How to Clean your Sheepskin Rugs
Cleaning your sheepskin rug naturally and at home has never been easier. Read below for how to simply and cheaper make your sheepskin rugs fluffy and new again!
A few years ago I went through a major hygge moment. Actually, to be honest, I go through a hygge moment every fall and winter. Hygge is the Danish word for all things cozy and joyful and usually involves candles, soft textile, home baked goodness, and natural elements. My first run in with this fantastic concept was when my mom gave me this sweet book produced by the Institute of Happiness - yes its a real thing! As a result, I purchased 3 sheepskin rugs. Actually, it was supposed to be just one sheepskin rug but my husband has a "bad" habit of buying 3 of everything so we went from no sheepskin to 3. I love the feeling of waking up on a cold morning and putting my feet down on the warm, plushy-soft fur of sheepskin. Because we are a shoe free household (though truth be told my husband is still in the process of accepting this), our rugs don't get too dirty too fast but they are now about 5 years old and were starting to look a little trampled, a little dingy, and a little sparkly (thanks to the 7 year old fairy that lives with u aka my daughter).
Because the sheepskin were a financial investment and I was nervous about ruining them in a DIY fail I first looked into having them professionally dry cleaned by an organic company--the cost made me consider just buying new sheepskin. But I love MY sheepskin AND an animal died to produce them. Thus, for many reasons, I quickly decided that they are not a disposable commodity. Some quick research convinced me that I might be able to clean them at home and that it was worth a shot. Spoiler alert: Its totally do-able and super easy and cheap!
I purchased Outback Gold Lanolin Soap and a rug brush (they are exactly the same as a cat brush). I then put my rug into the tub with a quarter cup of lanolin soap and pretended to be one of those Italian ladies who smash grapes with their feet sliding the rug all around in the tub, swishing the warm water through the rug allowing it to lift up all the dirt, dust, and sparkles hidden inside.
I did two full soap-based soaks of 15 minutes each with about 3 full rinses on my rugs (basically until the water squeezed out of the rug ran clear) in-between. Then I set my rugs out on the balcony in the sun to dry for a few hours.
The last thing I had to do was brush out by almost dry rug, for this I highly recommend one of those rug or grooming brushes, they make it super easy and lift any remaining dirt (or sparkles) from the rug leaving it fluffy and looking like brand new!
Look how pretty and fluffy it is! Now, here's hoping I don't spill my coffee on it too soon because while it is totally possible and simple to clean these rugs yourself, its better done when you have a warm day to let them dry outside and those are starting to be rarer and rarer for the next few months!