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 you begin the procedure, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of caring for this fur product:
To remove dust and debris, shake or beat the skin well.- For better cleaning, the product is vacuumed at low power. You need to guide the brush in the direction of hair growth.
- To give the coat an attractive appearance, it must be combed with a brush.
- 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.
Cleaning tough stains
Sometimes stubborn stains appear on sheepskin that cannot be eliminated by any of the above methods. The following products will help clean sheep fur with such stains:
- Hydrogen peroxide. Great for tidying up white fur. To do this, you first need to dissolve five milliliters of the active substance in a glass of warm water. Then apply the resulting mixture to the problem area and leave until dry.
- Ammonia. Allows you to clean even old dirt. First you need to mix the caustic liquid and water in a one to one ratio. Then distribute the active solution over the stained surface.
- Baking soda. White powder is mainly used to add whiteness to fur products. Experienced housewives most often use this method to clean a sheepskin coat that has turned yellow. To carry out the hygiene procedure, you first need to rub soda particles into the fur and then comb it out with a stiff brush.
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:
- 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.
- Before washing, the sheepskin must be cleaned of crumbs and dust removed.
- Do not use detergents containing chlorine and other aggressive components for washing. Preference should be given to gels and liquid powders.
- 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.
- The presence of stubborn stains is a reason for pre-soaking.
Wash the product according to the following algorithm:
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.- Pour detergent into the washing machine compartment or use gel capsules.
- 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.
- After washing is complete, remove the skin from the drum, shake it and place it on a flat surface to dry.
If powder was used for washing, then it is necessary to turn on the additional rinse mode to wash out the remaining detergent from the wool.
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.
Peculiarities of skin dressing
Hides are an important source of income for farmers raising sheep for meat. But many livestock breeders simply throw away the skins, not wanting to deal with dressing. This is truly a tedious matter. Some sheep farmers prefer to hand over raw hides to special collection points. But if there is a long distance between the farm and the point, and there are only a few skins, such trips are unprofitable.
The best solution is not to throw away valuable raw materials, but to tan the skins yourself
What is important to know about dressing:
- The process is divided into several stages: fleshing;
- pickling;
- wash;
- tanning;
- drying.
- washing powder;
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.
The solution is poured into a spray bottle and the wool is sprayed with it. Do not allow the product to come into contact with the undercoat or skin. After 10-15 minutes, the sheepskin is rinsed in warm water.
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:
- Sprinkle the stain with baking soda and press it down with a paper napkin.
- Leave the product to act for 4 hours.
- 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.
If you were unable to remove traces of drinks the first time, you can repeat the procedure without waiting for the wool to dry.
Salinity
During active use, the fur becomes greasy in certain places. You can deal with the problem without washing the skin.
Procedure:
- Sprinkle the greasy area with salt.
- Distribute it evenly over the skin.
- Leave the salt for 2 hours.
- 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.
Household chemicals
You can also clean sheepskin using industrial products. If the quality of the wash is not satisfactory or the stain is not removed after using folk remedies, you can use special stain removers.
What can be used and how to use:
- Sommieres Powder perfectly removes greasy and oily stains. The powder should be used strictly according to the instructions. Sommieres Powder is applied to the contaminated area and left to absorb for several hours. The powder is removed with a napkin or brush.
- ULTRA FINISH MILK is a product that can be used to clean sheep fur. It does not stick hairs together and restores shine.
- You can use LIVAL LICKER KONZ. This product is suitable for any fur. It perfectly cleans the pile, making it soft and silky.
Although wet cleaning using household chemicals is effective, it should not be used very often.
Sheepskin and products made from it look excellent only with proper care. Give them just a few hours a month and your carpets, covers and things will be clean and look like new.
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:
- Baby cream – 1 tbsp. l.
- Glycerin – 1 tbsp. l.
- 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.
Restoring softness
After getting wet, the skin becomes rougher. Softening it is an important step in caring for sheep skins. You will have to additionally use special softening agents - Vaseline and glycerin.
The sequence of actions in such a case looks like this:
- You need to take glycerin in a volume of 20 grams.
- Mix with a glass of water.
- The mixture is applied evenly to the skin, while slightly stretching it.
You can use Vaseline. This product in an amount of 20 grams is mixed with a liter of water and one yolk. The surface is carefully treated with the resulting composition. If you follow the instructions, the sheep skin will be clean, soft, and pleasant to the touch.
Drying rules
You need to dry sheepskin correctly. Conditions to be observed:
- Lay out the product only with the fur out.
- Straighten the pile with your hands and lightly fluff it with your palms.
- There should be no creases or folds on the item.
- During drying, the skin is periodically shaken and slightly stretched with your hands so that it does not decrease in size.
- Do not place sheepskin on the radiator or near the fireplace. It should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
- It is not recommended to hang wet skins. It deforms under its own weight.
- 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.
- 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.
You need to dry sheepskin in natural conditions: in the shade outside, or in a dry, well-ventilated room.
Care requirements
Caring for natural sheepskin products must be carried out in compliance with the following conditions:
- Consistency.
Sheepskin skins need to be shaken periodically. You can use a vacuum cleaner in very dusty conditions; - Maintaining humidity levels.
The material does not tolerate high moisture in the air. Covers will quickly lose their appearance in a damp room. Will spoil if kept too dry; - Minimizing the influence of water.
Wet washing can be used as a last resort. It cannot be done often. The dry care option will not harm the products. Light processing of fur with a damp cloth is allowed; - It is necessary to choose the right cleaning and washing products.
It is strictly forbidden to use household chemicals that contain chlorine or other aggressive bleaching substances.
It is important to remove dirt promptly. Stains should be removed immediately. Otherwise, the pollution is eaten away. It becomes extremely difficult to remove it.
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 the stain remains on the 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
Each owner of a sheep's skin should 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.
If after washing the product emits an unpleasant odor, the procedure must be repeated. It is a consequence of inadequate drying of the item and water decay.
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.
Cases made of natural fur in the "World of Cases"
If you need to buy sheepskin seat covers, you should study the catalog. Customers are offered a varied selection of high quality products. Fur capes keep you warm during the cold season. Provides a soft feeling on the seat. Thanks to such coatings, the factory upholstery is protected from damage and dirt. Fur products and car covers made of eco-leather will serve their owners for a long time. The main thing is to provide them with proper care. Take the recommendations listed above into account.
