Step-by-step instructions on how to wash sheepskin at home in a machine and by hand

Sheepskin is a natural and very warm material, which is represented by sheep skin and fur. It is used for sewing sheepskin coats, chair covers, rugs, car covers and more. It is pleasant to use such products; they give a feeling of coziness and comfort.

Like any other thing, sheepskin needs to be regularly cleaned of dust and dirt. But what to do when serious contamination appears on it? Can it be washed by machine or by hand?

How to properly care for sheepskin so that it does not mat or lose color, and how to get rid of stains? Read the article on how to wash sheepskin at home.

Is it possible?

Sheepskin can be washed either by hand or in a machine. Before starting the procedure, You need to familiarize yourself with the features of caring for this fur product:

1. To remove dust and debris, shake or beat the skin well.
2. For better cleaning, the product is vacuumed at low power. You need to guide the brush in the direction of hair growth.
3. To give the coat an attractive appearance, it must be combed with a brush.
4. To get rid of stains, there is no need to wash the product completely. It is enough to treat the contaminated area.

You should resort to machine and hand washing as needed, but not more than once a month. Regular contact with water will make the skin rough and the fur stiff.

Washing sheepskin in a washing machine

Machine washing allows you to get rid of stains, lighten the fur and make it silky. To get this result you need to follow 5 rules:

1. Do not wash fur in hot water. Its maximum temperature is 40 degrees. If you process the product in boiling water, the wool will become matted.
2. Before washing, the sheepskin must be cleaned of crumbs and dust removed.
3. Do not use detergents containing chlorine and other aggressive components for washing. Preference should be given to gels and liquid powders.
4. Calculate the weight of the product. If the item is large and consists of several skins, then it should be washed in a machine with maximum load. When wet, fur increases its mass by 3-4 times.
5. The presence of stubborn stains is a reason for pre-soaking.

Wash the product according to the following algorithm:

1. Place the sheepskin in the washing net. If you don't have one on hand, you can use an old white pillowcase. This will help prevent the fur from matting.
2. Pour detergent into the washing machine compartment or use gel capsules.
3. Select a delicate wash cycle. You can install the “wool” program, or manually configure the machine. The water temperature should be 30 degrees, and the number of revolutions should be 600 per minute.
4. After washing is complete, remove the skin from the drum, shake it and place it on a flat surface to dry.

How to process manually?

You can wash sheepskin by hand. If the product is small, use a basin. The bulky skins are soaked in the bathtub.

The leather should be washed and rinsed with water at the same temperature.Its difference will cause the pile to form a ball. It will be difficult to comb through it.

Procedure:

• shake off dust and dirt from the product, check the pile for stuck debris;
• pour warm water into a suitable container;
• dissolve liquid detergent or regular shampoo in it;
• soak the skin for half an hour, periodically knead it with your hands and heat it;
• after 30 minutes, the sheepskin is carefully washed; it should not be rubbed or pulled by the fur;
• rinse the item - change the water until it becomes clear.

You cannot twist the skin. She is left in the bathroom until the water drains. To speed up this process, the product can be wrapped in a terry towel and lightly pressed.

How to get rid of stains?

If stains appear on the sheep skin or it turns yellow, resort to the help of improvised means. They act carefully without harming the product. The fresher the stain, the easier it is to get rid of it.

Yellowness

Hydrogen peroxide is used to make wool white. To prepare the solution you will need:

• 1 liter of water.
• 2 tbsp. l. peroxide.

If a small area has been treated, wipe it with a damp, clean cloth.

Fat

To remove greasy stains, use baking soda or talc.

Procedure:

1. Sprinkle the stain with baking soda and press it down with a paper napkin.
2. Leave the product to act for 4 hours.
3. Comb out the fur with a brush or wash it.

If the stain is old, then strengthen the recipe with a small amount of dishwashing detergent. In this case, you won’t be able to do without washing.

Coffee and tea

Glycerin helps remove stains from spilled tea or coffee.

Rules for its use:

• apply the product to the contaminated area;
• leave for 10 minutes;
• wash the item in warm water with shampoo, paying special attention to stains.

Salinity

During active use, the fur becomes greasy in certain places. You can deal with the problem without washing the skin.

Procedure:

1. Sprinkle the greasy area with salt.
2. Distribute it evenly over the skin.
3. Leave the salt for 2 hours.
4. Brush out the skin.

If the greasy shine has not been eliminated, use table vinegar diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio.

It is applied with a sponge or cotton pad. After 15 minutes, the skin is rinsed in warm water, dried and combed.

To give the sheepskin a beautiful shine, several walnut kernels are crushed, wrapped in gauze and gently moved over the wool, in the direction of its growth.

Wine

You can remove red wine stains from sheepskin using gasoline. To give it thickness and enhance the effect, starch is used.

Procedure:

• the paste is applied to the fur using a sponge;
• leave the product for 10 minutes;
• wipe it with a cloth soaked in clean warm water.

When removing a stain, you need to move in the direction of the pile.

How to make the skin softer?

After improper washing, the hide may become tough. A softening solution will help correct the situation.

To prepare it you will need the following components:

1. Baby cream – 1 tbsp. l.
2. Glycerin – 1 tbsp. l.
3. Glass of water.

The resulting composition is applied to the inside of the sheepskin and left for 30 minutes. As the mixture is absorbed, the flesh will become softer.Vaseline and animal fat have a similar effect.

Drying rules

You need to dry sheepskin correctly. Conditions to be followed:

1. Lay out the product only with the fur out.
2. Straighten the pile with your hands and lightly fluff it with your palms.
3. There should be no creases or folds on the item.
4. During drying, the skin is periodically shaken and slightly stretched with your hands so that it does not decrease in size.
5. Do not place sheepskin on the radiator or near the fireplace. It should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
6. It is not recommended to hang wet skins. It deforms under its own weight.
7. During the drying process, the fur is combed with a brush for grooming long-haired animals. Movements must be careful. If the wool is rolled up, the bundle is disassembled manually.
8. Do not try to speed up the drying process with a hair dryer. Hot air deteriorates the quality of the coat, making the skin rough and tough.

When is dry cleaning necessary?

Dust and fresh stains can be easily washed off yourself. If there are complex contaminants on the wool, then it will not be possible to do without the help of professionals.

The longer a stain remains on a product, the harder it is to remove.. Dry cleaning will help you get rid of traces of blood, cosmetics, fuel oil and more. Cleaners will remove all dirt, wash the skin, dry it and comb it.

Before handing over an item to dry cleaning, you need to clarify the cost of the work and obtain a sealed contract. It must specify all the conditions under which the product is accepted for laundry, as well as in what condition the item was received, and what result should be expected.

You need to pay for the service only upon its provision.The average cost of dry cleaning sheep skins measuring 1 square. m. is about 1800 rubles. The final price depends on the complexity of the work performed.

Important Tips

Every owner of a sheep's skin must take into account the following information:

• You need to wash sheepskin in a machine separately from other things;
• Do not dry the product in the bathroom;
• if the floor is heated, then the skin is not spread on it;
• Do not use a wet product;
• It is prohibited to process sheepskin with a washing vacuum cleaner.

Additionally, you can treat the wool with baking soda mixed with a small amount of essential oil. It is applied to the skin, left for a day, after which it is shaken off and the fur is combed out.

Video on the topic of the article

How to clean car capes made of natural sheepskin, video instructions:

Conclusion

Washing sheepskin yourself is easy. This will not require much time and effort. Both hand and machine washable.

If the procedure is carried out correctly, the sheepskin will warm its owner for many years. In difficult cases, you cannot do without the help of dry cleaning.