Caring for Sheepskin in a Commercial Setting

The most common source of premature deterioration in hospitality sheepskin is not heavy use. It is incorrect cleaning. The care requirements are not complex, but they are specific — and the difference between a piece that lasts three years and one that is replaced after six months usually comes down to whether the housekeeping team has a clear protocol and follows it.

This guide covers what works at each level of cleaning, what to avoid, and how to build a protocol that holds up in practice. For sourcing or replacement stock, contact details are at the end.

The daily routine

For sheepskin in daily commercial use — seat pads, bedroom throws, lounge pieces — the daily routine is three steps: shake, inspect, replace if needed.

Shaking removes loose dust and restores the loft of the wool. It also gives a quick visual check of the piece. Thirty seconds per item, built into the room turnover or end-of-service routine as a standard step rather than something left to discretion.

For outdoor pieces, the daily routine should include bringing them inside at the end of service. Sheepskin is not weatherproof. Left outside overnight in wet conditions, the leather backing absorbs moisture and begins to stiffen. Brought in each evening and shaken out the following morning, outdoor pieces last considerably longer.

Spot cleaning

Spot cleaning handles most marks and spills in a commercial setting without the risk that comes with washing the whole piece.

Dampen a clean cloth, work a small amount of lanolin-based wool detergent into the affected area, and blot — do not rub. The lanolin cleans without stripping the natural oils from the wool and conditions the leather at the same time. Rinse the cloth and blot again to remove detergent residue, then leave to air dry away from direct heat.

For most marks in a hotel or restaurant context — food, drink, dust, general soiling — this is sufficient. Keeping a stock of lanolin detergent in the housekeeping supply is a practical standard; we supply it in quantities suited to commercial use. Lanolin wool detergent →

Deeper cleaning without machine washing

For pieces that need more than spot cleaning but should not go in a machine, two methods work well commercially.

Sealing the piece in a plastic bag and freezing it overnight kills bacteria without any effect on the hide or wool. No equipment beyond a freezer, no chemicals, no residue. Useful after illness in a room, heavy use by children, or any situation where bacterial load is the concern rather than visible soiling.

In winter, laying sheepskin face-down in clean snow below zero achieves the same result — less relevant for an urban property, but genuinely practical for rural lodges and mountain locations.

Hanging the piece outside on a dry, overcast day — not in direct sun, which fades natural colours over time — refreshes the wool and clears odours. Even an hour is useful.

Machine washing

New Zealand sheepskin can be machine washed on a delicate or wool cycle at 20–30 degrees with a lanolin-based detergent. In a commercial setting, treat this as a last resort for heavy soiling that spot cleaning cannot address. The leather backing takes stress even at low temperatures, and the wool loses softness with repeated washing. Most pieces do not fully recover.

Icelandic, English, Tibetan and Gotland sheepskins should not be machine washed. The tanning methods used for these types are not compatible with machine washing; the leather will harden and crack, and the damage is permanent. For these types, spot cleaning and airing is the full protocol.

Baby sheepskin is the exception. Medicinally tanned and genuinely machine washable — a gentle cycle at low temperature is fine.

Brushing

For New Zealand and Icelandic sheepskins, brushing with a wide-toothed sheepskin brush once or twice a week keeps the fibres separated and the texture consistent. Quick to do, visible difference over time. Use a dedicated sheepskin brush rather than a general textile brush. Sheepskin brush →

Do not brush Tibetan or Gotland. The curl structure is damaged by brushing. Shake and air only.

Replacement planning

Bedroom throws handled carefully by housekeeping may last two to three years or more. Seat pads in a busy restaurant may need replacing annually. Neither figure is a problem if it is planned for. The issue is sourcing replacements ad hoc when pieces start to look tired, which leads to inconsistency across a room or property. Maintaining the original specification with a supplier who can match it on repeat orders is the practical solution.

Working with us

We supply care products and replacement stock to hospitality clients and can set up a supply arrangement that matches your original specification. If you are managing an existing installation and need advice on care or replacement, get in touch.

Email: hello@naturescollection.eu
Phone: +45 75 80 10 50

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