Wool is naturally antibacterial and dirt repelling, however, over time, a sheepskin might need some freshening up.
To keep your naturally tanned sheepskin looking and feeling fresh, simply take it outside and give it a gentle shake to help loosen the fibers back up and dislodge any dirt.
If it’s a nice sunny day out with low humidity and a gentle breeze, you can let the hide air out on a line for a short while.
Different combs can help with different fibers. See some examples below to decide which brush is best for your hide.
To remove stains, such as cat puke (ick) or food, let the stain dry completely then use a brush like the one pictured below left to gently release the dried mess. You will be amazed how easily wool lets go of particles!
To give your hide a little bit of extra TLC (tender, loving care), you can use a wide bristle like the one pictured in below center b, gentle tip brush to freshen up the fibers and loosen any tangles. This style of brush (seen below) will help protect the integrity of the fiber, regardless of its structure. It is safe to use on curly hides, as well as long, short, or straight fiber hides.
We use the brush pictured below right to remove items like burrs, small sticks or hay. If you take your sheepskin on a camping trip, this hardworking tool could be of use to you.
*If you have an alum tawned sheepskin take special care to ensure it isn’t exposed to high humidity or wet conditions, as this will distort the leather and degrade the quality of your sheepskin. For this reason, you don’t want to keep your alum tawned sheepskins in a bathroom or kitchen area, either. Bark tanned sheepskin are water resistant and can be exposed to humid conditions. If you don’t know the difference between alum tawning and bark tanning check out our previous blog on the subject.
