Caring for Sheepskin / Shearling
Sheepskin is a natural lambskin pelt that features leather, or sueded leather,
on one side and soft, plush fur on the underside. Lightweight and luxuriously
supple, sheepskin is one of nature's greatest sources of insulation. Its soft
wool fibers are naturally thermostatic, wicking away moisture for year-round
comfort and breathability. Shearling is simply a sheepskin pelt with the fur
side shorn slightly to create a uniform look and feel.
When cared for properly, a quality sheepskin/shearling garment or product can
be a luxurious, lifelong investment in comfort and style. Basic care rules
are
quite
simple.
Care information for specific sheepskin products:
Q. What do I do if my sheepskin garment or product gets wet?
A. Simply allow the item to air dry at room temperature. At all costs, avoid
drying it under high heat, i.e. a blow-dryer, machine dryer, etc. Once it is
dry, you should be able to easily brush out any water spots with a soft-bristle
brush.
Q. How should I store sheepskin?
A. It's best to store sheepskin in a clean, dry environment, to avoid the formation
of mildew, which can stain. Enclose the item in a paper bag or box; never encase
in plastic. Moths are typically not attracted to shearling, but if your storage
area is overrun with them, it's wise to store them as you would a quality wool
sweater (i.e. with cedar balls, mothballs, etc.) and/or see about having the
moths fumigated.
Q. How do I clean sheepskin?
A. We recommend you entrust the cleaning care of your sheepskin purchase with
a reputable leather dry cleaner to avoid mishaps. However, if you brush the fur
and suede (unless leather) sides regularly, your coat will rarely need dry cleaning.
Q. Can I store sheepskin in direct sunlight?
A. Absolutely not. Storing sheepskin in direct sunlight can cause fading and "sunspots." Be
sure to hang your sheepskin garments away from direct light sources of all
kinds.
Caring for Sheepskin/Shearling Coats
Cared for properly, a quality shearling coat from Overland
will provide years of comfort,
style, and enjoyment. Below, you’ll find a few general care tips to
help you maximize the
longevity and beauty of your coat. Additionally, please feel free to call
us anytime at
(800) 881-9130 with questions about your purchase.
Storage
To preserve the shape of your coat, simply place it on an oversized hanger
when
storing, drying, or just hanging in a closet overnight. Always store your shearling
coat in
a breathable garment bag (vinyl or plastic bags do not breathe) to prevent
the garment
from drying out.
General Care
Shearling can be worn in the rain or snow, although it’s best not to
fully saturate it with
moisture (i.e., avoid an all-out downpour if possible). If your coat accidentally
becomes
thoroughly wet, shake off the excess water or snow and blot dry with a clean
towel.
Then, hang your coat to dry at room temperature, making sure to avoid
any direct heat
sources (such as a radiator, blow-dryer, etc.). Do NOT vigorously rub a wet
shearling
garment, as that will force the moisture deep into the leather, to the detriment
of the
garment. After your shearling coat is thoroughly dry, use a suede brush to
brush the nap
of the suede. If your coat has a napa finish, do NOT brush with a suede brush;
rather,
rub lightly with a soft towel. The inside fur can be fluffed lightly with a
metal dog brush.
Cleaning
Use a damp cloth to clean up small spills, and gently pluck any debris or dirt
stains from
the outside suede with tweezers. You can also use a green cloth-brite pad to
lightly
rejuvenate the suede and remove dirt marks at the same time.
Liquid spots (grease,
drinks, etc.) should be treated by applying a layer of corn starch
directly onto the spot (just sprinkle directly onto the coat on top of the
stain). Let the corn
starch sit for a day or two -- the worse the stain, the longer you should let
the corn starch
sit. When you’re ready, dust off the corn starch and use a suede brush
to brush the nap
of the suede.
We do not suggest having your shearling drycleaned, as the treatment removes
the
garment’s natural oils. In case of extreme soiling or stains, we suggest
you contact a
leather and shearling specialty cleaner. We recommend Arrow Fabricare in Kansas
City,
MO at (800) 542-7769.
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Caring for Sheepskin Rugs & Pelts:
Our sheepskin rugs are crafted with pride by the world’s largest sheepskin
tanning company. You will be able to enjoy your sheepskin for many years, provided
you follow the care instructions detailed below. Your sheepskin may have been
tightly packaged for the journey home and so the wool may appear flattened.
However, wool fibers are very resilient and will bounce back to their original
springy appearance. A vigorous shake will also help restore the soft, fluffy
appearance of the wool. Any fold marks from packaging will disappear once the
skin has been removed from the package for several days.
Storage:
Should you wish to store your sheepskin at any time, place it in a cool airy
place avoiding direct sunlight. Packaging in plastic bags for an extended
period of time is not recommended as the sheepskin fibers will not breathe
and condensation
may occur in warm conditions.
Washing:
The unique tanning process that the sheepskin goes through, enables your
sheepskin to be hand or machine-washed. It is important not to use hot
water when washing,
however, as this may damage the pelt of the sheepskin.
Hand Washing: Use a mild liquid household detergent in cold water. Our
manufacturer recommends washing the pelts in Ivory™ hair shampoo,
Ivory™ hand soap ( in
pump bottle), or Eucalan™. DO NOT USE WOOLITE OR LAUNDRY DETERGENTS SUCH
AS TIDE™!
Do not use soap or washing powders containing enzymes or bleach, or which
are alkaline. Do not use fabric softeners.
Rinse thoroughly in cool
water. Hand squeeze as much water from the sheepskin as possible or spin
in the washing machine. Followed by air
drying. Do not tumble dry as this can cause hardening of the skins.
Air dry away from any heat source, and out of direct sunlight.
Multiple Rugs:
These skins are made of the same washable sheepskins as the single pelts.
However, because you may not have a large machine, and the weight could
be far too much
for your machine to handle, we recommend spot cleaning for small soiled
areas. A thorough brushing with a wire dog brush will fluff the pelt
back to its fullness.
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Caring for Shearling Seatcovers
Regular vacuuming is ideal to remove dust and lint. If
you spill something sticky or oily on the covers, quickly remove the excess
and then spot clean the area with Ivory liquid hand soap and let dry naturally,
out of direct sunlight.
For a deeper cleaning, you can remove the covers, shake out,
then place in dryer on "air fluff" (no heat). Add a clean tennis show to fluff
up the covers during tumbling. Run for about 20 minutes, clean filter twice
during this time to remove dust and lint particles.
If totally equal seats and identical covers, you may wish to
switch the
seatcovers to equalize wear.
For more information on sheepskin seatcovers, see our Sheepskin Seatcovers F.A.Q. and Sheepskin Seatcovers Info pages.
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