You can absolutely wash sheepskin at home – all you need is a gentle, wool-specific detergent and lukewarm water. Just remember to never use hot water or your standard laundry detergent. That’s the quickest way to strip the natural lanolin oils, leaving the leather hide stiff and brittle. When in doubt, a gentle hand wash is always the safest bet to keep it wonderfully soft.

Keeping Your Australian-Made Sheepskin Perfect

That first feeling of slipping your feet into a new pair of genuine Australian sheepskin UGGs is pure bliss. We get it. As a proud, Sydney-based company, we are a registered Australian Business crafting every single pair of our Australian Made UGG boots to order. We know that authentic, Australian Made quality is something you can actually feel. You can even find our products listed on the official Australian Made website!

But life happens. A spilled coffee here, a muddy puddle there, and eventually, those pristine boots or that plush rug will need a bit of TLC. The good news? You can definitely wash your sheepskin at home without ruining its incredible softness. We’ll walk you through exactly how to care for your cherished items, making sure your investment in true Australian comfort lasts for years.

Why Proper Washing Matters So Much

Learning how to wash a sheepskin rug or boots correctly isn't just about getting them clean; it's about preserving them for the long haul. A gentle approach is non-negotiable, and here’s why it's so important for women who value quality in every part of their lives, from their careers to their moments of self-care.

• It Protects the Natural Lanolin: Sheepskin has its own built-in conditioner called lanolin. This natural oil is what keeps the wool fibres soft and flexible. Harsh, chemical-heavy detergents will wash it right out.
• It Maintains the Hide's Integrity: The leather side of sheepskin is surprisingly sensitive. High heat and aggressive chemicals can cause it to shrink, crack, or turn rigid.
• It Preserves That Luxurious Texture: The whole point is to remove dirt while keeping that signature plush, cosy feel that makes sheepskin so beloved, especially as the temperatures drop here in Australia and our friends in the Northern Hemisphere head into warmer months.

We take immense pride in our craft. As a registered Australian Business producing Australian Made products, with our range officially listed on the Australian Made website, we want you to feel just as proud caring for them. Your Snuggyz are made to order, a long-lasting part of your daily comfort rituals.

We'll show you how to maintain that unique quality, so your favourite boots are always ready for a crisp morning walk or a cosy night in. This guide will help ensure the comfort you invested in remains a staple in your life, season after season.

The Essential Prep Work Before You Wash

Before a single drop of water touches your beloved sheepskin, a little bit of prep work is non-negotiable. Think of it as the essential first step in a self-care routine for your cosiest companion. Getting this right is the secret to avoiding common mishaps and keeping that cloud-like softness intact.

First things first, let's tackle any surface-level mess. Grab a soft-bristled suede or wool brush and gently work through the fibres. This simple action lifts away loose dirt, dust, and debris, stopping it from getting trapped deeper in the wool during the wash. It's a quick step that makes a world of difference.

Choosing Your Cleaning Solution

Picking the right cleaner is absolutely critical. Your everyday laundry detergent is far too harsh for these delicate natural fibres; it will strip away the precious lanolin that keeps the wool soft and the hide supple. Honestly, it would be like using dish soap on your face—it's just not designed for that kind of delicate care!

What you need is a pH-neutral, wool-specific detergent. Anything else is a recipe for disaster.

To make it crystal clear, here’s a breakdown of what to use and what to avoid.

Choosing Your Sheepskin Cleaning Solution

Selecting the right cleaning agent is probably the most important decision you'll make in this process. The wrong one can permanently damage both the wool fibres and the leather hide. This table breaks down your options.

As you can see, sticking to a specialist wool wash is the only way to guarantee you're not doing more harm than good.

If you're just tackling a specific mark, like a small coffee drip, it's always smart to spot-test your chosen cleaning solution on a small, hidden area first. This ensures it doesn't affect the colour or texture before you commit to a full wash. For more detailed advice, you can always check out our complete guide on how to clean your sheepskin boots.

Taking these preparatory steps seriously is a trend that's catching on. Statistical insights into the UK sheepskin market show a growing consumer awareness about proper washing techniques. Recent campaigns by UK sheepskin associations indicate that up to 78% of purchasers now explicitly look for washing instructions, a significant jump from just 40% a decade ago. It confirms that knowing how to wash a sheepskin properly truly impacts how long your cosy items last.

Hand Washing Your Sheepskin Like a Pro

When it's finally time to give your cherished sheepskin a wash, the golden rule is simple: be gentle. For your beautiful, made-to-order Snuggyz UGGs from our Sydney workshop, hand washing is the only way to go. It’s the best method to protect their unique character as an Australian Made product.

This hands-on approach is what keeps the sheepskin supple and luxurious, ensuring many more cosy seasons to come.

First things first, find a clean bathtub or a large basin and fill it up with lukewarm water. I can't stress this enough – never use hot water. High temperatures are the absolute enemy of natural sheepskin, as the heat can cause the leather hide to shrink and harden irreversibly.

The Soaking and Cleansing Process

With your tub ready, it's time to add a specialist wool wash, following the instructions on the bottle. Give the water a gentle swish with your hand to create some light suds. You’re not looking for a mountain of foam, just enough to get the cleaning process underway.

Now, fully submerge your sheepskin item, whether it’s your UGG boots or a small rug. Let it soak for about 10 minutes. This little bath gives the wool wash time to work its magic, loosening any dirt without any harsh scrubbing. After the soak, gently squeeze the soapy water through the fibres with your hands.

This visual guide breaks down the simple, effective hand-washing method we recommend for all our Australian Made products.

As you can see, the key is a patient soak followed by gentle agitation. This protects the delicate structure of both the wool and the hide.

Whatever you do, avoid any harsh scrubbing, wringing, or twisting. Those aggressive actions can permanently stretch the hide and cause matting or damage to the delicate wool fibres. This careful approach is non-negotiable if you want to keep your investment looking and feeling its best.

Rinsing and Final Touches

Once you feel the item is clean, go ahead and drain the soapy water. Refill the tub with cool, clean water and give the sheepskin a thorough rinse. You might need to repeat this process until absolutely no suds remain—leftover soap residue is a no-go, as it can leave the wool feeling stiff.

This gentle method is what the textile care pros recommend. Because sheepskin is a natural material that combines both wool and hide, it really does require a delicate touch. In fact, data from UK textile specialists shows that hand washing is recommended for over 70% of sheepskin products to preserve their natural lanolin oils and leather quality. Remember, washing sheepskin in water warmer than 30°C risks permanent damage.

The entire process is a labour of love, but it’s what keeps your authentic Snuggyz feeling just as luxurious as the day they were crafted for you in Sydney. It’s a small ritual that pays huge dividends in long-lasting comfort.

While this guide focuses on footwear, the principles are pretty much identical for larger items. For specific tips on bigger pieces, have a read of our detailed guide on washing a sheepskin rug to keep it fluffy and clean. Taking the time to wash your sheepskin properly is the ultimate act of care for your cosy companions.

Drying and Reshaping for Perfect Softness

How you dry your precious sheepskin is just as important as how you wash it. Honestly, rushing this part is the fastest way to turn that wonderfully soft, made-to-order item from our Sydney workshop into something stiff and misshapen. Patience is your best friend here.

First, let's talk about the absolute cardinal sin of sheepskin care: never, ever use a tumble dryer. The same goes for popping your item near any direct heat, like a radiator, or leaving it to bake in the sun. This kind of intense heat will make the delicate leather hide brittle, causing it to crack and lose its supple feel for good.

The Right Way to Remove Excess Water

Your goal is to gently squeeze out as much moisture as you can before you even think about air-drying. This simple step makes a massive difference, speeding up the whole process and stopping your sheepskin from becoming a soggy, heavy mess.

Instead of wringing it out (please don't!), lay your freshly rinsed sheepskin on a thick, clean towel. Gently roll the towel and sheepskin up together, pressing down firmly to let the towel soak up all that extra water. You might even need to grab a second dry towel and do it again if the item was particularly saturated.

This gentle approach isn't a modern invention. Historically, sheepskin care in the UK evolved right alongside sheep farming itself. Traditional methods for washing sheepskin go back centuries, where preserving the wool's natural oils and the hide's integrity was everything. Those rural practices always favoured slow, natural drying over harsh heat, a principle that remains essential today. Learn more about the enduring legacy of UK sheep farming.

Creating the Perfect Drying Environment

Once you’ve pressed out most of the water, find a cool, well-ventilated spot away from direct sunlight. Lay your sheepskin flat on another dry towel or, for something like a vest, drape it over a sturdy, padded hanger that can handle its weight without stretching it out of shape.

Good air circulation is key, so cracking a window open will definitely help. Just be prepared for this to take a day or two—sometimes even longer, depending on the humidity. This slow, patient drying is exactly what keeps the leather soft and flexible. For more specific advice on footwear, you can explore our detailed guide on how to clean sheepskin slippers and keep them like new.

If you've just washed a pair of our Snuggyz UGG boots, now's the moment to bring them back to life.

• Reshape Them Promptly: While the boots are still damp, use your hands to gently mould them back into their original shape.
• Stuff for Support: Ball up some clean paper towels (steer clear of newspaper, as the ink can transfer) and stuff them firmly inside. This is the secret to helping the boots hold their iconic shape as they dry, preventing them from slumping over or getting weird creases.
• Check and Replace: You might need to swap out the paper towels once or twice if they become too damp.

Once your sheepskin is completely dry to the touch, it's time for the final flourish. Grab your soft-bristled wool brush and gently fluff up the fibres. This will restore that signature softness and airy texture, making your beloved item feel brand new all over again.

Common Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Sheepskin

We've seen it all over the years, and we want to help you avoid the sheer heartbreak of a sheepskin mishap. Preserving the quality you invested in is all about knowing what not to do. Avoiding a few simple pitfalls is the key to ensuring your cosy essentials, handcrafted to order in our Sydney workshop, remain a beloved part of your life for many seasons.

The most common mistake we see? Using regular laundry detergent or fabric softener. These products are packed with enzymes and harsh chemicals that are far too aggressive for natural fibres. They strip away the precious lanolin—sheepskin's natural conditioner—leaving the leather hide as stiff as cardboard.

The Heat and Haste Trap

Another frequent error is washing with hot water. The temptation to give it a "deep clean" with high temperatures is a one-way ticket to disaster. Hot water will almost certainly cause the delicate leather to shrink and harden, ruining the fit of your favourite boots and the drape of a plush rug. Always stick to lukewarm water—cool enough to comfortably put your hand in.

Similarly, the desire to speed up the drying process is a major pitfall.

• Tumble Dryers Are a No-Go: The intense, direct heat will make the leather brittle and cause it to crack.
• Radiators and Hairdryers Are Out: Any form of concentrated heat will have the same damaging effect, permanently ruining the supple texture of the hide.
• Direct Sunlight Is a Problem: While it seems natural, prolonged exposure to harsh sunlight can cause the hide to become stiff and may fade the colour.

Patience is everything here. Air-drying in a cool, well-ventilated space is non-negotiable. It's the only way to ensure a soft, flexible result.

"The golden rule of sheepskin care is simple: treat it like your own hair. You wouldn't use harsh laundry soap or blast it with extreme heat, and the same respect should apply to these delicate natural fibres. A gentle approach is always the right one."

Avoiding Unseen Damage

Finally, a less obvious but equally damaging mistake is improper rinsing. Leaving soap residue in the wool fibres can make them feel sticky or stiff once dry. It can also attract more dirt over time. Rinsing thoroughly with cool, clean water until all suds are gone is a critical final step.

Even a seemingly harmless splash can be a problem if handled incorrectly. If you're dealing with specific marks, you might find our guide on how to get water stains out of Snuggyz UGGs especially helpful. It's all about treating the material with the care it deserves, ensuring your Australian-made treasures last a lifetime.

A Few More Sheepskin Care Questions Answered

Even with the best instructions, there are always a few tricky questions that pop up. After years of helping people care for their sheepskin, we’ve pretty much heard them all. Here are some of the most common queries that land in our inbox.

Can I Just Pop My Snuggyz UGGs in the Washing Machine?

We get this one a lot, and the answer is a firm but friendly no. We strongly, strongly advise against it.

As a Sydney-based company that proudly produces Australian Made products, we handcraft every single one of our boots to order, and we know just how much care goes into each stitch. A washing machine, even on a gentle cycle, creates way too much tumbling and agitation. This can easily damage the seams, warp the shape of the hide, and ruin your beloved boots.

Trust us on this one: gentle hand washing is the only way to go to protect your investment.

The most important takeaway is that gentleness is non-negotiable. Whether it's your favourite slippers or a plush rug, treating your sheepskin with a little patience and the right products will keep it feeling luxurious for years.

How Often Should I Be Cleaning My Sheepskin Rug?

This really comes down to where your rug lives and how much love it gets. A rug placed in a high-traffic hallway or a living room where kids and pets play will naturally need more attention. You'll probably find yourself spot-cleaning it more often.

For most sheepskin rugs, though, a full, gentle wash about once a year is plenty to keep it looking fresh, fluffy, and fabulous.

Help! My Sheepskin Feels Stiff After Drying. What Did I Do Wrong?

Ah, the dreaded post-wash stiffness. This is a classic sign that something went a bit sideways during the washing or drying stage.

It almost always happens for one of two reasons: either it dried too quickly (like next to a heater or in direct sun), or the wrong detergent was used, which stripped the hide of its essential natural oils.

Don't panic! You can often rescue it. Try to gently work and flex the hide with your hands to soften it up. Follow that with a vigorous brush of the wool to bring back its signature fluff. For more footwear-specific tips, be sure to check out our ultimate guide to sheepskin slippers for women.

Is It Okay to Use Fabric Softener?

Definitely not. This is a hard no. Fabric softeners are designed to coat fibres with a waxy, chemical film to create a slick, "soft" feeling. On natural sheepskin, this is a disaster. It will completely ruin the unique texture of the wool fleece and can cause serious damage to the leather hide itself.

Always, always stick to a specially formulated, pH-neutral wool wash.

These principles of gentle, specific care apply to other cherished items in your home, too. If you're looking for advice on keeping other cozy things clean, you might find this guide on easy steps for clean pet bedding to be a handy resource.

At Snuggyz Australia, we are proud to be a registered Australian Business producing authentic, made-to-order Australian Made products. You can even see our official listing on the Australian Made website! To experience the quality for yourself, explore our beautiful Australian Made range.