08 Feb 10 A Guide on How to Care for your Shearling Coat

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.

The most common mistake people make when caring for their shearling coat is they use a washing machine and/or dryer. This is a very easy way to ruin your coat. Always dry clean and air-dry 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.

Heating sources are very dangerous for your shearling, as well as the leather. Never sit by a fire or take your jacket off near a fire place. Even a heater can damage the materials, so please do not place your coat near the heater either.

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.

By following this short list of rules, your shearling will look beautiful for years to come. It's easy to forget some of these rules, but considering the investment you're making in your shearling coat, it's definitely worth following!

To read more on shearling coats and even on caring for a faux shearling coat check out this authors blog at shearlingcoats.org.

Share and Enjoy: