Is it possible and how to properly wash a sheepskin at home
Sheepskin is often used as a decor for floors and furniture, but not everyone knows how to wash the product at home. The task is not as difficult as it seems. The fur tolerates both hand and machine washing, and food or grease stains can be easily removed using available tools. To give the product a neat look, you can also use household chemicals that are specially designed for the care of fur products.
Sheepskin Care Features
A fur garment requires regular maintenance to help keep the skin and nap in good condition. This is done as follows:
- the skin should be shaken daily to remove dust and coarse debris;
- once a week, the sheepskin is vacuumed in the direction of hair growth at medium power, without forgetting to clean the floor with which the product comes into contact;
- once a month, the item should be carefully combed with a hair care brush;
- stains should be removed as they appear.
Although sheepskin can be washed by hand and machine, this method should not be used more than once a month. Otherwise, the skin will become dry and rough and the quality of the fur may deteriorate.
How to clean manually
The easiest way to wash bulky sheepskins is by hand. First of all, you need to take water in the bath, its temperature should not exceed 40 degrees. Then add a liquid detergent for woollens or delicate fabrics, stir well.
Then you need to lower the sheepskin into the resulting solution, leave it for no more than half an hour, and then begin to thoroughly wash the contaminated areas of the fur.
When the pile has become clean, the product should be rinsed several times until clear water appears. After that, the skin is left in the bathroom for a short time until the excess water flows out. The last step is unfolding to dry in a well ventilated and shaded place.
How to wash in a washing machine
If the sheepskin is small, it can be machine washed. It is impossible to refresh and whiten the product at the same time, since household chemicals containing whiteness or similar substances negatively affect the quality of the fur.
Typewriter washing is as follows:
- you need to choose a delicate washing mode, the temperature should not be higher than 40 degrees, spin - no more than 600 rpm;
- the detergent must be designed for woolen or delicate fabrics;
- if possible, stop the cycle immediately after rinsing and just empty the water, but do not spin the product;
- after washing is complete, the skin is left to rest in the machine for another 20 minutes so that the glass has excess moisture.
After that, the product is put out to dry, not forgetting to periodically comb the fur.
Methods for removing stains
If grease gets into the fur, the household has dropped food, or over time the pile has begun to turn yellow, do not be upset and immediately take the product to the dry cleaner.Many types of contamination, especially if they are not old, can be treated on their own.
YELLOW
Hydrogen peroxide will help get rid of ugly stains. Dissolve 2 tablespoons of the product in a liter of water, after which the contaminated areas are treated. It is important to ensure that the solution does not penetrate the undercoat and the skin.
bold
Tooth powder or talc will work well with traces of grease. They are scattered on the stains and left to act for 4 hours. After that, the excess is combed out and the skin is washed by hand or in the washing machine on the delicate cycle.
Chocolate
A saturated saline solution will help remove these stains. Soiled places are thoroughly washed in a solution, after which they are rinsed and left to dry.
Tea and coffee
Stains from these drinks can be removed with glycerin. The substance should be at room temperature, rubbed with dirt and left for best effect for 10 minutes. After that, the item is washed in soapy water, rinsed thoroughly and hung to dry.
Salty areas
Coarse table salt will help remove oily areas. It is poured abundantly on the earth, wait several hours, then the fur is carefully combed.
Berry and fruit stains
It all depends on whether the stains are fresh or not. In the first case, wet salt is poured over the pollution and left to act for half an hour.After that, the remnants of the product are shaken off and the sheepskin is washed with soapy water. When the stains are old and dry, they are cleaned with a mixture of alcohol and glycerin, which is taken in a 1: 1 ratio.
Dirty fur is treated with the solution, left for half an hour for best effect, then washed as usual.
If, after using the above recipes, the stains and dirt are not completely gone, the sheepskin will need to be dry cleaned. Thanks to modern technology, the thing will become clean, while the quality of the fur and leather base will not be affected.
Overview of household chemicals
Conventional detergents may not always remove stains or give the garment its original shine. For these tasks, there are professional cleaning compositions in the form of gels, aerosols and powders. They will quickly give cleanliness, make the fur smooth and silky, and help to prevent excessive drying of the skin. Below are the most popular products that you can use yourself at home.
sommieres powder
To get rid of fresh, stubborn stains, use a powder-powder from the French brand Hussard called Terre De Sommières. This product is made from natural ingredients and is used to remove dirt from fabrics, leather and fur. The powder does not leave traces and does not change the color of the product.
The product is very easy to use. A little powder is poured on the stain and left to act for several hours. After that, the remains are combed out with a brush or removed with a towel.
Ultra Finish Milk
The Italian product can be used to clean any color of fur.Gives the coat a neat look, does not stick the hairs together and protects the thing from moths.
Lival licker konz
A universal product that is used to clean leather and fur products, at the same time softens them and refreshes the color. It is used both pure and diluted with water in a 2: 1 ratio. The mixture is applied to the dirt with a brush, then washed off by hand or machine.
The product can be added to the water during washing. For 1 kg of product, no more than 30 ml of the product is taken, for 1 liter of water, 10-30 ml are used. The skin is treated for no more than 10 minutes, then gently wrung out and dried on a horizontal surface.
How to dry well
Proper drying of sheepskins is another important step in product care. If you do not follow certain rules, the fur will look sloppy, and the accessory itself will be deformed, it will be very difficult to return it to its original shape.
The correct drying of sheepskins is as follows:
- It is necessary to prepare a horizontal surface in advance, located away from direct sunlight and heating elements. The best option is a shaded area outdoors.
- Immediately after washing, the skin should be able to drain into the tub or machine, and it should not hang vertically.
- As soon as the excess moisture in the glass is transferred, the product is transferred to a prepared surface, which has previously been covered with several layers of fabric or terry towels.
- The skin should be spread out so that there are no creases or wrinkles anywhere. As it dries, you need to change wet towels under the product and gently stretch the sheepskin with your hands to give it the right shape.
- Wet fur should be brushed gently with a pet grooming brush.When completely dry, it is again combed in the direction of hair growth to give the product an attractive appearance.
It is strictly forbidden to use a hair dryer or other similar devices for accelerated drying of the product. Under the influence of hot air, the quality of the fur deteriorates, the skin becomes rough and inelastic. All this spoils the appearance of the skin and makes it unsuitable for further use.
Common Mistakes
In order for the product to serve as long as possible and retain its original attractive appearance, the following operations should not be performed:
- place in damp rooms, such as a bathroom;
- spread on the floor if heated;
- clean the products with a vacuum cleaner;
- put the furniture on the skin, because the footprints will remain on the fur, which cannot be removed;
- use the products in rooms to which pets have access;
- rub on stains caused by spilled liquids;
- putting things away for storage, after wrapping them in cellophane.
The above errors will cause the skin to lose its attractive appearance and give off an unpleasant odor.
Maintenance tips
The following tips will help you keep your basic fur and leather in good condition:
- Gives a nice shine. They take a few nuts, carefully chop them and wrap them in a thin cloth or gauze, after which they gently pass it over the fur in the direction of hair growth.
- Soften the skin. They take a little petroleum jelly, carefully lubricate the lower part of the skin with it and knead it well.
- Get rid of unpleasant odors.Soda is mixed with a few drops of essential oil, treated with the resulting fur composition and left to act for a day. After that, the remnants of the product are combed out.
- Make the fur soft and elastic. The product is densely covered with starch and left to act for half an hour, then shake off or comb out with a special brush.
- Lift the pile. If the fur is a bit hardened, regular oat bran will help. They are placed in a dry frying pan and heated, after which they are poured over the sheepskin and left to cool. Then the product is shaken off and the fur is combed out with a brush.
The above recommendations will not require much time or financial investment, thanks to them the sheepskin will always be clean and well-groomed. Caring for sheepskin products is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. It is important to take the time to care for the item on a daily basis and to wash it periodically to remove heavy soils.