How do I wash sheepskins?

Question

Used sheepskins that need a bit of a spring clean.

Answer 1

I have washed mine before.... I just used Woolite on cold and gentle cycle. A great tip is to put a cap full of hair conditioner in the rinse cycle. Mine came out great--clean and soft.

Answer 2

Good grief - some of this folklore! OK - I promise you - you can wash your sheepskin - just use a warm wash and a gentle detergent. The real trick is that to dry them you need to use a tumble dryer or they will go stiff - you can part dry them on a clothes line and finish them in the dryer to save electricity. My husband used to work at a tannery that specialised in sheepskin and that is exactly what they did with the skins after dyeing - they got washed in huge commercial washing machines and then dried in big dryers. The only thing to watch out for is that they tend to choke the filter of the dryer with fluff - stop them halfway and empty it out.

Answer 3

If it's a rug you can put it through the washing machine on a 'wool' wash - but it is hard on the arms brushing all the wool out again and takes quite a while to dry - used to do this with my own rugs.
Now I've discovered that for rugs, and coats, a steam cleaner works extremely well - steam and brush/comb the fur at the same time (keep your hands away from the steam jet). This job is best done in the garden.
The end results are quite good.

Answer 4

I would take them to a professional dry cleaner. Dead wool has a tendency to mat and felt in the wash, sweaters are difficult enough to hand wash and dry flat, little alone something as large as a sheepsking rug. If it needs more cleaning than a beating out will take care of, the dry cleaner is the only one with a tank bit enough to handle it anyway. It will smell like the chemicals when you get it back, but a good airing should handle that. If you are determined to do it yourself, I'd do it in the bathtub and use cold water, plus detergeants made specifically for handwashing sweaters. Then the only real challenge will be finding a place large enough for it to lay flat to dry. And of course the lovely wet sheep smell in the meantime. If you decide to go that route, all I can say is better your house than mine.

Answer 5

For sheepskin I always use special sheepskin detergent. I do machine wash but would never use normal detergents as they're just too harsh.

Answer 6

YOU DONT!!!! you will ruin the sheepskin if its a coat get a pan scrub the one with a sponge on one side and a rough side use the rough side to clean any marks on the sheepskin coat as for rugs professional clean

Answer 7

You can only wash the ones that babies sleep on they are prepared !
All others go stiff as a board when washed,funny that you asked I had to through one away yesterday that I had in the car for years
( only used to shake & brush it ),my dog had an accident on it and it had to go !

Answer 8

unless you wan tot ruin it - you don't. it will never be the same again. comb it and if it is really manky, either claim for a new one on the insurance or go to a professional place

Answer 9

Dry clean or you will spoil them

Answer 10

First, shear the sheep, then use soap and water.