Sheepskin Rug Care

A genuine sheepskin rug is one of the most rewarding natural floor coverings you can own. Properly looked after, our British and Icelandic sheepskins will last for many years — often a lifetime — softening with age and developing real character. They’re naturally hardwearing, beautifully tactile, and far more forgiving than people often assume. But like any natural hide, they do need a little thoughtful care to stay at their best.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know about caring for a sheep skin rug, from day-to-day maintenance through to the occasional spot-clean, and what to do (and what definitely not to do) if you ever need to wash one. If you’ve not yet bought yours, you can explore our full range of genuine sheepskin rugs here — every fleece individually photographed so you can see the natural markings before you choose.

Understanding Your Sheepskin Rug

Before getting into the practical care, it helps to understand a little about what makes a real sheepskin rug different from a synthetic alternative.

Genuine sheepskin is a natural product, and like all natural products it responds to its environment. The wool fibres are naturally protected by lanolin — the same waxy substance that keeps a living sheep waterproof in the wettest British weather. That lanolin acts as a built-in barrier against dirt and moisture, which is why a sheepskin needs far less cleaning than most people expect.

What sheepskins don’t love is:

• Strong direct sunlight — bleaches the wool and dries out the leather backing
• Damp environments — encourages mould and can cause the fibres to curl up tightly
• Heat sources — radiators, fires, and underfloor heating dry out the skin
• Harsh chemicals — biological detergents, bleach, and enzyme cleaners damage the wool

Keep those four things in mind and you’re already 90% of the way to a long-lasting rug.

Good to Know: Whether you’ve chosen a classic British sheepskin, an Icelandic sheepskin with its long, lustrous wool, or one of our curly-fleeced varieties, the care principles are broadly the same. The longer the wool, the more it’ll benefit from regular brushing to keep the fibres separated and looking their best.

How Customers Actually Use Their Sheepskins

One of the lovely things about sheepskins is how versatile they are — and how creatively our customers use them. Over the years we’ve seen them used as:

• Traditional floor rugs, layered or standalone
• Throws draped over sofas, armchairs, and benches
• Mattress toppers for unparalleled warmth and comfort
• Office chair covers — genuinely transformative for anyone working long hours
• Bases for tents and bell tents while glamping
• Nursery rugs and changing mats (lanolin is naturally hypoallergenic)
• Pet beds for dogs and cats who appreciate the finer things

One thing to be honest about: how heavily your sheepskin is used will affect how it ages. A decorative sheepskin on a low-traffic bedroom floor will look pristine for years. One that’s slept on, sat on, or used as a chair cover daily will wear in faster — not badly, but noticeably. Both are valid uses; just go in with realistic expectations.

Everyday Care for a Natural Sheepskin

Day-to-day, a sheepskin rug needs almost nothing from you. The natural lanolin in the wool does most of the work. What little maintenance there is, is simple:

• Shake it out outdoors regularly — the single most effective form of care, dislodging dust and loose debris
• Brush the wool with a wide-toothed wire brush — sometimes sold as a pet brush in any decent pet shop. This keeps the fibres separated and the wool looking lofty rather than matted
• Air it occasionally — drape it over a washing line or clothes airer in a shaded, well-ventilated spot. Refreshes the wool and helps any natural scent dissipate
• Vacuum gently on a low setting if you must — without the beater bar, and only sparingly. Unlike reindeer hides, sheepskins tolerate light vacuuming, but shaking and brushing is always better

Stylist’s Tip: A good brush through after shaking will completely transform the look of a sheepskin that’s started to look a bit flat. The fibres lift, the wool regains its loft, and it’ll look almost new again. Five minutes of brushing every few weeks is genuinely all most sheepskins need.

Where to Place a Sheep Skin Rug (and Where to Avoid)

Sheepskins are far more robust than reindeer hides — they’ll happily handle moderate foot traffic and being sat on regularly. That said, where you put yours still matters for how long it lasts.

Great Placements

• Beside the bed, somewhere your feet land in the morning
• Layered on top of a larger rug for textural contrast
• Draped over an armchair, sofa, or bench
• As a nursery floor rug — soft and naturally hypoallergenic
• As a chair cover on a dining or office chair
• Mattress topper or layered under bedding for extra warmth

Best Avoided

• Bathrooms and damp environments — moisture causes mould and curls the wool
• Conservatories or strong direct sunlight — bleaches and dries the hide
• Directly over underfloor heating or on top of radiators — dries the leather backing
• High-traffic hallways — sheepskins handle traffic better than reindeer hides, but constant treading will still flatten the pile over time

Cleaning Spills and Spot-Cleaning a Sheep Skin

The good news: most spills on a sheepskin are easier to deal with than people fear, thanks to the natural lanolin coating. Speed is your best friend, and gentleness matters more than scrubbing.

Liquid Spills

1. Blot immediately with a clean, absorbent kitchen towel or cloth — don’t rub, which works the liquid deeper into the wool
2. If a mark remains, apply a mild non-ionic detergent or specialist wool shampoo, very gently dabbed onto the affected area only
3. Rinse the spot with clean water on a clean cloth — be very careful not to soak through to the skin backing
4. Press out excess moisture with a dry towel
5. Allow to dry naturally, away from direct sunlight or any heat source
6. Once dry, brush the area gently to restore the wool’s loft

Solid Spills and Dirt

1. Lift away as much as possible while it’s still wet
2. If it can’t be cleanly removed, often the best approach is to let it dry completely
3. Once dry, brush vigorously with a wire brush — dried dirt usually flakes out of the wool surprisingly easily
4. Spot-clean any residual mark with mild detergent and water as above

What Cleaning Agents to Use (and What to Avoid)

Should You Wash a Real Sheepskin Fleece?

Honestly? We’d recommend against fully washing your sheepskin unless you genuinely have to. The risk of damage — shrinkage, hardened leather backing, matted wool — is real, and once it’s done, it can’t easily be undone.

That said, accidents happen, and if a full wash is genuinely the only option, the guidelines below have been recommended by our suppliers. Follow them carefully, and please understand that washing a sheepskin is done at your own risk.

Care Note: Never wash a dyed sheepskin rug. Hand or machine washing should only ever be attempted on natural, undyed sheepskins. Dyed sheepskins should always be professionally dry cleaned.

Hand Washing a Natural Sheepskin

• Use a bathtub — you’ll need the space to massage and reshape the hide
• Fill with lukewarm water, no hotter than 38°C / 100°F
• Add a teaspoon of specialist wool shampoo
• Add a teaspoon of glycerine to help keep the leather backing supple
• Gently work the wool with your hands — don’t wring, twist, or scrub
• Rinse thoroughly with clean lukewarm water
• Press out excess water with towels — never wring
• While damp, massage and stretch the skin back to its original shape

Machine Washing a Natural Sheepskin

• Use a wool wash cycle on the lowest temperature available, no higher than 30°C
• Use a teaspoon of non-biological washing powder or specialist wool shampoo only
• Add a teaspoon of glycerine to the wash to maintain the leather suppleness
• Avoid spin cycles where possible
• For larger sheepskins, hand washing in a bath is safer than risking machine damage

Drying After Washing

• Never tumble dry — heat will shrink and harden the leather backing
• Never dry on a radiator or near any direct heat source
• Never dry in direct sunlight — bleaches the wool and damages the skin
• Lay flat or line-dry in a shaded, well-ventilated room or outdoors on a cloudy day
• While still damp, massage and gently stretch the skin to maintain its shape
• Brush the wool with a wide-toothed wire brush while it’s drying — this stops the fibres from going too curly and lets air circulate properly
• Once fully dry, give it a final shake and a thorough brush through to restore the loft

Drying can take several days — wash in summer if you can, just keep it out of direct sun.

Dry Cleaning a Natural Sheep Skin

For larger sheepskins, dyed sheepskins, or anyone who’d rather not risk a home wash, professional dry cleaning is a safer route.

• Use a dry cleaner with specific experience cleaning animal skin rugs
• Ask whether they have handled sheepskins before, and what process they use
• Be aware that we can’t be held responsible for any damage caused during professional cleaning, so do confirm their experience and approach before committing

Storing Your Sheepskin Long-Term

If you’re putting your sheepskin away seasonally, during a house move, or any longer stretch:

• Store somewhere cool, dry, and well-ventilated — never damp, never warm
• Avoid plastic packaging for any extended period — condensation builds up and causes creases and potentially mould
• Roll loosely rather than folding tightly, wool side facing outwards
• Keep out of direct sunlight even in storage
• Consider a cotton or linen wrap to protect from dust while still letting the hide breathe

When the rug comes back out, any crease marks will fall out within a few days. Give it a good shake outside and a thorough brush through with a wire brush, and the wool will spring back to life.

Quick-Reference Sheep Skin Care Summary

A Note on Our Washing Disclaimer

The washing guidance in this guide is intended as general advice — every sheepskin is slightly different, and washing one always carries some risk. If you’re at all uncertain about cleaning yours, or you’ve noticed something unusual with your rug, please feel free to reach out to our customer service team at info@hiderugs.co.uk before doing anything. We’re always happy to help.

As with all natural wool products, shrinkage, fibre changes, and hardening of the leather backing can occur with washing, even when guidance is followed carefully. We can’t be held responsible for any damage caused by washing or professional cleaning, so when in doubt, less is more.

Looking After Your Sheepskin for the Long Term

A well-cared-for sheepskin rug genuinely can last a lifetime. They’re one of the most forgiving and rewarding natural floor coverings you can own — robust enough to be used daily, beautiful enough to be cherished, and naturally durable in a way that synthetic alternatives simply can’t match.

If you’d like to explore our full range, you can browse our complete collection of genuine sheepskin rugs — including our beautiful Icelandic sheepskins, large sheepskins, curly sheepskins, and classic British sheepskins. For more answers on sizing, sourcing, and choosing the right rug, our sheepskin rugs FAQ page covers the most common questions.