Don't wash it. Shake and brush a sheepskin rug to keep it clean, spot clean small marks, and have it professionally dry cleaned on a mild process when it needs a proper clean.
A good sheepskin will be with you for years, softening the floor by the bed or warming an old bench, and it needs surprisingly little looking after. Here's how we care for ours.
What the label says
Our sheepskins are 100% New Zealand wool. The care label reads: do not wash, do not bleach, do not tumble dry, do not iron, professional dry clean on a mild process.
Day to day
- Give it a good shake outside every week or two.
- Brush it with a wire or slicker brush, working with the direction of the wool. It lifts the pile and keeps it soft.
- If you vacuum it, use a low setting without the rotating brush head.
Spills and spot cleaning
Blot spills straight away with a clean, dry cloth. Don't rub, as that only pushes the mark into the wool.
Small marks can be spot cleaned at home. Dab the mark with a cloth dampened in cool water and a little gentle wool wash, working from the outside of the mark inwards. Keep it to the wool: don't soak the rug or wet the leather backing. Blot with a dry cloth, leave it to dry flat away from radiators and direct sun, then brush it through.
A proper clean
When it needs more than a shake and a brush, take it to a professional dry cleaner and tell them it's sheepskin, so they use a mild process.
Never
Machine wash, soak or hand wash the whole rug, bleach, tumble dry or iron a sheepskin, or dry it next to a radiator or in direct sun. Water and detergent can stiffen and shrink the leather backing.
Questions
Can you wash a sheepskin rug?
Not all over. The label says do not wash, because soaking can damage the leather backing. You can spot clean small marks with a damp cloth and a little gentle wool wash, and dry cleaning is the safe way to give it a deep clean.
Can you put a sheepskin rug in the washing machine?
No. A machine wash can shrink and harden the skin.
How do you fluff up a sheepskin rug?
Shake it, then brush it through with a wire or slicker brush, working with the direction of the wool.
What if it gets wet?
Blot off as much water as you can, then let it dry flat at room temperature, away from direct heat. Brush it once it's dry.
How often does it need cleaning?
Shake and brush it regularly. Most only need a professional dry clean now and then, or when there's a mark that won't brush out.