How do you prevent a sheepskin rug from yellowing?

Yellowing is caused by UV exposure. Keep your sheepskin out of prolonged direct sunlight, and close blinds during peak hours if the rug is near a window. Once yellowing has set in, it's very difficult to reverse. Professional cleaning with a specialist wool whitening solution may reduce it but won't fully remove it.

How do you remove stains from a sheepskin rug?

Blot spills immediately with a clean, dry cloth — don't rub. For stubborn marks, dab with cold water and a wool-safe detergent. For dried mud, let it dry fully then brush it out. For greasy marks, apply bicarbonate of soda or cornflour, leave for an hour to absorb the oil, then shake off and follow up with a damp cloth if needed.

How do you store a sheepskin rug?

Make sure the rug is completely dry and clean before storing. Use a breathable fabric bag or cotton sheet — never plastic. Keep it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat. Take it out occasionally to air and brush to prevent the wool from flattening.

How to clean and care for a sheepskin rug

Q: Should you wash a sheepskin rug?

Only as a last resort. Washing can stiffen and shrink the leather backing, and detergent strips lanolin from the wool fibres. Try spot cleaning, airing, and brushing first. If a wash is unavoidable, professional dry cleaning is the safer option, or hand wash in cold water with a wool-safe detergent. Avoid machine washing. Note that washing or dry cleaning falls outside the scope of our lifetime craftsmanship guarantee.

Q: Can you vacuum a sheepskin rug?

Yes, but shaking and brushing are preferable for routine maintenance. If you do vacuum, use the lowest suction setting with a plain nozzle or upholstery attachment. Avoid rotating brush heads or beater bars, as these can pull and damage the wool fibres.

Q: Can you use a sheepskin rug outdoors?

Yes. Genuine sheepskin is naturally moisture-wicking and quick-drying, making it well-suited to garden furniture, patio seating, and covered outdoor areas. After outdoor use, shake the rug out and let it air dry in a shaded spot. Don't leave it outside permanently or exposed to heavy, prolonged rain.

A real sheepskin rug is one of the lowest-maintenance pieces you'll own, as long as you care for it the right way. Wool has built-in properties that make it naturally resistant to dirt, odour, and moisture. The fibre structure repels dust and debris, while lanolin acts as a natural protectant that keeps the wool soft and discourages staining.

The key to sheepskin care is regular light maintenance and knowing when to leave it alone. This guide covers everything from daily upkeep to stain removal, so you can keep your sheepskin looking and feeling its best without doing anything that shortens its life.

Daily and weekly care

The foundation of sheepskin care is simple: shake it, air it, brush it.

Shaking is the fastest way to remove surface dust, crumbs, and loose fibres. Take your rug outside and give it a firm shake every few days, or more often if it's in a high-traffic area or being used on outdoor furniture. This alone keeps most sheepskins looking fresh for months.

Airing works because wool fibres naturally absorb and release odour molecules when exposed to fresh air. Hang your rug over a railing or washing line in a dry, shaded spot for a few hours. Avoid direct sunlight — more on that below. A breezy day is ideal. You'll notice the rug smells noticeably fresher afterwards without any cleaning at all.

Brushing prevents the wool from matting and keeps the pile looking full and fluffy. Use a wire sheepskin brush or a metal-toothed slicker brush (the kind sold in pet shops for grooming). Brush gently in the direction the wool naturally falls. Don't press too hard, you're separating the fibres, not scrubbing. A few loose fibres coming out during brushing is normal and nothing to worry about.

How often you brush depends on how the rug is used. A sheepskin draped over a sofa that gets sat on daily will benefit from brushing once a week. A rug placed beside a bed or on a low-traffic chair might only need brushing once or twice a month.

How to clean a sheepskin rug

Spot cleaning

For most spills and marks, spot cleaning is all you need. The approach is straightforward:
Blot the spill immediately with a clean, dry cloth or paper towel. Press firmly to absorb as much liquid as possible. Work from the outside of the mark inward to prevent it spreading. Don't rub, as this just pushes the liquid deeper into the wool and can mat the fibres.

If the mark remains after blotting, dampen a clean cloth with cold water and a small amount of wool-safe detergent (look for products that contain lanolin, or use a gentle wool wash). Dab the area gently until the mark lifts. Rinse the cloth and repeat if needed.
Let the area air dry naturally. Once dry, brush the spot to restore the pile.

Dealing with dried stains

If a stain has already dried before you get to it, the approach depends on what caused it.
For mud and dry dirt, let it dry completely, then brush it out with a stiff-bristled brush. Most dried soil will break up and fall away from the wool fibres without any water or detergent.

For food or drink marks, dampen the area with cold water and apply a small amount of wool-safe detergent. Dab gently, never scrub. Leave the detergent on the mark for a few minutes, then blot away with a clean damp cloth. Repeat if necessary.

For greasy or oily marks, sprinkle a thin layer of bicarbonate of soda or cornflour over the affected area. Leave it for at least an hour to absorb the oil, then shake or vacuum it off. If a residue remains, follow up with a damp cloth and wool detergent.

Removing odours

Sheepskin is naturally good at absorbing ambient smells, which is usually a benefit, it helps keep a room smelling fresh. Occasionally though, a spill or prolonged dampness can leave the rug itself smelling stale.

Start with airing. Hang the rug outdoors in a shaded, breezy spot for several hours. Fresh air resolves most mild odours on its own.

If the smell persists, sprinkle bicarbonate of soda across the wool, leave it for a few hours (or overnight), then shake it out thoroughly. The bicarb absorbs odour molecules from the wool fibres. Follow up with a brush to restore the pile.

For stronger odours caused by pet accidents or spilled food, spot clean the affected area with cold water and wool-safe detergent, then air dry thoroughly. If the smell remains after this, professional cleaning is the safest next step.

Vacuuming a sheepskin rug

You can vacuum a sheepskin, but shaking and brushing are preferable for routine maintenance. If you do vacuum, use the lowest suction setting with a plain nozzle or upholstery attachment. Don't use a rotating brush head, beater bar, or turbo attachment as these can pull wool fibres from the roots and cause permanent thinning, especially on older rugs or areas with heavy wear.

Vacuum in the direction the wool falls, and keep the vacuum head moving rather than pressing it into one spot.

Should you wash a sheepskin rug?

Short answer: only when you've exhausted every other option. Washing is effective at cleaning the wool, but it comes with trade-offs. Water can stiffen and shrink the leather backing. Detergent strips lanolin from the fibres, leaving the wool duller and less naturally protected. A sheepskin can handle a small number of washes over its lifetime, but each one changes the rug slightly.

It's worth noting that washing or dry cleaning a sheepskin rug falls outside the scope of our lifetime craftsmanship guarantee. The guarantee covers defects in materials and stitching under normal use, but because washing carries an inherent risk of affecting the hide, we can't guarantee a rug's condition after it's been washed. Even a careful wash can alter the leather in ways that are hard to predict or reverse.

For that reason, we'd always recommend trying spot cleaning, airing, and brushing first. In most cases, these methods are enough to resolve the issue without putting the rug through a wash.

If you've tried everything else and the rug genuinely needs a deeper clean, you have two options.

Professional dry cleaning is the safer choice. Look for a cleaner experienced with leather and sheepskin, as not all dry cleaners handle natural hides well. Mention that the rug has a leather backing and should not be exposed to high heat.

Hand washing is possible for smaller rugs. Fill a bath or large basin with cold water and add a wool-safe detergent. Submerge the rug and press the water through the wool gently, but don't scrub, twist, or wring. Drain and refill with clean water to rinse. Repeat until the water runs clear.

After washing, press out excess water by rolling the rug in a clean towel and stepping on it. Lay the rug flat (leather side up) in a well-ventilated space away from direct heat and sunlight. Gently stretch the hide while it's still damp to prevent it from shrinking or curling as it dries. Once fully dry, brush the wool thoroughly to restore the pile.

Avoid machine washing. Even on a gentle cycle, the agitation and spin can damage the leather backing permanently. Avoid hot water, fabric softener, bleach, and standard laundry detergents.

Preventing yellowing

Yellowing is one of the most common concerns with lighter sheepskins. It's caused by UV exposure; sunlight oxidises the wool fibres over time, producing a yellow tint that's very difficult to reverse once it's set in.

Prevention is far easier than treatment. Keep your sheepskin out of prolonged direct sunlight. If the rug is near a window that gets strong afternoon sun, move it or close the blinds during peak hours. Dyed sheepskins can also fade or shift in colour with UV exposure.

If your rug has already started to yellow, professional cleaning with a specialist wool whitening solution may reduce it, but it won't fully reverse the process. Avoid home remedies involving hydrogen peroxide or vinegar unless you're prepared to risk further damage to the wool or hide.

Caring for sheepskin used outdoors

One of the advantages of genuine sheepskin is that it works outdoors. Wool is naturally moisture-wicking and quick-drying, which makes sheepskin well-suited to garden furniture, patio seating, and covered outdoor areas.

After outdoor use, shake the rug out and bring it inside or hang it to air dry in a shaded spot. Don't leave sheepskin outside permanently or exposed to heavy rain. Wool handles dampness well, but prolonged soaking can affect the leather backing.

If the rug gets wet from a sudden shower, shake off the excess water, blot with a towel if needed, and lay it flat or hang it in a ventilated area to dry naturally. Avoid tumble dryers, radiators, or any direct heat source. Once dry, give it a brush to restore the pile.
For dyed sheepskins used outdoors, keep exposure to strong direct sunlight to a minimum to preserve the colour.

Storing your sheepskin

If you're putting your sheepskin away for a while, make sure it's completely dry and clean before storage. Any residual moisture can lead to mould or mildew on the leather backing.

Store it in a breathable fabric bag or wrap it loosely in a cotton sheet. Don't use plastic bags or airtight containers as sheepskin needs airflow to stay fresh. Keep it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat. Every few weeks, take it out briefly to air and brush. This prevents the wool from flattening and keeps the hide supple.

Quick reference

Do: Shake regularly. Brush with a wire or slicker brush. Air outdoors in shade. Blot spills immediately. Store in breathable fabric.

Don't: Machine wash. Use bleach or standard detergent. Tumble dry or expose to direct heat. Leave outside permanently. Store in plastic.

Your sheepskin rug is made to last. With the right care, and as little intervention as possible, it will stay soft, comfortable, and good-looking for years. If you have any questions about caring for your Fells & Fleece sheepskin, get in touch and we're happy to help.