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Bark-Tanned Sheepskins
Care Guide
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Care Guide ✧
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If you need to store your sheepskin, do not keep it in an airtight container. This will cause it to collect moisture and damage it. Store it in a place with air flow.
Take your sheepskin outside and shake it out. You can let it air out for a little bit in the sun, but don’t leave it in direct sunlight for long periods of time.
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Use a pet brush (see above photo) to occasionally fluff your sheepskin back up. Use a wide gentle tooth to keep the fiber intact. Metal fine teeth will disrupt the fiber structure and change the hide’s appearance. After brushing, shake it out to bring back some of its natural structure. For more information check out our blog post
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Bark tanned sheepskin can be put in the washing machine on gentle cycle with cold water and a wool friendly detergent. Please note that all wool can felt in the washing machine.
Certain types of wool such as that from long wool or fine wool breeds will almost always felt in the washing machine. It is best to handwash those bark tanned sheepskin in a tub. When wetting the wool, be sure to brush or rub the fiber in one direction.
Do not rub back and forth or felting will occur!
Never put a sheepskin in the tumble dryer. It is best to air dry on a line and gently stretch the sheepskin as it dries.
About the Tannery
Driftless Tannery offers natural tanning services for sheepskin, goat, deer, and elk hides. Hides are tanned in the most eco-friendly way using gentle soaps and bark tannins, not the heavy metals or harsh chemicals found in the industrialized tanning industry. The two owners, Beth and Danielle, work alongside employees to produce around 40 beautifully tanned hides every week. The finished hides are returned to the owners for their personal use or sale. The Tannery also gathers hides from local butchers keeping them from becoming a part of the waste stream.
