A genuine Australian sheepskin rug isn't just another piece of decor; it’s a small slice of luxury, a bit of everyday indulgence that brings real warmth to a woman's home. As the seasons shift, whether you're cozying up for a cool evening or simply enjoying a quiet moment, keeping that unique, cloud-like softness is key.

Getting the washing technique right is the secret. This guide will walk you through exactly how to do it, making sure your rug remains a treasured part of your home life for a long time to come.

Why Proper Sheepskin Care Matters

A beautiful sheepskin rug quickly becomes part of the rhythm of your home. It’s that first soft thing your feet touch on a chilly morning, the perfect cosy spot for a quiet cup of tea, and the comfortable floor space where family memories are made. As a Sydney-based, registered Australian Business, we at Snuggyz Australia understand this connection deeply. We create products that fit into every aspect of a woman's life, offering comfort and quality.

Every pair of authentic UGG boots in our Australian Made range is crafted with this same commitment to quality, made-to-order just for you. This dedication to authentic craftsmanship is why proper care is so important. Unlike synthetic knock-offs, genuine sheepskin is a natural, breathable fibre. Harsh chemicals or the wrong washing methods can easily damage its unique properties, ruining that incredible softness and durability that makes it so special.

The Value of Natural Fibres

It’s no surprise that people are turning back to natural materials. We're all looking for more sustainable, high-quality items to bring into our homes. In fact, the UK carpet and rug market, which includes sheepskin, was valued at around USD 945.6 million in 2023 and is only expected to grow.

This shift shows a real appreciation for natural, long-lasting products that add both comfort and style to our lives. You can read more about this growing market over on gminsights.com.

The key to a long-lasting sheepskin rug is gentle maintenance. Don't think of it as a chore, but more like caring for a favourite wool jumper. A little bit of attention goes a very long way in preserving its natural beauty and feel.

More Than Just a Rug

At Snuggyz, our passion for premium Australian sheepskin goes well beyond rugs. We are an Australian Made UGG Boots company, and we put that same level of care into our boots, which you can see listed on the official Australian Made website. Our products are designed for the modern woman who values authenticity and craftsmanship.

The principles for looking after natural wool are pretty much the same, whether it's the rug under your feet or the boots keeping you warm. Once you learn how to wash your rug properly, you'll feel much more confident caring for your other sheepskin items. For example, many of the techniques we'll cover here are quite similar to the methods we recommend in our guide on how to clean your sheepskin boots. This knowledge helps you protect all your cherished sheepskin products, ensuring they keep you comfortable for many seasons to come.

Getting Your Gear Together: What You'll Need

Before a single drop of water touches your gorgeous rug, a little bit of prep work will make all the difference. Think of it like preparing for a self-care Sunday—getting organised now ensures the whole process is smooth and stress-free.

The aim here is to get rid of any loose dirt and tackle stubborn tangles before the rug gets wet. This simple step is vital for protecting those delicate wool fibres and the soft leather hide they're attached to.

Start by giving your rug a good, vigorous shake outside. You’ll be amazed at how much dust, crumbs, and pet hair this dislodges. Getting this debris out now stops it from turning into a mucky mess in the water later.

Picking the Right Products

When it comes to washing sheepskin, what you use is just as important as how you do it. Harsh, everyday chemicals are the enemy. They’ll strip the wool of its natural lanolin, which is what keeps it so soft, and you'll be left with a coarse, brittle texture. Not what you want.

You absolutely need a specialised wool shampoo. These are pH-neutral and designed to clean gently without causing any harm. If you're conscious about the products you bring into your house, it's also worth exploring the best non-toxic cleaning products for a safer home for other cleaning tasks.

A carding brush is another must-have. With its fine wire bristles, this little wonder-tool is perfect for gently teasing apart any matted fibres and bringing back that iconic sheepskin fluffiness.

A word of warning: I've seen too many beautiful rugs ruined by people using regular laundry detergent or fabric softener. These products are loaded with enzymes and chemicals that are far too aggressive for natural sheepskin. They can cause irreversible damage to both the wool and the leather backing.

Your Sheepskin Rug Cleaning Toolkit

To help you get everything in one place, here’s a table of the essentials. Gathering these items before you start means you won't be caught short halfway through. At Snuggyz, we’ve even put together a handy sheepskin care kit that has everything you need.

Gather these essential items before you start to ensure a safe and effective wash.

Once you've got your toolkit ready, you're all set to move on to the washing stage with confidence.

The Best Way to Hand Wash Your Rug

When it comes to washing a sheepskin rug, the kindest thing you can do is step away from the washing machine. Trust me on this one. The aggressive spin cycles are far too harsh for the delicate leather hide, and hand washing is the only way to guarantee you keep that incredible softness we all love. It’s especially true during those cooler months when a cosy rug makes all the difference in a woman’s sanctuary—her home.

This is a gentle, hands-on process that really protects your investment. Unlike more robust cleaning methods, like professional carpet shampooing services, a sheepskin rug needs a much softer touch to preserve its natural fibres and supple backing. Think of it as a simple act of care that keeps your home feeling warm and inviting.

The infographic below is a great starting point, helping you decide on the best cleaning approach for your specific rug.

This visual guide helps you quickly assess your rug's condition, saving you time and preventing any accidental damage before you even start.

Preparing the Perfect Bath

Your bathtub is going to be your best friend for this task. Before you begin, give it a quick clean to make sure there’s no leftover soap scum or residue hanging around.

Now, fill it with lukewarm water—and this part is crucial. Water that's too hot can shock the leather, causing it to shrink and harden permanently. The water should just feel pleasant and barely warm to your wrist.

Next, it’s time for a specialised wool shampoo. Add it to the water, following the instructions on the bottle, and swirl it around with your hand to create a gentle, sudsy bath. Whatever you do, avoid regular laundry detergents or fabric softeners. Their harsh enzymes can strip the wool of its natural lanolin, leaving it feeling brittle and coarse.

The whole point here is to gently lift away dirt without harming the natural oils in the wool. This lanolin is exactly what gives a premium Australian sheepskin wool rug its signature softness and durability, making it such a resilient piece for your home.

The Gentle Washing Technique

Carefully submerge your rug in the water, making sure every part of it is completely saturated. I find it’s best to let it soak for about 5-10 minutes. This gives the wool wash a chance to really penetrate the fibres and loosen any dirt.

Now for the hands-on part. Instead of scrubbing, think more of a gentle squeezing and swishing motion. Work your way across the entire rug, pressing the soapy water through the wool fibres with your hands. This motion cleans incredibly well without causing the wool to felt or mat together.

A few tips from experience:

• Focus on soiled areas: If you have any particularly dirty spots, just gently work them with your fingertips.
• Support the rug's weight: When lifting or moving it, always support the whole thing. A wet hide is heavy and can stretch easily if you don't.

Once you’re happy it’s clean, drain the tub. Gently press the rug against the side of the bath to squeeze out as much soapy water as possible, but never, ever wring it out. Wringing will absolutely stretch and damage the leather backing.

Refill the tub with clean, lukewarm water to start rinsing. You'll want to repeat this gentle swishing and draining process until the water runs completely clear. This might take two or three rinses, but it’s worth it to ensure no soap residue gets left behind, which could make the wool feel stiff once it's dry.

Drying Your Rug for Fluffy Results

You’ve carefully washed your sheepskin rug, and now you’re on the home stretch. But don't get ahead of yourself—how you dry your rug is just as important as how you washed it. This is where you lock in that cloud-like fluffiness and avoid ending up with a stiff, sad-looking mat.

The absolute number one rule? No direct heat. I can't stress this enough. Keep your rug far away from tumble dryers, radiators, and even direct, harsh sunlight. Heat is the enemy of natural sheepskin; it will shrink the leather backing, making it brittle and cracked. Patience and good old-fashioned air are your best tools here.

Removing Excess Water the Right Way

Coming out of the wash, your rug will be holding a lot of water. It’s tempting to wring it out like a dishcloth, but please resist the urge! Wringing will stretch the hide and ruin the rug's shape for good.

Here’s the proper way to do it. Lay a couple of clean, dry towels on the floor, place the rug wool-side down on top, and roll the whole thing up like a giant Swiss roll. Gently press on the roll to squeeze the water out into the towels. You might need to swap for fresh towels and do this a second time until the rug is just damp, not sopping wet. This gentle technique protects the leather’s structure.

The Art of Air-Drying

With the excess water gone, it's time to let the air work its magic. The best spot is flat on a clothes drying rack, which allows air to circulate all around the rug. If you don’t have one, just lay it on a clean, dry surface, well away from any heat sources or direct sun.

Now for a little trick I’ve learned over the years that makes all the difference:

Every few hours as it dries, give the rug a gentle stretch. Pull it softly from corner to corner, then again from side to side. This keeps the leather fibres from seizing up and helps it dry soft and flexible, not stiff.

Drying properly takes time—it could easily be a day or two, depending on the temperature and humidity in your room. It’s the perfect excuse to put your feet up with a cuppa. Speaking of cosy, this is when you’ll really appreciate your other sheepskin comforts, like our Muffin Sheepskin Winter Slippers, which are made from the same beautiful Australian sheepskin.

While sheepskin has its own needs, understanding the principles of proper air circulation is always helpful. For a broader perspective, you can read about the best way to dry carpets after cleaning to see how professionals prevent issues like mould in all types of textiles.

Bringing Back the Fluff

This is the final touch that restores that signature sheepskin texture. Grab your carding brush. I recommend giving the wool a light brush while it’s still slightly damp, and then a more thorough brushing once it's completely dry.

This simple step detangles the fibres and coaxes them back into that soft, plush state we all love. With a little care, your sheepskin rug will look and feel every bit as luxurious as the day you brought it home.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Washing a Sheepskin Rug

Even with the best intentions, a few simple missteps can turn your gorgeous, fluffy sheepskin rug into a stiff, sad disappointment. Knowing what not to do is just as important as following the right steps. These common mistakes are surprisingly easy to make but thankfully, just as easy to avoid.

The biggest culprit is using water that’s too hot. It might seem like a good idea for a deeper clean, but hot water is the fastest way to shrink and permanently harden the delicate leather backing. Always, always stick to lukewarm water that feels barely warm to the touch.

Another major pitfall is reaching for your everyday laundry detergent or fabric softener. These products are packed with harsh enzymes and chemicals designed for tough synthetic fabrics, not natural wool. They’ll strip the sheepskin of its natural lanolin oil, leaving the fibres brittle and coarse instead of luxuriously soft.

Drying Disasters to Steer Clear Of

Once your rug is clean, how you dry it is absolutely critical. It’s tempting to try and speed up the process, but this is where the real, irreversible damage often happens.

• Never, ever put a sheepskin rug in a tumble dryer. The intense, direct heat is its worst enemy. It will cause the leather hide to shrink, crack, and become incredibly stiff.
• Avoid drying it in direct sunlight or near a radiator. Just like the tumble dryer, this kind of direct heat will have the same disastrous effect.

Patience really is a virtue here; natural air-drying is the only safe method.

This careful approach to washing isn't new. Sheepskin rugs have been a beloved part of homes for centuries, valued for their warmth and comfort. Historically, washing them has always involved mild, natural cleaners and cool water to protect that precious lanolin and softness, ensuring the rug lasts for years. You can discover more about the timeless appeal of sheepskin on citycows.co.uk.

A simple rule of thumb: if a cleaning method feels too fast or too aggressive, it's probably wrong for sheepskin. The entire process should be gentle, from the water temperature right through to the drying.

At Snuggyz Australia, we’re truly passionate about these beautiful, natural materials. As an Australian Made UGG Boots company based in Sydney, we pour care into every single one of our made-to-order boots from our Australian Made range. We want you to feel confident looking after your cherished sheepskin pieces so you can enjoy that unmatched cosiness for a long, long time.

Your Sheepskin Care Questions, Answered

Even after following a guide, it’s completely normal to have a few questions before you take the plunge and wash your sheepskin rug for the first time. Let’s clear up some of the most common queries to make sure you feel confident.

As we enjoy the current season here in Australia, keeping those cosy home comforts in top condition is on every woman's mind. At Snuggyz Australia, we believe a big part of enjoying beautiful, natural products is knowing exactly how to care for them.

Can I Use a Washing Machine for My Sheepskin Rug?

In short, we strongly advise against it. The tumbling action of a washing machine, even on a delicate wool cycle, is just too aggressive. It can cause the leather hide on the back to shrink, go hard, or lose its shape entirely.

Hand washing is really the only way to go. It gives you complete control to protect both the delicate wool fibres and the soft hide backing.

What Is the Best Cleaner for a Sheepskin Rug?

You'll want to find a specialist wool shampoo that is non-enzyme and pH-neutral. These cleaners are formulated to wash the wool gently without stripping away its natural lanolin oil. That lanolin is what keeps the fibres feeling so soft and resilient.

Definitely avoid standard laundry detergents, bleach, and fabric softeners. These are far too harsh and can cause permanent damage to the rug.

A word of caution: a full immersion wash should be a rare event. Aim for no more than once a year unless there’s a major spill. For day-to-day upkeep, a good shake outdoors every week and immediate spot-cleaning is usually all it needs. Over-washing is the fastest way to wear out those beautiful natural fibres.

My Rug Feels Stiff After Washing. What Went Wrong?

Stiffness is almost always a sign that the rug was exposed to too much heat. This could be from using water that was too hot during the wash, or from trying to speed up the drying process near a radiator or in direct sunlight.

If the hide is only slightly stiff, you can sometimes soften it by gently working it back and forth with your hands. To avoid this happening in the first place, always stick to lukewarm water (no more than 38°C) and let it air dry slowly and naturally, away from any direct heat sources.

This commitment to gentle, proper care is something we live by. As a registered Australian Business based in Sydney, we pour that same attention to detail into our made-to-order UGG boots, which you can see listed on the official Australian Made website. If you have more questions, you might find the answers you're looking for over on our comprehensive FAQs page.

At Snuggyz Australia, we are dedicated to bringing you the authentic comfort of genuine, Australian Made sheepskin. Each pair in our Australian Made range is crafted with care, just for you. Discover the difference quality makes by exploring our collection today.

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