Close
CART (0)
Field Notes · Care
How to Clean and Care for a Shearling Jacket (The Right Way)
The short answer
Most of caring for shearling is leaving it alone. Brush it, hang it on a wide hanger where air can move, and keep it away from heat. Spot clean small marks on the outside with a barely damp cloth or a suede eraser. If it gets soaked, blot it, reshape it and let it dry at room temperature. Never use a hair dryer or a radiator.
Never put a shearling jacket in a washing machine. Don't send it to an ordinary dry cleaner either. For a deep clean or a set-in stain, take it to a leather and shearling specialist, about once every few years. Shearling is not hard to clean. It is easy to damage, and nearly all the damage comes from water, heat and harsh chemicals.
A good shearling jacket will outlive most of the people who buy one, but only if nobody cooks it on a radiator or drowns it in a washer. I have seen more shearling ruined by well-meant cleaning than by years of hard wear.
This guide covers everything from the weekly brush to what to do when the jacket gets caught in a sleet storm. It pulls together what we used to spread across five separate articles on cleaning, washing and dry cleaning shearling, because the right answer to all of them is the same handful of rules.
First, know which kind of shearling you have
Every shearling jacket is one hide with two faces, leather and wool. The care depends on which face is on the outside.
- Leather-out shearling has a smooth, finished leather exterior and the wool inside. Our Shearling Leather Bomber and Big Sky Blazer are built this way. The finished leather sheds light rain and wipes clean more easily.
- Suede-out shearling has a napped, velvety exterior. It is the classic sheepskin coat look, and it is the more delicate of the two. Water spots, oil and rubbing all show on suede.
The wool side is cared for the same way on both. It just needs to be kept clean, dry and brushed.
The routine: five minutes a month
- Brush it. Use a soft brush on the leather or a suede brush on a napped finish, always in one direction. Brush the wool gently with a wide-toothed sheepskin brush or comb to lift it and keep it from matting at the collar and cuffs.
- Air it. After a long day of wear, hang it overnight somewhere with air moving before it goes back in the closet. Wool handles odor well, but it needs air to do it.
- Hang it right. Use a wide, shaped or padded hanger. A wire hanger will put permanent dents in the shoulders of a heavy sheepskin.
- Keep it off the heat. Don't leave it over a chair by the fireplace, on a heated car seat, or in a hot car in the sun.
- Deal with marks the day they happen. Fresh dirt brushes out. Dirt left for a season doesn't.
How to clean a shearling jacket at home
Home cleaning is for surface dirt and small, fresh marks. Always test anything on a hidden spot first, such as inside the hem or under the collar.
Cleaning the leather or suede outside
- Dry dirt and dust: let mud dry completely, then brush it off. Wiping wet mud grinds it into the grain.
- Light marks on smooth leather: wipe with a soft cloth barely dampened with plain water, then let it dry naturally.
- Scuffs and shiny spots on suede: rub gently with a suede eraser, then brush the nap back up with a suede brush.
- Oil or grease: blot, don't rub. Cover the spot with cornstarch or unscented talc, leave it overnight to draw out the oil, then brush it off. Repeat once if needed. Don't use water on an oil stain.
- Road salt (white tide lines): dab lightly with a cloth dampened in a mix of equal parts water and white vinegar, then with a cloth dampened in plain water. Let it dry, then brush.
- Water spots on suede: lightly and evenly dampen the whole panel with a clean, damp sponge so it dries without a ring. Let it dry naturally, then brush.
Cleaning the wool inside
- Everyday grime at the collar and cuffs: brush first. Then dab with a cloth dipped in cool water and a few drops of a wool or sheepskin wash (a lanolin-based wool wash is ideal). Blot with plain water and a dry towel, then let it air dry and comb the wool as it finishes drying.
- Matted wool: once it is completely dry, work it gently with a wire sheepskin brush or a wide comb, a little at a time. Don't brush wet wool. It will felt.
- Odor: air it outside in shade for an afternoon. A light dusting of baking soda on the wool, left overnight and brushed out, will handle anything stubborn.
What never touches shearling: household detergents, bleach, stain-remover sprays, wet wipes, saddle soap on suede, silicone sprays, baby oil, and any heat source. Each one either strips the natural oils that keep the hide soft or leaves a stain worse than the one you started with.
Stain and problem fixes at a glance
| Problem | Do this | Don't do this |
|---|---|---|
| Dried mud | Let it dry fully, then brush | Wipe it while wet |
| Grease or oil | Cornstarch or talc overnight, brush off | Add water or soap |
| Salt lines | Dab with 1:1 water and white vinegar, then plain water | Scrub |
| Water spots on suede | Dampen the whole panel evenly, dry naturally, brush | Dry one spot with a hair dryer |
| Scuffed suede | Suede eraser, then suede brush | Leather conditioner |
| Dirty collar wool | Brush, then dab with wool wash and cool water | Hot water or detergent |
| Matted wool | Sheepskin brush when fully dry | Brush it wet |
| Ink, wine, blood, paint | Blot and take it to a specialist quickly | Try home remedies |
| Mildew smell or spots | Air out, then specialist clean | Seal it in plastic |
What to do when a shearling jacket gets wet
Snow and light rain are fine. Wool is full of lanolin, which repels water, and finished leather sheds it. A real soaking needs a little attention.
- Shake off the water and blot the surface with a dry towel. Don't wring or twist it.
- Put it on a wide hanger and reshape the shoulders, collar and front by hand.
- Let it dry at room temperature with air moving around it, away from radiators, fireplaces, vents and direct sun. A heavy coat can take a day or two.
- While it is still slightly damp, gently flex and work the leather with your hands so it dries supple instead of stiff.
- Once it is completely dry, brush the suede nap or wool back up.
Heat is the enemy here. A hair dryer or a radiator will shrink the hide, crack the leather and make the wool brittle, and none of that can be undone.
Can you wash a shearling jacket?
Not in a machine, and not in a tub. Soaking a sheepskin jacket in water, with or without soap, shrinks and stiffens the hide, strips its tanning oils and can leave it misshapen for good. The wool can also felt. You will find videos of people machine washing sheepskin slippers and rugs on a wool cycle. A tailored jacket is a different thing: it has seams, interfacing and a precise fit that won't survive the shrinkage.
"Washing" a shearling jacket, done right, means the spot cleaning above. Clean the wool side with a damp cloth and wool wash, blot it, and dry it naturally.
Can you dry clean a shearling jacket?
Only by a specialist. Conventional dry cleaning uses solvents meant for cloth, and they can strip the oils from leather and wool, leaving the hide stiff and the color uneven. Leather and shearling specialists use processes made for hides and put the oils back in afterward.
When you call a cleaner, ask three questions: do they clean shearling in house or send it out to a leather specialist, do they re-oil or re-condition afterward, and will they test the color first. If the answers are vague, go elsewhere. A proper shearling clean usually costs more than an ordinary coat, and it is worth it.
How often? For most people, once every two to three years, or whenever there is a stain you can't handle. Cleaning shearling every year strips more oil than it needs to.
Conditioning and protecting shearling
- Smooth leather exterior: once or twice a season, work in a thin layer of a quality leather conditioner with a soft cloth, let it absorb, and buff off the excess. Test first. Conditioner darkens some leathers slightly.
- Suede exterior: no conditioner. Oils and creams will flatten and darken the nap. Use a suede protector spray instead, applied from a distance in light, even coats, and let it dry fully.
- Wool side: never condition the wool. Keep it clean and brushed and it takes care of itself.
How to store a shearling jacket for summer
- Clean off any marks before it goes away. Stains left all summer set.
- Make sure it is completely dry.
- Hang it on a wide, shaped hanger in a cool, dark, dry closet with some airflow.
- Cover it with a breathable cotton garment bag. Never plastic: plastic traps moisture and invites mildew.
- Add cedar blocks or lavender sachets nearby to discourage moths. Keep them from touching the leather directly.
- Don't fold it, crush it in a crowded closet, or store it in a damp basement or a hot attic.
Check on it once or twice over the summer, give it a shake, and let it air for an hour.
Is shearling hard to clean?
No. Shearling is easy to keep clean and easy to damage, which is not the same thing. Brushing, airing and quick spot cleaning cover almost everything, and the wool resists odor and dirt better than most fabrics. What makes shearling seem hard is that the mistakes people reach for first are water, heat and household cleaners, and those are exactly what ruin it.
"This is the best coat I've ever had. It's old school, tough, and very warm."
Ethan A., verified buyer, Shearling Leather Bomber Jacket
Built to be cared for, not babied
Our shearling is leather-out merino sheepskin: full grain leather outside, natural wool inside, tanned in Turkey. Bombers, blazers, barn coats and vests. From $549.95
Shop shearlingCommon questions
How do you clean a shearling jacket at home?
Brush off dry dirt first. Wipe light marks on smooth leather with a barely damp cloth, use a suede eraser and brush on suede, and draw out oil with cornstarch left overnight. Clean the wool side by dabbing with cool water and a little wool wash, then blot and air dry. Test everything on a hidden spot first.
Can you put a shearling jacket in the washing machine?
No. Machine washing or soaking shrinks and stiffens the hide, strips its oils and can felt the wool. A tailored jacket won't recover its shape. Spot clean at home and use a leather and shearling specialist for a deep clean.
Can you dry clean a shearling jacket?
Only through a leather and shearling specialist. Standard dry cleaning solvents are meant for fabric and can strip oils from the hide and wool. A specialist uses processes made for sheepskin and re-conditions it afterward.
How often should a shearling jacket be professionally cleaned?
For most owners, every two to three years, or when there is a stain you can't safely handle. Brushing and prompt spot cleaning cover the rest. Over-cleaning strips natural oils.
What do you do if a shearling jacket gets wet?
Shake it off, blot with a towel, reshape it on a wide hanger and let it dry at room temperature away from any heat. Flex the leather by hand while it is still slightly damp, and brush the wool or suede once it is fully dry. Never use a hair dryer or radiator.
Can shearling get wet in the rain or snow?
Yes, within reason. Snow and light rain are fine because lanolin in the wool repels water and finished leather sheds it. Avoid soaking it in heavy rain, and dry it slowly if it does get soaked.
How do you get a stain out of shearling?
It depends on the stain. Oil comes out with cornstarch or talc left overnight. Salt lines come out with a light dab of equal parts water and white vinegar. Scuffs on suede come out with a suede eraser. Ink, wine, blood and paint should go to a specialist quickly, before they set.
How do you fluff up matted shearling wool?
Wait until it is completely dry, then work it gently with a wire sheepskin brush or wide-toothed comb in short strokes. Brushing wet wool causes felting.
Should you condition a shearling jacket?
Condition a smooth leather exterior lightly once or twice a season with a quality leather conditioner. Don't condition suede. Use a suede protector spray instead. Never condition the wool side.
How do you store a shearling jacket?
Clean and fully dry it, then hang it on a wide, shaped hanger in a cool, dark closet with some airflow, inside a breathable cotton garment bag. Never store it in plastic, folded, or in a damp basement or hot attic.
Is shearling hard to clean?
No. It is easy to keep clean with brushing, airing and quick spot cleaning, and wool naturally resists odor. It is easy to damage with water, heat and harsh cleaners, so the key is knowing what not to do.
How do you get a smell out of a shearling jacket?
Hang it outside in the shade for an afternoon. For a stubborn odor, dust the wool lightly with baking soda, leave it overnight and brush it out. Don't use fabric sprays or perfume on the wool.
Xan Hood founded Buffalo Jackson Trading Co. in 2009 and works directly with the tanneries and workshops that make its leather and shearling outerwear. This is general care guidance. For valuable or heavily soiled pieces, a leather and shearling specialist is always the safe call.