HELP! Can I wash sheepskin & suede clothing in the washing machine?

[Pip]

Now I know the proper answer to this is, of course not, go to a dry cleaners. However, I'm in a desperate hurry and don't have time. I need to wash a suede jacket and a sheepskin sleevless jacket quickly.

They're dressing up clothes and have been in the attic for a few years and therefore smell musty. I've heard that although not advisable, that you can actually wash sheepskin in the machine on a cold/wool wash.

Has anyone tried it? It's either that, or hang it out on the line and hope the smell goes. Any help appreciated, thanks.

Not quite the same but i regularly put the baby sheepskin rug thingy in the machine and it comes out fine and fluffy - just a cool wool wash and mild detergent. The suede back of it always seems a bit crunchy at first iykwim, so don't know if i'd risk a suede jacket though...

My mum buggered up a suede jacket in the wash and made it all hard and nasty. That said, I've had suede come back from the cleaners a bit crunchy as well.

If it;s for dressing-up, rather than serious use, then a cool gentle wool cycle with wool detergent sould be fine. I wouldn't risk it if they're things you want to look good in, though.

the suede wont be the same if you wash it.
min temp and shortest cycle.
no spin or a very low one

Could you be bothered to buy suede cleaner and do it by hand?

Thanks for your suggestions. Hmmn, tempted to wash the sheepskin in the m/c and leave the suede. Neither of them are terribly precious as they are just 70s dressing up gear, but it would be a shame to ruin them. The suede doesn't really look dirty, I just thought it could do with a freshen up and wanted to get rid of the musty smell! I'll wash the sheepskin first and see how that comes out I think.

My jacket was ruined by the sauce from honey garlic chicken wings. It is an old jacket, but in good condition. We decided rather than paying 50.00 to dry clean we would try washing and if it didn't work, throw it away. Put it in the delicate cycle with cold water wash, added odor crystals and added downy. We let it go thru the whole cycle including spin and then put in dryer for 15 minutes. Then laid it flat to further dry. THe jacket is better than new. Clean and bright and not a trace of the sauce. Dry cleaning suede is a total gimmick.

yes, cold wool or handwash cycle with a bit of schampoo (never ever bio detergent).
lie flat to dry.
to prevent it going stiff when drying crumple a bit a few times.
I used to wash horsey leather stuff in the mashine without ill effect, it just needed to be oiled well after drying.

I know this is an old thread, but it never disappears from cyberspace and people who are still searching for answers might be interested in reading it.. like I was. So.. If you ever have garments that are just musty like this and need a freshen up, there's a trick women in wardrobe on film sets use.. put vodka in a spray bottle and spray your clothing with it. The alcohol will evaporate, taking any musty or questionable odor away with it. This works amazingly well for costumes that have been on sets in the rain and smoggy weather and need a freshen up. It will work on clothes that have been stored in attics as well.

the method ive used and i have several suede coats is to put suede coat in washing machine with mild hair shampoo on a wool wash and a good quality hair conditioner in the conditioning compartment. when removed from washing machine,air dry item,very low heat and then if there are any shiny patches use sandpaper to raise the nap again. and to finish,all over with a wire suede brush. i bought an old suede coat on eBay and completely restored it using the above method. i am now about to wash my moorlands sheepskin coat using the same method

I've washed a suede coat in the machine with bio detergent and fabric softener (wool cycle)
Did I get lucky?!

It also depends on the quality of coat ,