During wear, artificial and natural sheepskin coats get dirty. A problem arises: is it possible to wash these things, and what is the best way to do this so as not to spoil an expensive wardrobe item?
Despite all their size and massiveness, these are things that require delicate care, taking into account all the nuances of the material.
We will tell you in the article whether and how to properly wash a sheepskin coat - artificial, suede and other materials - in an automatic washing machine and by hand.
Is it worth washing?
Thoughtless washing of a sheepskin coat in an automatic machine can render even a very high-quality item unusable. In order to be confident that your actions are correct, it is recommended that you first study the product label.
For the vast majority of sheepskin coats, full machine washing is prohibited.
Natural
The peculiarity of caring for a natural sheepskin coat is related to the material from which it is made.
The surface of the leather is treated in a special way , the strength is achieved by tannins.
Despite all the processing and impregnation, the natural material does not tolerate water well, contact with which can ruin its appearance.
If you need to refresh and clean an item, it is recommended to use one of the options:
- use dry cleaning;
- purchase a sheepskin coat cleaner at a household chemical store;
- use the services of professionals - dry cleaning.
You cannot wash natural sheepskin coats in water, even by hand.
Artificial
A winter faux sheepskin coat is less demanding to care for than a natural one. When planning to wash it, you need to make sure whether the product can be wetted.
Automatic processing in a machine is not advisable for such things , even if it is permitted by the manufacturer. More delicate care is provided by manual care.
Is it possible to wash a sheepskin coat?
Washing winter sheepskin coats is done quite rarely. Winter clothing is large and heavy, and often reacts poorly to getting wet and becomes deformed.
Despite this, if clothes are heavily soiled, you can wash them. Faux jackets can be washed in an automatic machine; for items made from natural materials, the manual method is used.
You can wash tanned jackets in a machine, but in exceptional cases
Important! You can wash clothes in a machine only if the washing unit is capable of handling the mass of wet items.
Wet cleaning
Wet cleaning of a product is not washing, but the most delicate treatment that does not lead to complete wetting of the item.
Before using any product on an open area, it is recommended to test the selected product on the reverse side.
Natural material
Care of the product should take into account the color of the warm natural coat. For a light sheepskin coat, a milk-based product can be considered a good option.
To prepare it you will need:
- hydrogen peroxide;
- ammonia;
- milk.
Preparation:
- Pour 1 glass of milk into the container.
- Add 1 tsp. hydrogen peroxide and ammonia.
- Mix.
The bristles of the brush are moistened with the resulting composition and passed over the product from top to bottom, avoiding excessive moisture. After the sheepskin coat has been processed, it is hung on a trempel in a well-ventilated place to dry.
If you replace milk in the recipe with water, then this cleaning method is suitable for sheepskin coats of any color. You can try to clean a dark-colored sheepskin coat with undiluted kerosene. To do this, use a cotton swab or a dry cloth.
How to clean artificial?
Manual wet cleaning of artificial sheepskin coat requires taking into account the following points:
- Do not soak the item or leave it in water;
- It is recommended to use liquid laundry detergents, preferably special ones designed for the care of artificial fur and leather;
- high-quality rinsing of the detergent composition must be ensured so that streaks do not form.
For processing you will need:
- a free horizontal plane on which the sheepskin coat can be laid out while cleaning, for example, the floor in the bathroom;
- an old sheet or other fabric that can be used to cover the area on which the item will be laid out;
- Bowl;
- warm water;
- washcloth;
- trempel;
- liquid cleaner.
Washing should be done in stages:
Preparation: dry brushing and combing.- Take warm water into a bowl.
- Dilute the detergent in water.
- Place the sheepskin coat itself on a horizontal plane, on a sheet with the fur down.
- Gently clean the sheepskin coat with a washcloth moistened with soapy water.
- After cleaning has been carried out, the item should be rinsed. To do this, hang the coat over the bathtub on a trempel, and wash off the soap composition. A shower head or scoop is suitable for this purpose.
During the cleaning process, you should avoid wetting the fur, as it may stick together and not recover after drying.
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
Dry cleaning
The dry cleaning option is the most gentle method of care . It can be applied to both natural and artificial coats.
You can follow this method: attach a special attachment to the vacuum cleaner for cleaning clothes. Use it to methodically process the product from top to bottom. This cleaning must be done both from the front and from the inside.
Natural
If there are greasy stains on the topcoat, they should be treated separately. It is better to act as follows:
- Sprinkle the area with greasy marks with talcum powder or starch.
- Rub in lightly.
- Clean off the surface with a brush.
- Repeat the treatment several times.
Individual worn areas can be restored using a regular office eraser. Another option is to use a brush with rubber bristles, which can be lightly moistened with ammonia.
Dirty areas on a leather sheepskin coat can even be wiped off with semolina.
To do this, you need to follow the following algorithm:
- Put a glove on your hand.
- Take a small amount of cereal in your palm.
- Rub the stained area.
- Shake off any remaining cereal.
- Repeat processing.
The video will show you how to clean a sheepskin coat using semolina:
Artificial
Stains and localized dirty areas can be cleaned without doing a full wash. As with natural sheepskin, you can use talc or starch .
These substances have the property of absorbing fat, so they can be used in cases of greasy conditions, such as sleeves or pockets.
Starch is poured onto the stain so that it is completely covered and left for several hours. After the used powder is cleaned off, the manipulation is repeated. Finishing with a vacuum cleaner will help remove remaining starch.
Washing in water: in what cases is it allowed?
For products made from natural materials, washing in water is prohibited. With artificial ones, it all depends on the manufacturer’s recommendations. But even in this case, there may be difficulties - not every large item will fit into the drum of the washing machine.
If there is no prohibition on washing a lightweight artificial sheepskin jacket in an automatic washing machine, then you can try cleaning it as follows:
Place the item in the drum.- Use liquid detergent, which is poured into the powder compartment.
- Set the mode to “delicate”, “hand wash” or “for bulky items”.
- Set spin to minimum (no more than 400 rpm) or turn off completely.
- Adjust the water heating temperature – it should be +30°C.
After the end of the wash cycle, the item must be immediately removed from the drum.
Manual processing is also not difficult:
- Fill a bathtub or large basin with warm water.
- Dilute the detergent.
- Dip the item.
- Use a soft brush to go over the material.
- Rinse several times.
- Squeeze through a towel.
- Dry on hangers in a well-ventilated, warm room.
The sheepskin coat cannot be twisted - you can only wring it out.
Fur cleaning
The fur should be renewed with a mixture including sand and bran. The sequence assumes:
- mixing the components in equal quantities, heating in a frying pan;
- surface treatment;
- combing the pile with a natural brush.
Bran is suitable for cleaning sheepskin. The heated product should be rubbed into the pile, the bran should be shaken off, and combed out with a brush.
Natural fur can be cleaned with a mixture of ethyl alcohol, vinegar, and water:
- prepare a solution from an equal amount of components;
- treat the surface, pay attention to areas of contamination;
- wipe the fur with clean gauze.
Lemon juice should be applied in the following order:
- apply the product to the foam rubber;
- clean contaminated areas;
- treat the entire surface;
- comb the fur.
Shampoo for bathing cats is good at removing stains. You need to prepare a soap solution, clean the dirt, and rinse with cold water.
Advice! For natural fur, washing, care with a hairdryer or iron, or the use of washing powders or bleaches are not suitable.
Regular cleaning of natural fur ensures a beautiful, neat appearance of the product. Volume can be added by ventilating in the fresh air. The combination of cold and wind guarantees cleansing and lifting of lint.
Hydrogen peroxide diluted with water (a teaspoon per 0.5 liter of water) gets rid of yellowness. The solution should be applied to the surface using a soft material, and after 5 minutes, rinse with water.
Dry cleaning: price issue
Contacting a dry cleaner will help you avoid unexpected consequences of caring for your item at home. You can find a suitable service establishment using the Internet. To search, it may be sufficient to indicate in the query the words “dry cleaning of sheepskin coats” and the name of the city.
The cost of cleaning services for fur coats and sheepskin coats depends on the following factors:
- settlement;
- the establishment's pricing policy;
- the means used;
- the length of the item that requires processing;
- fur categories;
- presence/absence of a hood;
- condition of the product.
On average, cleaning a natural sheepskin coat and steaming it costs from 4,000 to 5,000 rubles, for children’s – from 2,000 rubles. For artificial short coats, the cost is usually lower - from 1,500 rubles. Dry cleaners can also provide additional services: professional manual processing, minor repairs of items, etc.
Dry cleaning may not help in all cases.
They can be refused for a number of reasons:
- general dilapidation of the product;
- extensive persistent stains, such as from paint;
- violation of the integrity of the material (holes, cuts).
Some dry cleaners provide cleaning promotions and have bonus savings systems that will make caring for items cheaper.
Recommendations
The following tips will come in handy when cleaning artificial and natural sheepskin coats:
- If after washing the sheepskin coat has lost its original color, you can use a special coloring spray, which should be used in accordance with the instructions.
Completing cleaning using a special purchased product will help restore the water-repellent properties of the material and extend the service life of the product.- After wet care and drying, natural sheepskin should be kneaded to restore elasticity and softness to the material.
- Natural fur on a sheepskin coat should not be cleaned with improvised means, much less washed. Caring for it at home may only include dusting and combing.
- In between cleanings, the sheepskin coat must be ventilated periodically.
- It is important to store sheepskin coats properly between seasons.
