The best tips for caring for sheepskin

Genuine sheepskin is a natural product with built-in self-cleaning. The lanolin in the wool repels dirt and odours. Your main job is to preserve that lanolin. Here are the tips that really count in everyday life.

Dry cleaning

Shake out the fleece regularly and brush it up with a fleece brush against the grain. This removes dust and keeps the wool loose. For stools this is usually all it takes. We include a fleece brush with every stool.

Removing stains

Dab fresh stains straight away with a damp cloth, working from the outside in. Do not use hot water or household cleaners, as they draw the lanolin out of the fleece. For stubborn stains, a fleece detergent containing lanolin helps, diluted in water and applied with the cloth.

Airing instead of washing

A few hours in the fresh air, in the shade and protected from rain, freshen up the fleece and take out odours. This is often the better choice than washing.

Avoiding moisture and sun

Wetness washes out lanolin and the leather becomes stiff. Sun bleaches the colour. If the fleece does get wet, lay it flat on a towel, pull it into shape and let it dry slowly. Never on a radiator, never in the tumble dryer.

Storing properly

If you do not need a sheepskin for a while, store it dry, cool and airy. No plastic bag, as it traps moisture. A cotton bag protects against dust and lets the fleece breathe.

In brief

• Shake out and brush regularly.
• Dab stains straight away with a damp cloth.
• Air instead of washing.
• Little water, no heat, no ordinary detergents.
• Store dry and airy.

If washing does become necessary, you will find the instructions in our article Washing sheepskin.