subject: Caring For A Shearling Coat [print this page] Shearling jackets are a great way to stay warm and look great. They're an investment with a hefty price tag, but can last for a very long time if cared for. Shearlings require more attention than most other fabrics, especially during the cleaning stage. Shearling is extremely durable; however it can easily be damaged if not cleaned properly. In this guide, I'll make share all the tricks in caring for your shearling coat.
Rule #1 in my book is never put your shearling through a washing machine or a dryer. Either professionally dry-clean it (you can do this yourself if you know how) and always air-dry your shearling coat. A machine and dryer cycle can easily ruin your coat.
Shearling coats easily pick up dirt. In order to prevent the dirt from settling into the coat and causing permanent damage, frequent cleanings are a must. The longer the dirt sits in the shearling, the harder it is to remove it. Frequent cleanings (obviously this varies on how often you wear your coat), will keep your coat looking as good as new.
Considering you're probably wearing your shearling during the winter, there's not a bad chance you'll end up sitting by a fire. Always keep the jacket away from flames and any other source of heat. Never place the jacket near the heater or on it. This will damage the shearling and can hurt the leather as well.
Sunlight can also damage your shearling coat. If you keep the jacket in front of a window that gets a lot of light this can bleach out the shearling. It obviously won't happen in a day, but if it's for weeks at a time it can easily fade out.
It's very common people store their coats in a plastic garment bag. It seems like it's a good idea to protect it, but it will damage your coat. Shearling coats need to breathe and the plastic will trap the moisture in the bag and jacket. The best solution for this is always using a cloth garment bag, which will allow for the jacket to breathe.
This rule depends on how much space you have, but always try to give the shearling jacket some space when hanging it. Let it hang loose and naturally, not in some twisted way. While on the topic of hanging, make sure you're using a stout hangar. You don't want it hanging on a door knob or other round points.
There's nothing too difficult on this list! If you can follow these few simple steps in caring for your shearling coat, you're jacket will look as good as new for many years to come!
