Since the beginning of times, mankind has been making clothes out of animal fur to brave weather in extremely cold regions. Known for their durability and warmth sheepskin has proven to be an excellent supplier of top-quality shearling.
Over the centuries the shearling coats and jackets have gone through massive evolution but have never gone out of style. Known as the fashion staple among women, the shearling jackets not only keep you warm in extremely cold climates, but also let you slay in it.
B-3 Aviator RAF Leather Black Shearling Jacket
While Shearling jackets are fashionable and warm, they are also a huge investment and often come with a big price tag. Even though the jackets tend to be expensive, it can last you for a lifetime with proper care and Cleaning. Shearling is a reliable material and like any leather outerwear it ages beautifully with time. There are ways to clean both faux and real shearling jackets. Let’s take a look at them:
How Often Do You Clean Shearling?
The best way is to take preventive measures to avoid having to deep clean your shearling leather jacket. Whenever you wear a shearling jacket make sure that you shake off any kind of residue left on it afterwards. In case of a stain, it needs to be cleaned right away. Always use a soft brush to clean out any sediment and dust from the outer side at least once every week.
It is recommended to regularly brush the jacket if you want to avoid taking it cleaners ever so often. The wool part of the jacket needs to be cleaned with a soft damp rag. Use a bit of wool cleaner in case of tough stains. Keep shearling away from direct heat and sun as it may damage the leather. Let it air dry after cleaning. In case the jacket gets scuffed at places it can be raised again by using suede brush.
Black Shearling Jacket Leather Aviator Jacket
Before storing your shearling jacket away at the end of the season, make sure that it doesn’t have any sort of odor or stains. If you put it away with stains for an entire season, chances are that you will have to eventually take it to the cleaners.
How to clean Faux Shearling Jacket
Even though faux shearling can be machine washed, it is only recommended in case of stains that are impossible to take out with manual cleaning. Not only is faux leather inexpensive it is a lot easier to clean.
If you are going to machine wash your faux shearling jacket, it is recommended that you turn it inside out and before you wash it. Use light laundry soap or detergent and wash it in gentle cycles in cold water. Add wool dryer balls at the end in order to dry the jacket. It isn’t recommended to dry it off completely in a dryer as it will shrink and damage the shearling. Let the jacket air dry for the rest of the way.
How to clean Real Shearling Jacket
- If you have spilled something on your shearling coat, it is a good idea to clean it right away. Use a paper towel and dab the affected area gently to let it absorb the spill instead of rubbing it off.
- Use a soft dampener instead of a towel to remove the harmful materials as the tough materials may worsen the stains. To make sure that the shearling does not lose its softness or strength, use a delicate comb to remove any foreign materials.
- It is recommended to use a steel comb or a sift suede brush to remove any caught-up dust from the shearling.
- Comb the effected area numerous times for thorough cleaning.
- If the stains are tough, use a soft cloth dampened with detergent. Squeeze it on the stain spot and gently rub the affected area. Use a clean dry cloth to absorb the moisture and then clean of the detergent with a damp cloth. Do not try to rub it off vigorously.
- Machine washing a real shearling coat is not recommended at all as it will damage the shearling jacket from in and out.
- If it gets excessively soiled, take it to the cleaners for expert cleaning.
- Make sure that the dry cleaner has the required expertise in sheepskin cleaning to prevent any sort of damage to your shearling jacket.
Can Shearling be worn in the rain?
Shearling jackets aren’t just a style staple, they are also known for their strength. While most shearling coats and jackets tend to be water resistant, you should avoid wearing it when it is pouring. Excess water may damage the jacket as leather becomes brittle upon absorbing excess water. If your jacket gets wet in mild rain or snow, let it air dry completely. It is not recommended to forcefully dry it off with a sunlight or any artificial form of heat. After it has dried off, use a suede brush to dust off any water marks or spots that may have formed on the surface of the jacket.
How long does a shearling coat last?
A Leather Shearling jacket is a lifetime investment. To make sure that your jacket serves you for a long time make sure that you use the following tips:
- Lightly spray the shearling suede side with a non-silicone water-repellent spray before wearing it for the first time.
- Regularly clean the shearling jacket from both in and outside.
- Do not wear the shearling jacket if it has gotten wet
- Store it away carefully in a storage bag at the end of the season.
- Never machine wash your shearling coat or jacket. Try to take out the stains by hand. In case it is unavoidable, take it to an expert dry cleaner for thorough cleaning.
- Always let your jacket air dry in a ventilated space after cleaning.
- Do not bring the jacket near any form of artificial source of heat. Flame and extreme heat can harm and may cause damage to shearling.
- For the outerwear to maintain its shape, make sure that it is hung out appropriately. Use wooden hangers for this purpose as they are designed to take the extra weight of a shearling jacket.
Conclusion:
As mentioned above, a shearling jacket even though not a vital but a huge investment that is meant to see you through extremely cold climates. The fact tat it is a high maintenance piece of clothing, can not be denied. But with care and preventive measures you can get your money’s worth. And with regular maintenance and cleaning, a shearling jacket is one winter essential that can last you for a lifetime.
