The Step-by-Step Guide to Easily Clean Your Sheepskin Rug

5 May 2023
Est. Reading: 3 minutes
What's in This Guide?
Cleaning Items You'll Need.
Rubber gloves
Drying rack or clothesline
Shop-Vac or wet-dry vacuum with a narrow and wide-spade attachment
Rug, wool, or baby shampoo
A bucket of water
Spray bottle
A pet grooming brush
Microfibre towel or a sponge

Introduction

This article will guide you through the process of properly washing a sheepskin rug at home without damaging the delicate fibres. You can also use this method to wash a fur or faux fur rug. Not forgetting the wool or sheepskin collar of your favourite jacket.

We own a rug cleaning spa in Dublin and specialise in fine fabric, antique rug, and wool cleaning. Drawing from our experience, we'll show you the best way to vacuum the sheepskin to remove the dirt and how to wash the rug. We also show you how to vacuum the slurry out of the rug and how to groom the pile back to being soft and fluffy.

Many people are unsure of the best way to clean a sheepskin rug at home. Fortunately, it is not difficult to care for your rug when you know the right techniques. Read on to find out more!

How to Clean a Sheep Rug at Home in 7 Simple Steps

There is nothing quite as hygge as the plushness of a fluffy sheepskin rug Ideal for adding texture, cosiness, and style to any living space. Nothing rivals the luxury and comfort of a sheepskin rug.

They do, however, need extra maintenance when it comes to caring for them. With proper care and the right know-how, they will last you a lifetime!

If your rug is in desperate need of a good wash and you are unsure how to wash a sheepskin rug. Then this guide is for you.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step One: Shake the Dirt Out of the Rug
The first thing we are going to do is shake out the rug, preferably outdoors, to remove as much dry soil as possible.

Step Two: Vacuum

Use the wet-dry vacuum cleaner with a wide spade attachment to vacuum the rug.

The reason we use the wide-spade attachment is that it will allow the fibres of the rug to go into the vacuum head. In turn, this will release any bits of dry dirt into the vacuum.

For any bits of dry dust that remain trapped in the fibres, use the pet grooming brush to loosen the dirt. Followed by vacuuming it out.

Step Three: Prepare the Washing Solution

  1. Have a bucket with five litres (1.3 US Gal.) of water in it.
  2. Pour about 50 ml of rug cleaning shampoo. You can also use wool cleaner or baby shampoo.
  3. Put your gloves on and gently swirl the water to mix in the detergent.

Step Four: Hand wash The Sheepskin Rug

  1. Soak the microfibre cloth in the solution, and liberally apply and work it into the rug. Don’t be shy about adding enough solution to the rug! Allow it to penetrate and loosen the soil.
  2. Do this until you have covered the entire rug.

Step Five: Vacuum To Remove The Slurry

  1. Now that you have sponged down the rug, use your wet/dry vacuum with the narrow attachment to remove the slurry.
  2. Continue the process until you have worked your way through the entire rug.

Step Six: Air Dry The Rug
Allow the rug to dry on a drying rack or clothesline. Avoid tumble drying and drying in direct sunlight. The heat causes the leather to harden and possibly crack.

Step Seven: Groom To Fluff

  1. Comb the rug with the grooming brush when it is completely dry. This will detangle any matted fibres.
  2. Use the brush to rake the pile in a north-to-south and east-to-west fashion. This will restore the fluffiness to the pile.
Top Tip...!
If you are cleaning a fur rug or blanket, always groom the pile to restore the fluffiness.

Takeaway on Cleaning a Sheepskin Rug at Home

We hope that this tutorial was useful in learning how to vacuum and wash a sheepskin rug. With the right care, your rug can last for many years, adding a touch of luxury and comfort to your home.

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