Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Prepare your carpet for washing
• Method 2 of 4: Hand wash the sheepskin
• Method 3 of 4: Use alternative cleaning methods
• Method 4 of 4: Drying the sheepskin rug
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

A natural sheepskin rug is very easy to maintain, and if you wash it properly, it will look like new again. If your carpet is small and relatively new, you can machine wash it using the wool or delicates cycle and a special sheepskin detergent. Otherwise, it is best to hand wash your carpet and gently stir it through a tub of cold water and sheepskin detergent. Letting your sheepskin rug dry flat and brushing out the knots will make it soft and clean again in no time.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Prepare your carpet for washing

1. Shake out your carpet outside to remove the excess dirt. Take your carpet outside and keep it above the ground. Shake it back and forth so that all dust and dirt particles fall to the floor. This way you do not remove all the dirt, but you do get rid of all the larger pieces of dirt that are not stuck in the sheepskin.

   Tip: hit the carpet gently with your hand to help loosen even more dirt.

   
   
2. Brush your carpet before washing to remove any knots. This will prevent the sheepskin hair from felting after washing. Use a regular brush or a brush specially designed for sheepskin. Treat the entire carpet with it and get the knots out of the coat.
   • A wide tooth comb also works well.
   • Proceed slowly and carefully to avoid damaging the carpet.
3. Read the washing label on the sheepskin to find out which washing method is recommended. There should be a care label on the carpet stating proper washing and maintenance methods to keep your carpet healthy and tidy. Read the care label and see which washing method is recommended, for example hand washing or washing the carpet in the washing machine with the wool or delicates program.
   • Don't worry if you can't find the care label. Choose to hand wash the carpet to be on the safe side.
   • If your carpet is small or about the size of a doormat, you can put it in the washing machine.
   • If you have a larger carpet, it is best to hand wash it. The carpet can be damaged in the washing machine or not cleaned properly with the wool or delicates program.

Method 2 of 4: Hand wash the sheepskin

1. Fill a bathtub or basin with water and sheepskin detergent. Fill your bathtub or a large plastic tub with cold water. Pour in a sheepskin detergent and check the packaging to see exactly how much you should use.Do not use regular detergent, as this can damage your carpet.
   • If you still don't know how much detergent to use, measure out about a cap and use the cap from the detergent bottle.

   Warning: know that your sheepskin rug will likely shrink a bit if you submerge it in water.

   
   
2. Dip the carpet in the water and gently stir it around. Remove as much dirt as possible by gently stirring the carpet in the water to loosen the dirt. You can also gently scrub the dirty areas you see with a clean, soft cloth. Continue to stir the carpet in the water for about five minutes.
   • Be careful when doing this so that the carpet does not felt unnecessarily.
3. Drain the dirty water from the bathtub and put clean water in it. Remove the plug from the drain and allow the dirty water to drain, keeping the carpet away from the drain. When all the dirty water is gone, put the plug back on the drain and fill the bathtub with clean, cold water.
   • Add more sheepskin detergent to the bathtub if you think the carpet is still dirty. However, it is better to use less than the first time to make it easier to rinse the product out of the sheepskin.
4. Run the carpet through the clean water to rinse it out. Stir the carpet in the water again to remove the last remnants of dirt and detergent. Gently rub the carpet with your hands to help remove the detergent and dirt.
   • If you notice that the water is getting dirty again, drain the water and fill the tub with clean water. Do this as often as necessary until the water stays fairly clean.

Method 3 of 4: Use alternative cleaning methods

1. Wash a small carpet with the wool or delicates program and a special sheepskin detergent. This works well if your carpet is about the size of a doormat. Put the carpet in the washing machine and check the detergent bottle exactly how much to put in the washing machine. Wash the carpet with the wool or delicates program and make sure you do not use hot water.
   • Use a detergent especially for sheepskin so that your carpet does not get damaged.
   • Hot water is bad for the leather on the back of the carpet. It shrinks and hardens.

   Tip: a sheepskin detergent, which you can buy online or at a household supply store, is often highly concentrated so you can use less of it than a regular laundry detergent.

   
   
2. Only clean the dirty areas if you don't want the carpet to shrink. The carpet can shrink if you submerge it in water. To avoid this, use a clean cloth and some sheepskin detergent to clean the carpet without dipping it in water. Wet the cloth with cold water and detergent and gently scrub the carpet in the direction of the fur. Remove the detergent residue with a clean cloth that you have moistened with water.
   • Continue to rinse the cloth and gently scrub the areas until the dirt is removed.
3. Take the carpet to a dry cleaner if it is dyed. Washing a dyed sheepskin rug by hand or in the washing machine can ruin the color. In this case, it is best to take your carpet to a dry cleaner to keep it looking good.

Method 4 of 4: Drying the sheepskin rug

1. Remove the carpet from the bathtub or washing machine and gently squeeze out the water. Hold the rug over the bathtub or sink and squeeze a section at a time to remove excess water. Avoid twisting or wringing the carpet, as this can cause the carpet to warp when dry.
   • Keep squeezing water from the carpet until it is damp and no longer dripping.
2. Dry the carpet with a towel for a gentler method. If you'd rather not squeeze the water out of your carpet, remove it from the bathtub or washing machine and place it on the floor. Dab the carpet with a clean towel to help absorb the water. Do this until no more water drips from the carpet.
   • Place a large towel on the floor to prevent the floor from getting soaked.
   • You can also do this after squeezing the excess water out of the carpet to speed up the drying process.
3. Lay the carpet flat to dry in a warm place. Do not place the rug in a place with direct heat, such as in the sun or next to a heater or fireplace. Lay a towel on the floor to soak up the excess moisture and lay the rug flat in its natural shape. Let the carpet dry like this for several hours.
   • When the carpet is dry it feels stiff.
   • Placing the carpet in direct sunlight or near a strong heat source can cause it to warp.

   Pay attention: it is not recommended to hang the carpet to dry as this will cause the leather to stretch.

4. Brush the carpet while drying to make it softer. Some people brush the carpet while it is still wet, while others wait to brush until it is completely dry. Consider combing the wet carpet with a wide-tooth comb and brushing it with a sheepskin brush when dry to make it extra soft.
   • A pet brush works well for brushing the dry carpet and gives it more volume.

Tips

• If your carpet has yellowed, you cannot remove the discoloration by washing it. Yellowing is caused by sunlight and aging.
• If you spill something on your carpet, quickly blot the fabric up before it soaks into the sheepskin.
• It is best to wash your sheepskin rug in spring, summer or fall to allow it to dry naturally outside (but not in hot and direct sunlight).

Warnings

• Submerging your carpet in water will cause it to shrink.
• It is risky to wash a sheepskin rug that is over 15 years old, as the leather can fall apart.
• Do not spin your carpet in the washing machine.
• Never wash your sheepskin rug with regular detergent.

Necessities

• Coarse comb
• Brush (a special sheepskin brush or a pet brush)
• Sheepskin detergent
• Bathtub or large plastic tub
• Clean cloth
• Large clean towels