Sheepskin rug catastrophe

[SilkenTofu]

Last year I bought a lovely sheepskin rug. I then followed the instructions and washed it in my machine. It came out all matted and looked terrible. It is now lining the dogs bed and that is one pleased dog

We looked like a Finish lodge that could have been featured in a Hygge magazine.

Where did I go wrong? I want to buy another one or two as they looked really great in my living room. Do they never go back to fluffy again?

I wash mine every 6 months or so. I wash them in woolite on 30 and they take a very long time to dry completely. Once they're 2/3 dry I brush them with a strong hairbrush a few times and they always look fine. I might do it again later actually, they're beginning to look a bit grotty.

Thanks Herja

Do they come up like new, like when you bought them? I am just wondering if my expectations are wrong. They looked like boiled wool afterwards.

I don't have sheepskin rugs, but do have sheepskin numnahs (saddlecloths) for the horses; best way to wash is on a cool wash with a gentle detergent and lots of hair conditioner rubbed on the wool before washing. You can try to get the fluffy look back by using a velcro or slicker brush.

The first wash, they looked like new. After that they look like a new rug that's a few weeks old IYSWIM. Nothing like boiled wool. I use the handwash setting and a cool wash and wool friendly detergent though. What did you wash them in?

I did once spend ages conditionering and combing one that got vomited on and I put on a normal wash cycle. It worked, but I felt very stupid.

OK, so I think I had a dud sheepskin because I used Woolite and I used a very delicate wash cycle.

Where would you recommend buying from?

Sorry for all the questions. I want to buy all the things I don't really need this Black Friday.

Try conditioner and combing first, lots of conditioner and brushing through, rinse off in the shower. I've got them from ikea or dodgy markets... Ikea is probably a better bet.

This is of no use to you or anyone else, but I bought a sheepskin rug about 15 years ago from ikea. I had no idea I was supposed to wash it carefully so just used to bung it in the washer with bio washing powder on probably a 40 wash. It always looked great.

I got one from John Lewis three years ago and have washed it twice, exactly as you are supposed to with special wool detergent. It now looks like shite and is sitting in the cupboard festering while I have the Ikea one looking pretty good on my sofa. No advice, just wanted to share and sympathise with your frustration!

There we go then! Definitely get them from ikea,

I wash mine in the bath, then use a sheepskin brush on it when almost dry. Try and wash on a sunny day as the quicker it dries they less 'sheep' smell you get.