How to Clean and Care for a Sheepskin Rug?
Plush sheepskin rugs look great, feel great and are a wonderful addition to any home, but they can attract dirt and dust like you wouldn’t believe and could become tangled or matted due to everyday use. Caring for a sheepskin rug is relatively simple, and it doesn’t take too much of your time, but there are some quirks to how it must be done that you need to be aware of, so you won’t damage it or make things harder for yourself. Let’s cover what you need to do with the tips ahead:
How to Vacuum a Sheepskin Rug?
Vacuuming is the most commonly used method for cleaning sheepskin rugs. Routine vacuuming removes hair, dirt, dander, and pollen and keeps the rug looking fresh. When you vacuum sheepskin, you need to keep in mind to use only the suction function on your vacuum. Any attachments for carpeting with a beater bar must never be used on a sheepskin rug, as they may tangle up the fibres. If the vacuum doesn’t have a head without a beater brush, you should use the nozzle or upholstery attachment to vacuum the rug safely. Work it toward the hair growth so there won’t be any tangling.
How to Restore a Matted Sheepskin Rug?
Matting happens when long hair fibres get knottedand tangled up, which is normal for a sheepskin rug and may be fixed relatively easily. It would be best to start by giving your rug a good shake, removing any fluff and debris in the unmatted sections. Remember to brush the rug with a wool comb or a slicker brush. The last one is a metal-bristle brush made for use on pet hair. This will allow you to brush out any tangles, working toward hair growth gently.
To untangle the stubborn and annoying matting, you can dilute a small amount of conditioner using water and your fingers. Rub it into the length of the hair, working toward hair growth. That will allow the slicker brush or wool comb to brush out any knotted sections without breaking the hair. You can also apply a conditioner to loosen any tangles as an optional step.
How to Remove Stains from a Sheepskin Rug?
When stains happen on a sheepskin rug, the best thing you can do is deal with them as soon as possible. The way to go is by using a spot removal technique that addresses specific stains on a location basis instead of washing the whole thing.
Blot Liquid Spills and/or Remove Solids
If it was a liquid spill by accident, you need to start blotting as much liquid as possible as soon as you spot the problem. Use rags or paper towels, but if the spill contains solids, you should pick them up as soon as possible and get rid of them. If the solids have dried up, use the edge of a butter knife or a spoon to scrape them away from the rug’s fibres.
Apply Detergent to the Stain
Friction may cause the hair to get matted and tangled. Dab some wool-safe detergent onto the stain using a damp, light-coloured cloth. It would be best if you kept dabbing until the stain was gone, working in the direction the hair was growing and making sure you were not scrubbing.
Rinse the Area
Once you have successfully removed the stain, gently dab the area using a wet cloth, removing any residual detergent. Let the rug dry before putting it back, and use a wool comb or a slicker brush to fluff up the fibres.
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