[Mike_Roper]

Got six double sheepskin rugs to clean, not really dirty at all. Label says dry clean but am sure that wouldnt do the leather any good. Also says no biological or phosphate detergents.
My thoughts are really good vac with small tool then light spray with dfc 105 and terry towels ,then perhaps a good comb.
Any other ideas ?
Mike

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Hi Mike,

Sheepskins are usually cleaned at the Dry cleaners and the put Glycerine in to stop the skin from drying out but you can HWE but they'll take some drying, combing them makes all of the difference and that takes forever.

Shaun

[Mike_Roper]

Shaun ,  these rugs are part of a load of thermal lined curtains and settee loose covers that I'm sending to dry cleaners for a client . Cleaners said the leather can go a bit hard with perc. hence thought I'd tackle them myself.
Can you forsee any other problems?
Mike   

[Shaun_Ashmore]

You could shampoo them at the end of the day it's hair, get some crystalising shampoo and mix it and apply it with a sponge use your fingers to massage it in (like wash your hair) vac and the moisture and then HWE turbo dry.

Shaun

[Mike_Roper]

Do ou think no phosphate cleaners would rule out m/s.
Do they put glycerine in perc or apply to rug first?
Mike

[john rees]

A friend of mine rang me yesterday to ask if she could put her red wine stained double sheepskin in my washing machine as her new washing machine isn't big enough to take it, and she told me she's washed it loads of times in the past. I had a look on the label and sure enough it say's machine washable or warm hand wash!! I did it yesterday and hung it over my landing, it's come out like new and is completely dry now! 

              all the best
                                John

[paul moss]

Mike, Shaun likes to use Timotei.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

John the main problem is the backing shrinking or going hard the glycerine is to keep the backing from going dry.

Mike the Glycerine is added to the dry cleaning agent but if you are cleaning the rugs yourself you could use mpower or nemesis.

Shaun

[Ken Wainwright]

Last November I cleaned 4 x 4 panel sheepskins. DFC 105, combed with a brush for agitation, rinse extract using CFR upholstery tool, towel dry with wiping action, comb pile afterwards. Superb results, nicely soft to the hand.

When we did the NCCA Factory Tour of Axminster Carpet's Spinning Mill in Devon, they also took us around their tanning/sheepskin factory. They told us that some rugs can safely be laundered and some can't. I presume it has something to do with the tanning process used.

Safe and happy cleaning
The Ken

[paul moss]

Ken it depends on wether they are synthetic or real.

Cleaning real sheep skins is fine . Dry extraction as much as poss but if you have to wet clean, fine but not too hot. However after afew few cleans they do start to deteriorate and get a bit lack lusture.

Dont forget its dead skin and although having gone through a preservation process, it still has a life span based on use/wear out.

[Roger Koh]

Just Google It:


Sheepskin Maintenance Cleaning, Pristine