Sheepskin Rug Cleaning and Care Instructions

Sheepskin rugs are wonderfully soft and luxurious under your feet, in any season and every climate. They are comfortable year round as they are delightfully warm in winter and pleasantly cool in summer. These rugs add not just comfort, but also texture and style to your home. Sheepskin rugs are easy to care for, as the wool fiber is sturdy and durable. Moreover, it is naturally resistant to spills and soiling, which makes it a low maintenance area rug. In fact, regular sheepskin rug cleaning is very basic. However, for deep cleaning, there is a certain procedure to follow, as well as things to keep in mind to avoid.

Qualities of Sheepskin Rugs

Earth friendly
Natural fiber
Strong, durable
Easy to clean and maintain
Spill and soil resistant
Soft and comfortable year round

Basic Sheepskin Rug Cleaning

For basic dust removal, sheepskin rugs should be brushed with a wire brush or vacuumed with an attachment. This process can be repeated weekly, depending on foot traffic in your home. However, allergic individuals and pet owners can vacuum or brush more often.

Sheepskin wool is a natural fiber that resists soiling, so it is easy to clean. When spills do occur, blotting them gently and spot cleaning with cold to lukewarm water is often enough to take care of the problem. However, for particularly tough stains, using sheepskin shampoo works wonders.

Deep Sheepskin Rug Cleaning

Sometimes your rug needs a thorough wash throughout. In that case, hand washing the rug in the bathtub is an option for larger rugs. For a smaller rug, just fit it in the washing machine and proceed using an enzyme free sheepskin shampoo and cold water to wash. Then, rinse with cold water, spin dry or squeeze gently by hand to remove extra moisture, and dry flat, away from a direct heat source. Also, make sure to avoid drying in direct sunlight. While the rug is drying, stretch, massage, and rub the skin to soften it and to minimize shrinkage, as sheepskin rugs tend to shrink 8-10% after washing. When your rug is dry, brush the wool using a metal brush to shape the fibers to their original fluffy state.

Storing Sheepskin Rugs

Before storing a sheepskin rug, it is best to clean it first. Since sheepskin wool has to breathe, putting it in a clean paper box in a cool, well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight is optimal. Storing this type of rug in plastic containers would allow moisture, condensation and mildew to take place.

Professional Sheepskin Rug Cleaning

For the most part, sheepskin rugs are resilient and can be cleaned at home, if the above instructions are carefully adhered to. However, when manufacturer's care instructions recommend professional rug cleaning, follow that guideline and entrust your rug to cleaners experienced with this type of rug cleaning. Large, heavy, decorative or delicate sheepskin rugs can be professionally cleaned with excellent results.

Sheepskin Rug Cleaning Tips Summary

Wash rug in cold water
Use enzyme free sheepskin shampoo, specially formulated for sheepskin rugs
Do not use harsh laundry detergents or bleach
Rinse rug in cold water
Squeeze rug to remove excess water or spin dry in washing machine
Air dry rug away from direct heat source or sunlight
Rub and massage rug skin while drying to keep it supple and soft
Brush wool when dry to restore fiber to fluffy appearance
Use professional rug cleaners for large or heavy rugs or due to manufacturer instructions