We clean a natural sheepskin coat with our own hands at home
Products made of suede and fur are quite capricious and delicate. Since they contain tannins and have undergone special processing, as well as due to the fact that they have a non-woven structure, special methods are used to care for them. The question of how to clean a sheepskin coat at home arises from almost everyone who has such a thing. Often you don't want to give it to dry cleaning because of its high cost. In addition, here it may simply not be accepted or, on the contrary, ruined.
There are many popular methods for cleaning a sheepskin coat at home. At the same time, they are suitable for both natural and other materials. The choice of the required method depends primarily on the type and degree of contamination of the clothing. These can be such options:
- Dry mud
- Oil stains
- Greasy scuffs
- Water stains
- Wax deposits
- Drops of paint or other difficult-to-dissolve substances
The easiest way is to remove water-soluble substances, the more difficult are fatty ones. It is almost impossible to remove stains from substances that require special solvents without damaging the suede coating. When stains from complex substances appear: fuel oil, engine oil, brilliant green, ink, it makes sense to just contact a special dry cleaner. In other cases, the use of this service is uneconomical and unprofitable.
Important! After using special products in dry cleaning, a natural sheepskin coat can become rough. And artificial suede, on the contrary, can lose its density and sag.
In addition, the choice of method also depends on the material. Sheepskin coats can be made from the following materials:
- Faux suede
- Natural rough suede
- Natural fine suede
- Skin
- Laser coated suede
- Laser cut suede
Each material requires its own nuances in the course. Fine suede can stretch when cleaning, fake suede can fade, and laser coating can be damaged by cleaning agents.
It is advisable to clean the sheepskin coat regularly. The longer the clothes are left without care, the more extensive, deep and complex dirt will be on it. And the more difficult it will be to withdraw them later. So the product can be run to the point that it is hopelessly damaged and will not be accepted even in dry cleaning.
On the contrary, with regular care, you can use the simplest methods, and the thing will constantly look new. The regularity of the procedures can be as follows:
- Express cleaning after every rain.
- Emergency treatments after tough stains and dirt.
- Regular seasonal care.
Means for cleaning sheepskin coats
To care for a suede product, various means, both folk and industrial, are used.
The most common cleaning products are all kinds of brushes.There are special brushes with a special bristle and coating for suede, for fur, for simple clothes. The only limitation here is the use of metal and hard brushes. Daily brushing of the garment will give the garment a neat look and help to avoid the appearance of greasy areas.
Chemicals are sold in hardware stores and have different uses:
- For suede
- For skin
- For artificial suede
- For light suede
On the packaging of each product, the possibilities and limitations of use are described in detail.
Folk remedies are as follows:
- Semolina
- Stale black bread
- Starch
- Petrol
- Soap products
Different ways to clean a sheepskin coat
The way to clean a sheepskin coat at home is selected depending on the type of pollution. All methods can be conventionally divided into three groups:
- Dry method.
- Wet way.
- Dry cleaning using special products.
Dry cleaning
This method is the simplest and most suitable for regular use. The dry method can be used to bring a sheepskin coat to a new look after rain or light pollution. The easiest option is to use a classic clothes brush. For greater efficiency, you can use semolina, pieces of old brown bread, starch, an eraser or tooth powder. In any case, the thing must be dried first.
- Simple dirt, areas that have been wet or contaminated with earthy dirt, are easiest to clean with semolina or stale bread. To do this, sprinkle the stains with this product and wipe them off with a fine clothes brush. After that, you need to walk over the surface with a brush with a hard bristle. If necessary, repeat the procedure a couple or three times.
- Greasy stains will help remove dry starch. To do this, the surface is covered with a substance for a couple of hours, and then cleaned with a brush.
- It is easiest to clean the overgrown areas with a tooth powder mixed with alcohol or vodka. It is recommended to process a sheepskin coat with this tool after each season. This will allow it to be well prepared for storage and will increase its service life.
Important! Salt should not be used for processing such products under any circumstances. It reacts with tannins and makes the material tough and coarse enough to be unusable.
Wet cleaning
This method is deeper and more effective than the dry version. However, it takes more time and is more labor intensive. The following means can be used here:
- Gasoline or kerosene is ideal for removing old and tough dirt. To remove them, you need to blot a soft cloth or microfiber in the substance and wipe the stain, if necessary, several times. Then let it dry. However, these products are ineffective for greasy stains. It is better to test these funds on a small area of the product and only then apply.
- Soap solution. This solution can be made from shower gel, laundry detergent, or laundry soap. You need to create a small amount of foam. Spread the sheepskin coat on a table or other horizontal surface and use a napkin to apply a little foam without rubbing it in. Then wipe the surface with a clean sponge. The procedure must be repeated as many times as necessary for the complete disappearance of the deficiency.For more effective cleaning of natural suede, you can drop a little alcohol or vodka on a napkin.
- With the help of a steam generator, you can well refresh a sheepskin coat made of unnatural materials and prepare any product for cleaning.
Advice! Moisture can deform the material. Therefore, this method should be used limitedly only in those places where it is necessary. After cleaning, it is important to gently flatten, knead and dry these areas naturally.
Dry cleaning
Cleansing with special chemicals can be done at home. Each product clearly indicates what materials it is intended for and how to use it. In most cases, the agent is applied to a napkin and the surface is wiped with it.
In addition to cleaning products, the industry also produces special water repellents. You should definitely use them. After impregnation with these products, the clothes will become less dirty, shiny and will last a long time.
Cleaning sheepskin coats from different natural materials
A wire brush cannot be used for all natural materials. She severely traumatizes the material and can even tear it. In any case, after using it, scratches and stripes remain on the suede.
Laser coated
It is better not to use chemicals, gasoline, ammonia or ammonia on sheepskin coats with drawings. These products can damage the finish.
Leather sheepskin coat
This material is the most practical and easy to clean. To clean it, just use a regular damp cloth. The only limitation is not to use abrasive substances and powders when cleaning. Therefore, tooth powder, semolina and black bread will not work.
Suede surfaces
For them, use wet cleaning only as a last resort and very carefully. If possible, it is best to replace this cleaning with steam and then use a dry method. When using a brush or napkin, all movements should be made against the pile.
Features of cleaning collars and cuffs
The processing of these places must be carried out regularly. It is advisable to clean with starch once a month. And once a week, or even more often, you need to brush it with a suede brush.
How to clean fur properly
The fur is best cleaned with a brush. It is not recommended to wet the fur. However, natural skins of waterfowl animals: minks, beavers, muskrats can easily withstand such processing. But the use of wet methods for astrakhan, arctic fox or sheepskin is strictly prohibited.
Faux suede
How to clean an artificial sheepskin coat at home depends on the material from which it is made. Some things can even be machine washed, some can only be dry cleaned. Possible processing methods and restrictions are indicated on the tag sewn on the inside of the product. As a rule, faux suede products are less demanding to maintain and can be treated with most wet methods.
How to smooth a sheepskin coat at home
If creases or wrinkles appear on the product, it will be quite difficult to smooth it out. Most of the creases appear in the folds of the sleeves, and on the back of the hem. It is important to smooth them out regularly, as in the places of the folds the suede is wiped off quickly and this leads to the fact that the thing ages very quickly. Multiple creases and glazed, worn-out areas on the folds clearly show that things have been around for quite a few years.
The easiest and most effective way to smooth a sheepskin coat is to steam it with an iron. This method has many advantages:
- After this treatment, stains and dirt are easier to remove with conventional means.
- This is a good way to prevent the appearance of moths, mold and mildew.
- The suede will not only smooth out, but also become fluffy.
For steam treatment, the iron must be heated and turned on for steam release. The products must be laid out on the table and the entire surface must be treated. Then carefully spread out and let dry.
Important! You cannot use an iron for ironing any kind of natural or artificial materials for a sheepskin coat. Such processing with high temperatures will ruin natural suede irrevocably. Faux suede after such processing will take on a smooth and unnatural look.
Rules for cleaning a white sheepskin coat
Sheepskin coats made of light-colored materials: white, light beige and light gray are the most capricious to care for. The spots on them are the brightest and the most difficult to remove. The use of funds for such products has a lot of limitations:
- Can't use gasoline
- A number of chemicals cannot be used. There are corresponding restrictions on their packaging.
- Any wet methods should be used to a limited extent, as they can leave streaks.
When cleaning light colored clothes, it is better to use the following methods:
- Steam treatment for material preparation.
- Dry methods are recommended after steam treatment.
- Milk with soda. A glass of milk needs 4-5 grams of soda. This solution is used to wipe the stains.
- After cleaning, additionally treat the stains and the area around them with hydrogen peroxide. This will add extra whiteness and eliminate possible streaks.
With correct, neat and diligent care, any sheepskin coat, even a white one, will last a long time and will warm with its tenderness in a severe frost.
VIDEO: How to clean a sheepskin coat yourself.