Can I wash my real lambskin?

Real lambskin is not only a visual highlight in any interior, but also brings a natural sense of well-being into every home. Whether as a stylish seat pad in the dining room or as a soft throw on the couch – a real lambskin adds a warm, Nordic touch to any room that you're sure to love.

By nature, lambskins are very easy to care for and even clean themselves to a certain extent – especially with regular airing and shaking out. Smooth-haired furs can also be brushed with a special fur brush and, if necessary, carefully cleaned with a vacuum cleaner on the lowest setting. However, please note that curly lambskins should only be shaken out. For curly furs, we recommend only shaking them out to preserve their natural structure. Further care tips for curly lambskins can be found here.

But what if the fur is heavily soiled or something spills on it? Can real lambskin be washed at all – and if so, how?

In this article, you will learn what absolutely needs to be considered when cleaning lambskins so that your natural product stays beautiful and brings you long-lasting joy – without fear of stains.

Can real sheepskin be washed?

The short answer is: Yes and no

Basically, it is possible to wash a real lambskin – but it depends on several crucial factors. Above all, the type of fur you own plays a role. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you thoroughly inform yourself beforehand before putting your lambskin in the washing machine.

When we are asked if a real lambskin can be washed, many mean whether the fur can withstand machine washing. At this point, we would like to emphasize: Machine washing should always be the very last option. Even if the fur's label allows machine washing, caution is a must.

What if my lambskin is dirty?

Anyone who uses their lambskin often or even daily will eventually encounter stains or dirt – that's completely normal. Therefore, it is important that you regularly care for your fur to maintain its beauty and longevity.

For weekly care, it is sufficient to shake out the fur to remove dust, dirt, and crumbs. For smooth-haired lambskins, you can supplement this procedure with occasional vacuuming on a low setting and brush the fur with a special fur brush to revive it.

Individual stains can often be gently treated with a slightly damp cloth. Mix lukewarm water with a little lanolin detergent and carefully dab the stain. Make sure that the back of the fur remains as dry as possible.

Then let the fur air dry thoroughly, preferably spread out flat on a drying rack, away from direct sun or heating sources. Dried-in stains can be gently brushed out with a lambskin or pet brush. You can find such a brush in our range or in specialized shops.

How do I wash lambskin?

If you cannot remove the stain locally, washing the entire fur is often the only option. Whether you can clean your lambskin – either in the machine or by hand – depends on the tanning of the fur. Below are 3 different tanning methods and how you can recognize them:

• Medical tanning: The leather is yellowish, as is the fur
• Vegetable tanning: The leather has a reddish-brown tone (like rosewood), the fur is usually natural white
• Tanning with salts: The leather is light, the fur is natural or dyed

Salt tanning (also known as chrome tanning) is standard for most commercially available lambskins today, as it is inexpensive and effective. These furs can be washed, but this should be done with the greatest care, as the fur can otherwise be damaged (see below).

If you are unsure which tanning your fur has or whether it is washable, we recommend asking the retailer directly. This way you can ensure that you give your natural product the right care and enjoy it for a long time.

Which lambskins are suitable for machine washing?

Although one should generally be careful with lamb and sheepskins, there are two types of tanning for which machine washing is usually possible: Medically tanned furs
and vegetable-tanned furs.

• If you are sure that your fur has been tanned accordingly, proceed as follows:
• Wash the fur at a maximum of 30°C on a gentle cycle
• Use a re-greasing wool detergent with lanolin
• Do not use fabric softener
• Wash the fur alone, without other textiles
• Make sure the fur is spun in the machine to remove excess water

What should I consider after washing?

After washing, shake out the fur well to remove water. It is important that you do not lay the lambskin dripping wet to dry, as it can harden or make the leather brittle.

How to dry your fur:

• On a drying rack with the wool side down and the leather side up
• In a well-ventilated room, away from heaters or direct sunlight
• Pull the fur gently into shape several times while drying
• Do not tumble dry the lambskin

What should I consider for lambskins tanned with salts?

Lambskins tanned with salts are not suitable for machine washing, as the tanning salts are washed out during washing. This leads to a flat, dull fur and a dried out and often brittle leather side. We always recommend treating stains locally rather than washing the entire fur. If you must wash the entire fur, you should use a re-greasing wool detergent with lanolin and follow the same procedure for both washing and drying as for medically tanned furs.

If you want to clean your lambskin particularly gently, hand washing is a good choice. Mix lukewarm water with a lanolin-containing wool detergent. Apply the solution carefully to the fur with a clean cloth and massage it in gently. Then remove the soap residue with a fresh, damp cloth.

The advantage of hand washing is that you retain control and can specifically ensure that the leather side remains dry – which is particularly important to keep the fur supple.

Why does my lambskin look different after washing?

Regardless of the tanning method, a machine-washed lambskin will never look completely new after drying. This is because the wool fibers felt and the leather loses its suppleness.

If you regularly pull the fur into shape during drying, the hardening of the leather side can be somewhat mitigated. The wool can also be carefully loosened again with a special lambskin brush. Nevertheless, the fur rarely returns to its original, fluffy state.

Therefore, our recommendation is always to avoid machine washing and only choose it as a last resort. Instead, clean individual stains with a damp cloth and a little lanolin detergent. In addition, regular shaking out and occasional vacuuming on the lowest setting ensure long-lasting freshness and shape.