Over your favorite armchair, the sofa, as a living room rug or a cosy pad in the baby carriage: a sheepskin is rarely just decoration. It is used, touched, revitalized and accompanies everyday life in many different ways. It is precisely this daily closeness that makes it so popular, but sooner or later it also leaves its mark: a spilled drink here, dust and smells there, or simply a dull, flat coat that has lost its original shine.
Our blog article explains step by step how you can wash and gently clean your sheepskin in such cases without damaging the leather or impairing the natural structure of the coat. You will find out if and when the washing machine is suitable, which home remedies are useful and how to get the coat soft again afterwards. With concrete figures, clear if-then recommendations and a table showing which coat type tolerates which treatment.
Washing skinsDifferences sheepskin vs. lambskin
Does it matter what I do when I want to wash a coat? It's not quite as simple as that, because all too often the different terms sheepskin and lambskin are used interchangeably, although the two refer to completely different products. Sheepskin, for example, comes from adult animals and usually has coarser, more robust fibers, making it suitable for areas subject to heavier wear, such as carpets or seat covers. Lambskin, on the other hand, is finer, softer and denser in pile and is often used for baby pads, baby carriages or as a cozy blanket. The difference is clear when it comes to care: lambskin is more sensitive to heat and mechanical stress, while sheepskin is a little more forgiving.
Before you start: What type of sheepskin do you want to wash?
Not every sheepskin can be treated in the same way. The decisive factor here is the type of tanning.
Vegetable and medical tanned skins can be washed in the washing machine. Salt-tanned genuine skins, on the other hand, should only be spot-cleaned by hand.
Skins that have been tanned with aluminum salts must never be completely wetted. Water would dissolve the salts and permanently damage the fur.
The following table shows you the most common tanning types & identification marks:
| Tanning type | Identification mark | Washing machine? | Recommendation |
| Medically tanned | Slightly yellowish leather side, soft | Yes (30°C) | Wool program and gentle spin |
| Vegetable tanned | Natural, light-colored leather side | Yes (30°C) | Wool program and gentle spin |
| Salt tanned / aluminum salt |
No label or "do not wash" |
No | Dry cleaning only or specialist company if required |
| Unknown / no label |
No care instructions available |
No |
To be on the safe side, only clean dry |
If in doubt, take a look at the care label, which is usually located on one of the short sides of the coat and is often bound into the leather side.
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If the label is missing or illegible, the following applies: It is best to clean dry only. |
If you are unsure, you can ask the dealer or test a small piece in a hidden place with a little water. If the leather side turns dark and remains stiff after drying, it is most likely a salt-tanned hide that should not be wet-cleaned.
A Wash sheepskinHow often is it really necessary?
The simple answer: Rarer than you think. Because what sheepskin and lambskin ultimately have in common is an extraordinary property: the high proportion of lanolin, the natural wool fat of the sheep, which makes up to 25 % of the weight of the raw wool. This natural protective layer helps the fur to clean itself and has the advantage that you need to wash a sheepskin far less often overall.
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The basic rule: Lambskin and sheepskin usually have a life expectancy of 10 to 20 years if they are cared for properly. However, frequent washing unnecessarily accelerates the wear of the lanolin layer and the leather structure.
Therefore: Washing less and brushing and airing more often is a better care routine. |
In which cases, however, you should always wash your sheepskin immediately at best:
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As soon as fresh liquid stains appear
- Quick action prevents unsightly, dried-on stains
- When a distinct odor develops
- After intensive use over several weeks
Cleaning sheepskin without washing: These 5 methods are usually sufficient
Not every type of soiling requires a thorough wash. And not every heavy use in everyday life requires a wet wash. For most everyday situations, our following methods are completely sufficient to clean your sheepskin without having to wash it:
Tip 1) Shake out & ventilate
To do this, take the coat outside, gently pat it out and then leave it out in the fresh air. - ideally in a covered, well-ventilated place - hang. The fresh air activates the self-cleaning properties of the lanolin layer, and even light to medium odors often disappear by themselves after just a few hours.
Tip 2) Brush skins
In fact, some dried stains can often be brushed out directly with a fur or special lambskin brush. Always work as gently and evenly as possible in the direction of the fibers. Regular brushing, ideally once a month, prevents tangles and knots in the coat. If you don't have a suitable brush to hand, you can also use adhesive rollers for superficial cleaning.
Tip 3) Baking soda against odors
Baking soda is simply THE all-round aid in the household and also for odor control in sheepskin care. Sprinkle it generously on the wool side and leave it on overnight, preferably for 12-24 hours, before brushing it out thoroughly. During this time, baking soda effectively binds musty-smelling odors without attacking the fibers or leather side.
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For orientation: For a sheepskin with a leather length of 80 to 100 cm, you need about 1 to 2 large cups, i.e. around 200 to 400 g of baking soda. |
Tip 4) Vinegar water for light stains
You may not believe it, but vinegar water is also a simple and effective household remedy for cleaning your sheepskin without having to wash it. Simply mix a solution of one part vinegar and three parts lukewarm water on a clean cloth and carefully dab the light stain, always proceeding gently and never rubbing. Then lightly wipe the treated area with clean water and allow the sheepskin to air dry.
Tip 5) Spot stain treatment
For individual fresh stains, it is often sufficient to dab them off immediately with a clean, damp cloth, but please do not rub. If stains have already dried, you should first try to remove them carefully with a dry fur brush. Treat stubborn stains with a damp cloth and some mild wool detergent on the wool side, keeping the leather side as dry as possible.
| Important: Cleaning agent always first test on an inconspicuous area. Especially with dyed skins, colors can bleed if handled incorrectly. Dyed skins are generally more sensitive and should only be dry cleaned. |
Can a sheepskin be washed in the washing machine?
When it comes to sheepskins and washing machines, the question rightly arises all too often: can you wash a sheepskin in the washing machine or is it better to wash it by hand? Our clear and honest answer: Yes, but only under certain conditions.
Here comes another View of our table with the tanning types This is because only medically or vegetable tanned skins can withstand the machine. Salt-tanned skins are destroyed by machine washing, the tanning salts are washed out and the leather hardens permanently.
So if you own medically or vegetable tanned skins and want to use a washing machine and gentle programs to clean your sheepskin, our step-by-step guide below will give you the information you need. And for hand washing, we'll show you equally simple and safe instructions for gentle cleaning at home.
Step-by-step instructions: Cleaning sheepskin in the washing machine
- Prepare the coat: Dissolve dried stains with a brush and remove loose material.
- Wash alone: Put the coat in the drum without other laundry, as other textiles can damage the fibers or release color.
- The right program: Always select the wool program or alternatively the delicates/soft wash or hand wash program and wash on maximum 30°C wash.
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The right detergent: If possible, use a mild wool detergent without bleach, fabric softener or fragrances. Our bluu wash strips nonscents are phosphate-free, completely fragrance-free and suitable for all textiles, including wool and even silk and cashmere. One wash strip per wash cycle is enough.
OUR ADDITIONAL TIP:
If you wash your sheepskin at 30°C in the wool program, you are inevitably washing at low temperatures. Although low temperatures are gentle on the material, they are less effective against bacteria and germs, which are responsible for musty odors.
Our bluu silvertrooper compensates for this:
Simply place this hygienic silver cloth in the drum and it will release silver ions that have an antibacterial effect without harming the coat. - Spinning: Only use a gentle spin cycle at a maximum of 400 to 600 revolutions, as too much spinning puts a strain on the leather and can also permanently mat the fibers.
- Remove immediately: Remove the coat immediately after washing and immediately lay it out flat to dry in a well-ventilated place, preferably on a clothes horse or on a clean towel with the wool side down. While the coat is still damp, gently pull it into shape several times.
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Washed your coat? Don't forget the washing machine now Particularly after washing the coat, dirt and fine wool fibers sometimes remain in the coat. Lint filterbut also inside the machine and back. This is just the right moment to give the washing machine itself a quick tune-up: Our bluu calcbusters washing machine cleaner & descaler uses the power of oxygen to remove limescale, dirt film and odors from the drum, hoses and lye area. In short: A clean coat also loves a clean machine. |
Alternative step-by-step instructions: Washing the coat by hand
- Prepare a tub or large bowl of lukewarm water (approx. 30°C).
➤ ATTENTION: None hot water. - Dissolve about 25 ml of mild wool detergent (equivalent to about half a bluu wash strip) in a liter of boiling water and allow to cool to 30°C.
- Spread the sheepskin out flat and immediately apply the soap solution to the wool side using a soft cloth, a brush or your hands.
Work in gently, without rubbing or kneading, and keep the leather side dry. - Remove the soap residue with several clean, damp cloths until no more foam is visible.
- Now carefully shake out the fur (not wring) and then leave to dry in a well-ventilated place on a clothes horse or flat on a clean towel with the wool side down. Carefully pull into shape several times, as leather can no longer be shaped when it is dry.
These 5 mistakes when washing sheepskins destroy the fur:
- Temperatures above 30°C permanently destroy the lanolin structure & harden the leather
- Normal detergent or fabric softener attacks fibers and leather
- Strong spin irreversibly felts the wool
- Never use a dryer or heater as they make the leather hard and brittle
- Dry in the sun Discolors dyed hides and makes leather brittle
After cleaning: How to make your coat fluffy again
As soon as the sheepskin is completely dry, you are welcome to loosen its fibers several times with a fur brush. This will loosen tangles and bring back the fluffiness.
However, if it has become hard after gentle sheepskin washing, the coat can often be revived with regular brushing and air. This often happens if the leather has dried too quickly or under the influence of too much heat. However, a hard lambskin is rarely completely lost and can often be made much more supple again with a little patience and the right care. Special lanolin spray can also help to replace the natural oils that have been lost through use or cleaning.
It is now important to be patient:
- Knead and massage the completely dry coat careful with both hands, as this makes the leather a little more supple again.
- You can also apply a thin layer of leather grease or a lanolin spray to the leather side and allow it to soak in.
- The coat should then be left to dry and rest in a well-ventilated place and kneaded several times in between.
- If the leather remains stiff despite several attempts, a specialist company or saddler can help by professionally preparing the material.
Store sheepskin correctly for a long, cuddly soft quality
Finally, the correct storage of a sheepskin also plays a decisive role in ensuring that it gives you pleasure for a long time and remains soft and dimensionally stable for a long time.
With the following tips and simple habits, your sheepskin will stay well-groomed and protected for a long time:
- Store as flat as possible or hang over a wide bar because
- rolled up skins or skins that are folded too tightly can cause pressure marks on the leather side.
- Protect against insect infestationas moths and other pests attack natural fibers, especially during prolonged storage.
- Store the fur in a breathable bag or with lavender.
- No direct sunlight both when used as a decorative piece and as a rug, because UV rays fade colors and make the leather brittle.
- Do not place any heavy objects on it, because frequent and intensive buckling damages the leather structure.
CONCLUSION Cleaning sheepskin: Genuine sheepskin does not require extensive care, just the right care.
As you now know, caring for and washing a sheepskin is basically completely uncomplicated, as long as you know three crucial things: which type of tanning you have, which method is suitable and what you need to bear in mind when drying. If you take these things to heart, you will enjoy your sheepskin for many years to come.
And for the machine, medically or vegetable tanned fur can be washed well at 30°C, wool program and mild detergent.
For everything else: always rely on gentle care and complementary products such as those from bluu, which offer you sustainable and effective support as environmentally friendly washing solutions for wool, delicates etc.
Explore more smart TIPS & WASHING SOLUTIONS
FAQ on washing & cleaning sheepskins
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01 Can a sheepskin be washed in the washing machine?
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02 How often should you wash a sheepskin?
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03 How can you clean a sheepskin without washing it?
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04 Why does a sheepskin become hard after washing?
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05 Which detergent is best for sheepskin?
