How to wash artificial and natural sheepskin coats at home

Which sheepskin coats can be washed

Care and cleaning of outerwear items does not allow experimentation due to the high cost of the products and high risks. For this reason, it is necessary to follow all the rules and techniques so as not to spoil the thing and achieve the desired result.

All types of sheepskin coats can be washed, but the process depends on the material, style, finish and presence of decorations. For clarification, it is recommended to look at the product label.

Advice. It is difficult to wash a sheepskin coat like in a dry cleaner, so it is recommended to immediately contact a specialized service. This is a reliable way not to worry about the cleaning result and get a well-washed item without flaws. However, not all companies employ sheepskin coats, especially those made of genuine leather.

Features of caring for artificial sheepskin coats

We recommend that you carefully study the care label for your product before wearing it. It is there that all the wearing rules will be described, taking into account all the individual characteristics of your wardrobe item. It is also advisable to keep this label, since the dry cleaner may ask you for it when you need its services.

There are a number of features and general recommendations for caring for artificial sheepskin coats:

try to ride public transport while standing. This way you will reduce the risk of tanned leather rubbing in some places and avoid accidental stains on the product;
store the sheepskin coat in a dark place where bright daylight does not penetrate. This way, its color will remain for many years, and you will not need the services of a restorer for a long time;
protect your sheepskin coat from water. Try, if possible, not to get wet through and through, this can stretch your sheepskin coat and ruin its appearance;
treat the product with water-repellent products of proven quality brands;

Important! To clean stains, use a special lint care product. Apply the product to the stain, remove excess with a sponge and dry the product. To remove grease stains, use tooth powder.

Machine washable

Winter clothes require special care, since the material from which the clothes are made is easily damaged. It may lose its appearance and its qualities; moreover, during the washing process, the washing machine may be damaged, since not all types of equipment are designed for bulky items.

Important! Before washing, it is recommended to read the washing machine passport, which indicates the permissible volume of clothing. This information is also indicated on the case.

Washing sheepskin coats made from artificial materials

Is it possible to wash a sheepskin coat in a washing machine as indicated on the label?

The label usually indicates whether the faux sheepskin coat can be washed by hand. In any case, throwing the item in the washing machine is the most extreme option; it is recommended to clean the surface of the sheepskin coat as it gets dirty, so as not to resort to a washing machine.

It is much easier to take care of things made from artificial materials compared to natural leather. Manufacturers are aware of the difficulties of washing sheepskin coats, so they produce products with good moisture-wicking properties. The special material makes it easier to wash at home and reduces the risk of damage.

Before loading the item into the machine, you need to read the information on the label, which indicates the program and temperature. Typically, faux sheepskin coats can be cleaned in three ways:

hand wash;
in the typewriter;
at the dry cleaners.

When using a washing machine, you need to find out whether it is possible to turn on the spin mode. At the same time, its parameters are always set to low speed. The water temperature should not exceed 30°C, otherwise the artificial leather will be deformed. Gel is suitable as a detergent, as it is quite effective and does not harm the material. Moreover, it is easily removed from the fiber structure and does not leave soapy residue.

Important! When processing sheepskin coats, you cannot use washing powder due to the likelihood of streaks. Bleach and chlorine products are also not suitable for artificial and natural leather.

Washing sheepskin coats made from natural materials

Clothing made from real leather and fur is the object of many people's dreams, as such things look good and keep warm even in harsh weather. Nevertheless, you have to pay for this, and not only in monetary terms: you need to properly care for the thing. Natural materials require special treatment and careful handling.

To understand whether a sheepskin coat can be washed in a washing machine, you need to evaluate the procedure parameters written on the product label. It should be remembered that natural sheepskin coats made of leather cannot be washed, as they become deformed during prolonged contact with water. For this reason, it is customary to wipe them with a sponge using folk remedies. Moreover, the item cannot be wrung out to avoid creases. You also need to dry your leather sheepskin coat away from sunlight and radiators, otherwise the leather will begin to crack and its original color will be lost. Leather products are susceptible to careless influence. When caring for a sheepskin coat made from natural materials, you need to remember a few rules:

Follow the label information and do not use unauthorized cleaning products. You should also try not to expose your skin to friction or getting wet.
It is recommended to use starch and semolina to remove fat and dirt from natural leather, as they do not lighten the material and do not leave marks.
If moisture gets on the product, you should dry the sheepskin coat by laying it out on a flat surface. In this case, you should not use a hair dryer that is too hot or place the item on the radiator.
As soon as the leather is dry, the sheepskin coat needs to be gently kneaded so that it straightens out and there are no traces of folds left.
Pockets, sleeves and collars are the most difficult places, but they can be easily cleaned using a mixture of tooth powder and ammonia diluted in equal proportions. After application, they should be cleaned with a cloth or sponge. For complex stains, you can use a brush.

Important! When washing clothes made from genuine leather, it is recommended to use a minimum of detergents. In this case, it is forbidden to use powder; It is better to replace it with folk recipes or a weak soap solution.

How to dry a sheepskin coat correctly

In order for outerwear to retain its beauty and not become deformed, it is not enough to simply wash it properly to remove dirt. It is very important to dry the sheepskin coat according to all the rules, especially if it was washed in a machine when the item was completely wet.

Dry outerwear made from natural and artificial materials exclusively on hangers. The sheepskin coat should not be laid out horizontally on the dryer; it should not be folded in half or in the sleeves; when it dries, such actions will leave creases on it.

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The washed jacket should dry naturally at room temperature about 25 °C. You need to dry your sheepskin coat in a room with good ventilation and low humidity.

It is forbidden to try to speed up the drying of outerwear in any way. You cannot dry the item with a hairdryer, heater or radiator; it is not even recommended to hang a sheepskin coat close to a radiator or gas stove. When exposed to hot air, the jacket will dry faster, but will lose its attractive appearance and shrink.

Tanned jackets are dried exclusively on hangers

Advice! If water drips heavily from your clothes after the procedure, you can first pat them thoroughly with a thick towel.

Is it permissible to wash a sheepskin coat by hand?

Self-washing of the product is only permissible for artificial leather and suede, since natural material does not tolerate prolonged exposure to moisture.

In household chemical stores you can find a product for cleaning fur and leather. Sellers can also give useful tips on how to wash a faux sheepskin coat by hand and how to care for it after the procedure. If you cannot get special household chemicals, you can use folk remedies or a weak solution of washing gel.

First you need to vacuum, comb and clean the fur. If it is seriously soiled, it can be washed in warm water, but it is better to treat only stained areas. After washing, the fur loses its appearance, sticks together, the lint falls out - such a product can no longer be restored. If the material is processed locally, then after drying it is enough to comb it, and to add shine it can be wiped with a weak solution of acetic acid.

Removing stains using folk remedies is a common method. Salt, starch, tooth powder with ammonia and other recipes are suitable. As a rule, most products act as sorbents, that is, they draw out dirt and absorb it. To achieve the effect, the substances must be changed regularly - once every 1-2 hours until the stains are completely removed. At the end of the procedure, the sheepskin coat is vacuumed using a soft furniture attachment.

To remove old contaminants, many housewives use a steam generator. This is a safe way to remove blots, since the hot steam acts gently and does not wet the surface. In addition, it does not take much time, and the product itself is disinfected and smoothed.

Also, for difficult stains, a solution of ammonia and glycerin is effective, which are combined in equal proportions with the addition of 1 tsp. borax and 2 tbsp. clean water. A cotton pad is soaked with this product, then the stain is thoroughly coated. The remaining mixture is removed with a napkin.

Wet cleaning of sheepskin coats

If you still fail to update your favorite item using dry cleaning, then you will have to move on to wet cleaning. This option is not very good because it involves the use of chemistry. But if there is no other way...

You can even remove old and stubborn stains using this method. Both special chemical cleaners and those made with your own hands are used. If you decide to use cleaning products from the store, you should carefully read the rules and recommendations for use so as not to spoil the item.

Wet cleaning

One of the “folk” cleaning products is gasoline or kerosene. And no matter how strange it may sound, many people actually use them to clean their winter clothes, despite the fact that these ingredients do not have a very pleasant smell. However, they do a great job of cleaning up old stains.

Before using these cleansers, you need to thoroughly steam your skin. Apply gasoline or kerosene to a swab and rub it into the stain in a circular motion. Thus it is removed. But this method is not suitable for light things, only for dark ones.

Ammonia and water will help you clean a stain from a light sheepskin coat. To do this, you need to dilute it in a ratio of 1 to 4. Apply the resulting mixture to a swab and, as in the case of gasoline, apply in a circular motion to the stain.

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After this procedure, you should apply a special vinegar solution. It can be prepared by adding a tablespoon to half a liter of water. This solution will help restore the skin a little and strengthen its color.

A mixture of soda and milk also helps. It removes stains no less effectively, while maintaining all the properties and color of the skin. Pour a glass of milk and add a tablespoon of soda to it. Apply this substance to a tampon and remove the stain in a circular motion. Afterwards, wipe the treated area with a cloth or sponge soaked in vinegar.

Expert opinion

Irina. Housewife.

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And returning to the issue of steaming the skin, it is worth using special steam generators. Such devices will be especially helpful in softening suede material and removing some stains.

What is dry washing of sheepskin coats at home and how is it done?

If the product cannot be washed in a machine due to the fancy natural leather or the abundance of decorative accessories, you can use the tips for dry washing. There are three ways to clean an item without water:

vacuum cleaner;
local removal of dirt and stains;
treatment with special protective compounds.

First, you should lay the item out on a flat horizontal surface and vacuum it. The floor brush should be replaced with a furniture attachment, as it is more gentle on the surface of the material.

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The fur must be cleaned with special care, as a lot of dirt settles on it. Fur inserts are washed with soapy water and then allowed to dry. In this case, the fur should be dried vertically to avoid deformation.

In the store you can purchase a moisture-wicking composition that is sprayed onto the products. It not only prevents water absorption, but also makes cleaning easier.

When is it better to go to dry cleaning?

Dry cleaning is a place where they wash items with high quality and give a guarantee. It is a fail-safe option if you are afraid to wash your outerwear yourself. Specialists will return the sheepskin coat to its original fresh appearance.

You should resort to dry cleaning if you need careful care. Laser-treated surfaces require such care. At home, it is easy to damage them, completely ruining the appearance of the clothes. You cannot do without dry cleaning if the product requires additional painting, removal of scratches on the leather and scuffs on the suede. It will not be possible to perform such manipulations on your own at home.

If you don’t know how to wash a sheepskin coat, study the existing label and read the information about the material of the product. Only after this try to clean the item yourself at home.

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Folk remedies

Shearling coats made from both natural and artificial materials should be washed using folk remedies; however, powder or aggressive solutions should not be used. Common recipes include:

semolina;
starch;
yesterday's bread.

You need to sprinkle and rub a little semolina onto the dirt, then shake it off. The process is repeated until the stain disappears. Starch works in the same way - when rubbed, it absorbs dirt. Moreover, it is suitable for oily stains that are usually difficult to remove, especially from natural leather. The bread should be slightly dry. You need to rub the stain with a stale crust until it is completely removed.

Attention! Getting rid of fresh dirt is much easier and faster than getting rid of dried blots, so don’t put off cleaning until later.

Bread, starch and cereals can be replaced with a pencil eraser, salt, tooth powder or chalk. These substances absorb and remove dirt safely for natural or artificial leather. Sometimes it becomes necessary to use sandpaper, but this is a risky method as the hard surface can damage the material.

The following methods are used to clean a sheepskin coat made of genuine leather:

Salt. First, the product is placed on a horizontal surface. You need to pour the product onto the stain, rub it evenly and let the dirt absorb. It usually takes 2-3 hours to wait, depending on the complexity of the contamination. Next, the sheepskin coat is cleaned with a brush or vacuum cleaner. Salt helps with greasy blots, as well as with old stains that have been absorbed. It is recommended to use a finely ground product.
Ammonia paste. To prepare the mixture, take tooth powder and ammonia (a couple of drops is enough). The stain is brushed and then left to dry. After some time, the dirt is cleaned off with a damp sponge. This method is good for treating greasy areas on the collar and sleeves.
Glycerin solution. Add glycerin and 2-3 drops of ammonia to 250 ml of warm water, then apply to the stain with a soft sponge.
Soapy water. The surface of the skin is washed with a dampened cloth, but the solution should not be too concentrated.
Milk and soda. To prepare the paste, you need to dissolve 1 tsp. baking soda in a small volume of a dairy product, then moisten the sponge and rub the contaminated area of the sheepskin coat.
Acetic acid solution. It can be poured into a spray bottle and sprayed onto the dirt. It is also a good way to give a product a fresh look.

After the procedures, it is recommended to hang clothes on the balcony, but direct sunlight should be avoided, otherwise the skin may fade. For this reason, the best time is late evening or night.

Useful tips

If your tanned leather winter jacket requires serious cleaning, you should try the dry cleaning method first. Sheepskin coats are cleaned using brushes, bread crumbs, and an eraser; in case of light contamination, such methods may be sufficient.

If the dry method does not help, you can try to wash individual stains. Dirt on a jacket can be scrubbed off with ammonia and glycerin, soap solution and even gasoline, depending on the complexity of the stain.

It makes sense to wash the entire jacket only if neither dry nor wet cleaning methods have produced satisfactory results. Contact with water always poses an increased danger for a winter jacket, so washing is used in exceptional situations.

After treatment in water, it is recommended to lubricate the jacket with a glycerin solution or a special composition for tanned leather. This will soften the material and give it water-repellent properties. But you need to apply products to tanned leather only after the clothes are completely dry.

To make the product less dirty, it needs to be cleaned regularly using dry methods.

In order for the jacket to remain attractive longer and require washing less often, it is necessary to properly care for the clothing. Namely:

clean with dry and wet methods at the end of each season and only then put away for storage;
inspect your jacket monthly to notice emerging stains in time;
Eliminate contaminants as soon as possible, without waiting for them to be properly absorbed.

A jacket made of tanned leather or faux suede should be stored in a fairly spacious closet, the item should hang freely. You need to keep it on hangers; for better safety, you can pack the item in a special bag that allows air to pass through well.

Washing can always damage a sheepskin coat, so it’s better to do it less often