wash your sheepskin in the washing machine, you should follow the following care tips for the gentlest possible washing process:
In principle, you should only wash the sheepskin using special wool programs. These are gentle processes with a low spin speed and cold water. This will prevent your fur from becoming matted, deformed or brittle. As with hand washing, you should use mild detergents.
Conclusion
Normally, real sheepskin is very easy to care for and does not need to be washed regularly due to its self-cleaning and dirt-repellent properties. To maintain the quality of the sheepskin, it is sufficient to brush the sheepskin regularly, shake it up every now and then and protect it from strong sunlight or heat. This not only supports the longevity of sheepskins, but also maintains the shine and beauty of your fur.
But even if you spill something on the sheepskin, it doesn't mean you have to throw away your sheepskin. As long as you follow the tips mentioned for gentle cleaning of your sheepskin, your sheepskin will remain fluffy and supple even after washing with a mild detergent.