Sheepskin Care: Machine-Washing

How To Hand-Wash Or Machine-Wash Sheepskin Rugs

Looking after your sheepskin is actually really simple, but you'd be surprised how many people don't do it right and then blame the sheepskin when it goes wrong. Wool is an amazing natural fibre and - surprisingly - needs much less care than a lot of other fabrics. It shirks dirt and odours and often, surprisingly often, a good shake or a brush or comb will avoid the need of washing where another fibre is filthy and smelly; but occasionally you will want to wash your sheepskin.

A little bit of frequent care is best

A regular shake and brush-through will keep your rug looking at its best. Don't wait for it to look unloved, crushed and matted. 

Just follow these simple rules: -

  • Use "wool approved" detergent, avoiding conditioners & additives
  • Keep it cool and be gentle
  • Brush and dry immediately and gently without direct haet
Full details and tips on how to keep your sheepskin rug gorgeous follow. And by washing your sheepskin from The Wool Company according to these instructions, you will ensure it has a long and useful life. Please note however, that not all sheepskins are the same!  The quality and time spent during the tanning process will affect the lifetime length, softness and suppleness of your sheepskin. All our sheepskins are tanned to a very high standard, which allows them to be carefully machine-washed (unless stated) and to remain soft and supple for years. However, most sheepskins from most tanneries are not tanned to the same standard and are therefore unlikely to be washable in the same way, so these instructions are only relevant for our own products. 

Which Detergent To Use For Sheepskins - very important

  • For a great result, use one of the sheepskin care products we offer. They are made especially for sheepskin, and we have tested them all, and we know they work.
  • If you don’t use one of our detergents, you must ALWAYS ensure the detergent you use is “Wool Approved”, or has a WoolMark™ logo on the package. 
  • Normal detergents, even "non-bio" and other "delicates" detergents, will damage wool unless they specifically say that they are safe for wool. (Wool is a protein-based fibre like skin. "Eco-friendly”, "non-bio” and “delicates” detergents virtually all contain bleach and enzymes. Even small quantities of bleach destroy wool and skin.)  Your selection of detergent is critical!
  • NEVER use brighteners, anti-odour, perfumed powders, pellets, whiteners, fabric conditioners, softeners or any other wash additives (except natural lanolin) unless they claim to be “Wool Approved” or wool safe (which they won't).
  • Using the wrong laundry product, even once, can permanently ruin your sheepskin.

How to hand-wash your Sheepskin from The Wool Company

  • Use lukewarm water (20-30°C) and wool-safe detergent only. It's not wool-safe unless it says so. ("Gentle" detergents are not wool-safe!)
  • Gently agitate, then rinse thoroughly.
  • Gently squeeze out water and reshape.
  • Lay it flat to dry naturally away from direct heat or sunlight.
  • gently comb with a sheepskin brush, first while slightly damp, then again when drier.

How to machine-wash your Sheepskin from The Wool Company

Only machine-wash if the care label says it is safe to do so

Detergent For Machine-washing Sheepskin

  • Read the important instructions above on which detergent to use.

Wash Cycle

  • Only use “Wool” or “Hand Wash” cycles.  (“Delicates” cycle is not gentle enough).
  • Wash at 20-30ºC (86ºF) or less.
  • If in doubt, give your sheepskin an extra rinse cycle (remember no laundry additives other than lanolin!)
  • Spin only at 400 RPM or less.
  • Shake out and spin again if required
  • For a great result, you can add some lanolin to the final rinse. This is a natural oil skin and wool conditioner, aids combing and helps keep the skin supple.
  • Remove from the machine immediately after the cycle is complete and dry as below.

Drying your Sheepskin 

  • You can start the drying in a good quality modern tumble-drier using the “Smoothing” cycle or “Wool” cycle, using NO heat or VERY LOW heat.
  • Check it regularly to prevent it from over-drying and becoming stiff and cardboard-like.
  • Remove the sheepskin from the drier when still "more damp than dry", while the skin is still soft and flexible but not really dripping.
  • While it is still damp, comb through using The Wool Company Sheepskin Brush.
  • It’s normal for some wool to come out during combing.
  • You can put it back into the dryer, but keep checking and remove it while still damp.
  • Gently pull your sheepskin into shape and 
  • Allow it to finish drying naturally: dry flat in a cool, airy place, preferably in gently moving air. 
  • Dry away from direct sunlight, direct heat and dehumidifiers (using a dehumidifier carefully can be brilliant, but be careful not to over-dry your sheepskin)
  • Ensure it is completely dry before using your sheepskin and comb again for gorgeous loft, then lay out and enjoy...

Why has my Sheepskin gone stiff and cardboard-like?

The following is likely to make even the best quality sheepskin "cardboard-like” and/or reduce its lifetime length, suppleness, luxuriousness, softness and value
  1. Using the wrong detergent - very few detergents actually say they are not safe for wool but most detergents will nevertheless ruin your sheepskin, so look for the large print "Wool Safe" or "Wool Approved" and ensure your laundry product actually says it is safe to use with wool. If it doesn't, it isn't.
  2. Using any fabric conditioner, softener or other wash additive: "softeners" will do the reverse and make the skin cardboard-like and almost certainly ruin it
  3. Using too much soap or detergent (even "wool-approved” detergents). Too much will make the skin hard and cardboard-like. Use less soap - it will still clean your sheepskin!  Further warm (30ºC, 86ºF) and cold rinsing will help, and adding lanolin can often restore it - if you have not used the wrong laundry product.
  4. Washing or drying too fast or too hot, using direct heat, hot tumble-driers, dehumidifiers, sunlight etc.
  5. Buying a sheepskin that is not tanned to the standards required by The Wool Company. These may initially look and feel lovely, but may be quite different after washing.

Most sheepskins are not tanned to "machine-washable" standard (although many claim they are).

How Do I Rescue a Sheepskin Rug That Has Gone Stiff?

Once your sheepskin has gone stiff and cardboard-like, it is not easy to rescue, and it will never be as supple as it was previously. This is because it has been either over-dried, dried too quickly, or subjected to the wrong chemicals. However, some success has been reported by re-washing with lanolin instead of detergent. 

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