Shearling Care Guide
Shearling Care Guide
Your shearling coat is a piece worth protecting. With the right care, it will stay soft, luminous, and beautifully shaped for years. Below you'll find everything you need to keep it looking its best — straight from us to you.
What to Avoid
- Never machine wash or tumble dry. Water and heat cause shearling to shrink, stiffen, and lose its natural loft.
- Keep away from direct heat and sunlight. Radiators, hair dryers, and prolonged sun exposure dry out the leather backing and cause fading or cracking.
- Avoid getting it saturated. Light rain is fine; a downpour is not. If your coat gets very wet, reshape it and let it air-dry at room temperature away from any heat source.
- Do not use household detergents, bleach, or fabric softeners. These strip the natural oils from the leather and damage the wool fibers.
- Skip the plastic garment bags. Shearling needs to breathe — plastic traps moisture and encourages mildew.
Spot-Cleaning
For small marks on the wool side:
- Dampen a soft, clean cloth with cool water only.
- Gently blot — never rub — the affected area.
- Allow to air-dry completely at room temperature.
- Once dry, use a soft-bristle brush (a suede brush works well) to gently restore the wool's texture.
For marks on the leather side, blot lightly with a barely damp cloth and let it dry naturally. Avoid pressing hard or saturating the leather.
When in doubt, less is more — over-wetting does more harm than the original mark.
Storage
- Use a wide, padded hanger to preserve the shoulder shape — wire hangers cause distortion over time.
- Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated space away from direct light.
- Give it room to breathe. Don't crush it between other garments — shearling needs air circulation.
- Use a breathable cotton or linen garment bag for long-term storage (never plastic).
- Avoid cedar balls or mothballs directly on the coat — strong chemicals can damage the wool and leather. If pest protection is needed, place cedar nearby rather than in contact with the coat.
- During off-season storage, check on your coat occasionally to ensure it's staying dry and well-shaped.
When to Use a Professional Leather Cleaner
Some situations call for a specialist, and shearling is worth the investment:
- Significant stains (oil, ink, wine) that don't respond to gentle spot-cleaning
- Overall soiling after a full season of wear
- Any stiffness, unpleasant odor, or change in the leather's texture
- After the coat has been saturated or heavily rained on
Always seek a cleaner who specializes in leather and shearling — standard dry cleaners may use solvents that damage the material. Ask specifically whether they have experience with sheepskin or shearling garments before leaving your coat with them.
A professional clean once a season (or as needed) is the single best thing you can do to extend the life of your coat.
Questions about your coat? Reach out to us — we're happy to help you care for your piece.