How to Wash a Sheepskin Pram Liner?

Written by Helen Clayton, sheepskin specialist and founder of Baa Baby

Sheepskin is one of the easiest natural materials to care for - far easier than most people expect. If washing it has ever felt like a concern, this guide will help you understand how easy it really is. 

Most of the time your sheepskin pram liner won't even need a full wash. Here's everything you need to know, from quick day-to-day care through to a full wash when the time comes.

The good news - sheepskin pram liners are super easy to keep clean

One of the things parents are often surprised to discover is that the beautiful merino sheepskin we use is naturally self-maintaining. The lanolin in the fibres is naturally antibacterial, which means it resists the kind of build-up that synthetic liners are prone to. Day to day, a little care goes a long way.

Sheepskin very rarely needs a full wash. Regular brushing and the occasional spot clean is genuinely all most pram liners ever need.

For day-to-day care, brush and spot clean

For spills, crumbs and general daily use, a sheepskin brush is all you need. Simply brush the liner to remove dirt and keep the fibres aired and lifted. Allowing stains to dry before brushing is often more effective than trying to tackle them wet - the dried dirt lifts more easily from the fibres. Do be gentle if something sticky has dried in - avoid pulling the hair away from the fleece.

For marks and smaller stains, spot cleaning with a small amount of sheepskin shampoo mixed with water will take care of most things. This is often all that's ever needed to keep your liner looking and feeling beautifully soft.

A sheepskin care set containing both a specialist shampoo and a wire brush is a really handy thing to have at home - it covers everything from quick spot cleans to keeping the fibres in great condition between washes.

For more on keeping the fibres soft and fluffy between washes, read our guide on how to keep your sheepskin fluffy.

How often does a sheepskin pram liner need washing?

Much less often than you might think. With regular brushing and spot cleaning, many parents find they only need to do a full wash once or twice a year - if that. The natural properties of sheepskin mean it stays fresher for longer than synthetic alternatives.

How to wash a sheepskin pram liner - step by step

When a full wash is needed, we always recommend handwashing. The perfect place to wash your sheepskin pram liner is in the bath – plenty of space to gently agitate the fleece without any excessive pulling or twisting.

Here's why we recommend handwashing - and how to do it properly.

Why we recommend handwashing

While sheepskin can technically be machine washed, and some manufacturers advocate it, at Baa Baby we like to proceed with caution. Over the years we've tested many different washing machine brands and found that wool cycles vary significantly between machines. The natural fibres of sheepskin need gentle, consistent care - and not every wool wash is as gentle as it needs to be. Too much heat or variable spin speeds can cause the leather to shrink slightly, which in turn pulls the fibres together and affects the softness of the liner. Handwashing gives you full control and keeps your sheepskin in the best possible condition.

Always use a specialist sheepskin shampoo that contains lanolin. This replaces the natural moisture removed during washing - keeping the leather supple and the fibres soft.

What you need

1. A bath or large basin
2. Specialist sheepskin shampoo containing lanolin
3. A large bath sheet or towel
4. Space to dry flat

Step 1 - Prepare the bath

Fill the bath with cool or lukewarm water - never hot. Hot water is one of the most common causes of sheepskin shrinkage.

Step 2 - Add shampoo

Add a small amount of specialist sheepskin shampoo to the water. It's important to use a shampoo that contains lanolin - this replaces the natural moisture present in the lambskin that is removed during washing, keeping the leather supple and the fibres soft.

Step 3 - Wash gently

Submerge the liner and gently agitate the fleece - the bath gives you plenty of space to do this without excessive pulling or twisting. Gently work the shampoo through the fibres without scrubbing. The dirt should lift easily with gentle movement and a little shampoo.

Step 4 - Rinse thoroughly

Drain the bath and refill with clean cool water to rinse. Repeat until the water runs clear and all the shampoo is out.

Step 5 - Remove excess water

Gently squeeze out the excess moisture - never wring or twist the liner. Rolling it in a large bath sheet and patting it dry will remove much of the remaining water and significantly speed up drying time.

Step 6 - Reshape and dry

Reshape the liner while it's still damp - this is the easiest time to get it back to its original shape. Come back to it periodically as it dries and gently stretch and work the leather back to shape. Then dry flat in a cool room, away from direct heat and sunlight. Heat and sunlight are the two things most likely to cause shrinkage, so patience is important here. It can take a few days to dry fully.

Step 7 - Soften the leather if needed

Once fully dry, if you find the leather side feels a little less supple than before, gently massaging or working the back of the leather over the corner of a table or worktop will quickly soften it again.

Step 8 - Brush the sheepskin once dry

Once fully dry, give the fleece a thorough brush with a wire brush, pressing deep into the pile to loosen up the fibres and restore the softness.

Can I machine wash my sheepskin pram liner?

Our honest answer: we don't recommend it, and we wouldn't do it ourselves. The risk of shrinkage is real, and once the leather has shrunk it can't be reversed. 

If you do decide to machine wash, use the gentlest wool cycle available, no higher than 30°C, at the coolest temperature, and the lowest spin speed.  Use a lanolin-containing shampoo rather than regular detergent. But our recommendation remains handwashing every time.

How long does a sheepskin pram liner take to dry?

Allow a few days for a full dry. This varies depending on the thickness of the liner and conditions in your home, but rushing the drying process - particularly with heat - is the most common mistake. Drying flat in a cool, well-ventilated room is ideal. Never dry near a radiator, in direct sunlight or in a tumble dryer.

Our sheepskin care set has everything you need in one place. If you're not sure about anything, get in touch - we're always happy to help.

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