Nordic Sheep
Sheepskin Care Guide
A genuine sheepskin stays beautiful for years, and it needs less care than most people think. The lanolin in the wool naturally repels dirt and odor, so most of the time a good shake, some fresh air and a brush are all it takes. Below you'll find our care instructions for each type of sheepskin.
General care – for all sheepskins
- Shake your sheepskin regularly. At least 2–3 times a month, and more often if you sit or walk on it.
- Vacuum on the lowest suction setting. This keeps the wool light and fluffy.
- Air your sheepskin outdoors in the shade, ideally on a cold, dry day. Fresh air removes odors naturally. Keep it out of the rain.
- Brush straight-wool sheepskins with a sheepskin brush when the wool starts to look matted. Curly sheepskins should never be brushed.
- Treat stains right away. Wet stains are far easier to remove than dried-in ones.
Washing
This applies to all sheepskins unless your sheepskin type below says otherwise.
- Hand wash only. Use the lather from a lanolin wool wash and wash the wool.
- Remove the soap with a damp cloth, rinsing and wringing out the cloth many times, or rinse with cold water.
- Try not to soak the leather side – it can turn stiff.
- Shake off the excess water. Do not wring the sheepskin.
- Dry it wool side down on a drying rack, and stretch it gently as it dries so it keeps its shape.
Avoid
- Washing machines (see the exceptions for merino/New Zealand and baby sheepskins) and tumble dryers
- Direct sunlight on dyed sheepskins – the color can fade
- Heat from radiators, fireplaces or floor heating on a high setting – the leather can dry out
- Chemical cleaners, bleach and perfume
- Storing it in plastic – the wool needs to breathe
How to remove stains
First, blot up as much liquid as you can with a dry towel or paper towels. Don't rub, and don't pour water directly onto the stain – it spreads the stain and can damage the leather side. For a large stain, lay a towel on the wool side and stand on it. Brush or gently scrape off dried-on dirt first.
Then find the stain in the table and follow the steps in order.
| What's on your sheepskin? | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beer and liquor | 1 | 2 | – |
| Bleach / chlorine | 1 | 9 | – |
| Blood | 1 | 2 | – |
| Butter | 4 | 2 | – |
| Candle wax | 7 | 4 | – |
| Chewing gum | 5 | 4 | – |
| Chocolate | 4 | 1 | – |
| Coffee | 1 | 6 | – |
| Soda | 1 | 2 | – |
| Cooking oil | 4 | 2 | – |
| Cream | 1 | 4 | – |
| Egg (raw) | 1 | 9 | – |
| Paint (acrylic) | 1 | 2 | – |
| Paint (oil-based) | 4 | – | – |
| Mud (dry) | 8 | 4 | – |
| Salad dressing | 1 | 4 | – |
| Wine | 1 | 6 | – |
| Vomit | 1 | 3 | – |
| Urine (fresh) | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Urine (old) | 9 | – | – |
- Lukewarm water – dab on a very small amount with a cloth, then blot dry with a dry cloth.
- Whisk 1 tsp wool detergent and 1 tsp white vinegar into 1 liter (about 1 quart) of warm water, and gently work the foam into the wool.
- Clear household disinfectant.
- Dry-stain remover – follow the directions on the product.
- Chill with ice cubes in a plastic bag, then pick or scrape off the hardened residue.
- Mix 1/3 cup white vinegar with 2/3 cup water, apply gently with a cloth, then wipe with a damp cloth.
- Place absorbent paper over the wax and run a warm iron over the paper. The wax melts and soaks into the paper.
- Vacuum on the lowest suction setting.
- Have the sheepskin professionally cleaned.
Red wine: Keep blotting and absorbing until the cloth no longer picks up any color. The stain often shows more once the sheepskin dries – so repeat the treatment.
Merino / New Zealand sheepskins
This applies to our merino sheepskins and sheepskins from New Zealand – both long-wool and short-wool.
Care
- Shake the sheepskin and vacuum it on the lowest suction setting at least 2–3 times a month.
- Brush long-wool sheepskins when the wool looks matted – that makes it soft and fluffy again.
Hand washing – our recommendation
- Use the lather from a lanolin wool wash and wash the wool by hand.
- Remove the soap with a damp cloth, rinsing and wringing out the cloth many times.
- Shake off the excess water. Do not wring the sheepskin.
Machine washing – only when necessary
The sheepskin can be machine washed, but we advise against it. The leather side gets harder after machine washing, and the wool can become matted.
- Wool or delicate cycle, max. 30 °C (86 °F).
- Mild liquid wool detergent only.
- Spin only on the wool or delicate setting.
- If the leather side has gone hard, you can soften it by pulling it back and forth over the edge of a table.
Drying
- Dry the sheepskin wool side down on a drying rack.
- Stretch it gently now and then as it dries so it keeps its shape.
- No tumble dryer, no direct sun and no direct heat.
- Brush the wool once the sheepskin is completely dry.
For dyed sheepskins, we recommend professional cleaning.
Baby sheepskins
Our baby sheepskins are medically tanned, which means they can be washed.
- Stains and everyday care: see general care and stains.
- Machine washing is possible on a wool or delicate cycle at max. 30 °C (86 °F), with wool detergent or no detergent at all – but only do it when necessary.
- Air dry wool side down, away from sun and heat. No tumble dryer.
- If the leather side has gone stiff, you can soften it by pulling it back and forth over the edge of a table.
Icelandic sheepskins
Icelandic sheepskins in natural colors are undyed, so they can also be used outdoors. Dyed Icelandic sheepskins should be kept out of direct sunlight.
Care
- Shake the sheepskin and vacuum it on the lowest suction setting at least 2–3 times a month.
- Brush it when it looks matted.
Washing
- Hand wash only. Do not machine wash.
- Wash the wool with the lather from a lanolin wool wash, then rinse with cold water.
- Try not to soak the leather side – it can turn stiff.
- Shake off the excess water.
Drying
- Wool side down on a drying rack, stretching the sheepskin gently as it dries.
- No tumble dryer, no direct sun and no direct heat.
English sheepskins
English sheepskins are undyed and can be used both indoors and outdoors. They are among the softest sheepskins we carry.
- Care: shake, vacuum on the lowest suction setting and brush regularly.
- Washing: hand wash only with a lanolin wool wash, then rinse with cold water. Do not machine wash.
- Drying: wool side down on a drying rack, away from sun and heat. No tumble dryer.
Tibetan sheepskins (curly)
Tibetan sheepskins have fine corkscrew curls. They are dyed (except the white ones) and should be kept out of direct sunlight.
Care
- Shake the sheepskin and vacuum it on the lowest suction setting. Do not brush it – brushing ruins the curls.
- If the curls have gone limp, lightly dampen the wool and scrunch the curls back up by hand, one handful at a time.
Washing
- Hand wash only, in cold water with a lanolin wool wash. Do not machine wash.
- Rinse with cold water, and avoid getting the leather side wet.
- Shake off the water and scrunch the curls so they keep their shape.
Drying
- Wool side down on a drying rack, stretching the sheepskin gently as it dries.
- No tumble dryer, no direct sun and no direct heat.
For dyed sheepskins, we recommend professional cleaning.
The right care products
With a lanolin wool wash and a sheepskin brush, you have everything you need for both washing and everyday care.
Not sure how to care for your sheepskin? Contact our customer service – we're happy to help.