Sheepskin and flokati rugs are two of the most misunderstood products in the rug-cleaning world. They look similar from the front, they're both made from sheep's wool, and yet cleaning one the wrong way can permanently ruin it. We know — it cost us $3,000 to learn that lesson the hard way.
This guide covers everything: the difference between the two, how to clean each one professionally and at home, how to make a sheepskin rug soft again, how to restore a stiffened underside, and what professional cleaning actually costs.
Flokati vs. Sheepskin: What's the Difference?
Before cleaning anything, you need to know what you're dealing with. The two rugs look nearly identical from the front — thick, fluffy, white wool — but they are constructed completely differently and require completely different cleaning methods.
Flokati rugs are made from wool that has been sheared from the sheep, spun into a loose yarn, and woven into a rug. There is no hide, no leather, no backing. The rug is essentially a very thick wool textile. For animal lovers, the flokati is the vegan choice — no animals are harmed in its production.
Sheepskin rugs are made from wool that was still attached to the hide. The leather backing is the defining feature. It's what gives sheepskin its famous softness and sheen — and it's also what makes cleaning it so much more delicate. The back of an authentic sheepskin rug is bare tanned leather, with nothing covering it.
The $3,000 mistake: One of our technicians once misidentified a sheepskin rug as a flokati. The giveaway he missed? A fabric backing. Flokati rugs never have fabric backings — there's nothing to hide. This rug was actually multiple smaller sheepskins stitched together, with the seams hidden under a fabric layer. He washed it like a flokati. When it came out of the drying room, the hide had shrunk but the fabric backing hadn't. The rug never laid flat again. The lesson: always identify before you clean.
How to Clean a Flokati Rug
Flokati rugs are the more forgiving of the two. Because they're pure spun wool with no hide, they can handle moisture and a fairly thorough cleaning — as long as you respect the wool.
Professional Flokati Cleaning
We clean flokati rugs using full immersion washing with cold water. Hot water will felt wool, so temperature control is critical. The tricky part is that flokati rugs absorb an enormous amount of water — up to 1,000 times their dry weight — making wet handling a real challenge. Our facility is set up to manage this without damaging the rug.
How to Wash a Flokati Rug at Home
Small flokati rugs can actually be machine washed, much like a wool sweater. Here's how:
- Shake or vacuum first to remove dry dirt and debris. Use the hand tool attachment — no beater bar.
- Use a gentle wool cycle with cold water only.
- Use a small amount of wool-safe detergent — about a teaspoon per gallon of water equivalent.
- Lay flat to dry — never put a flokati in the dryer. Hang drying can distort the shape.
- Brush while drying to prevent matting. Use a wide-toothed comb or your fingers to keep the pile open.
For larger flokatis, follow the same low-moisture spot-cleaning method described in the sheepskin section below.
One thing to know about flokatis over time: They will eventually mat and become dingy with use. Cleaning helps, but they won't return to brilliant ivory the way a sheepskin can. If long-term vibrancy matters to you, a sheepskin is the better investment.
How to Clean a Sheepskin Rug
This is where most DIY advice online goes wrong. We've seen blog posts recommending a full soak with human hair conditioner. Please don't do this.
Why You Can't Treat It Like a Flokati
A sheepskin rug is an unfinished leather product. It has been tanned to preserve the hide, but it has not been treated with dye or a protective coating. Think of it like your leather jacket — leather and excessive moisture do not mix. Get a sheepskin too wet and the leather backing will harden like a potato chip.
Professional Sheepskin Cleaning
Our method is labor-intensive and combines two techniques: dry cleaning the hide side to clean it thoroughly without moisture, and a controlled upholstery-style moisture cleaning for the wool side. The wool naturally absorbs moisture, so this balance has to be managed carefully.
After cleaning, every sheepskin rug must be brushed thoroughly with a wire bristle brush (like a slicker brush used for pets) to restore the fluffy, soft texture of the wool.
How to Wash a Sheepskin Rug at Home (Step-by-Step)
For home maintenance, use this low-moisture method:
- Remove dry soil first. Shake the rug outside, or vacuum with the hand tool attachment (never the beater bar).
- Mix your cleaning solution. Use about one teaspoon of gentle laundry detergent diluted in one gallon of cold water. Less is more.
- Dampen a white cloth with the solution, then wring it out completely. The cloth should feel barely damp — not wet.
- Wipe the wool side only in the direction of the fiber. Use a fresh section of cloth every time it looks dirty.
- Do not wet the leather backing. For the back, use a dry clean cloth only.
- For yellow spots or light stains, dilute 3% hydrogen peroxide — about ¼ cup to 2 cups of water — spray lightly and evenly over the stained area, then leave it in direct sunlight.
- Once the stain has lifted, wipe with a damp cloth to remove residue. Thorough removal of any cleaning product residue is key.
- Air dry completely away from direct heat sources. Never use a dryer or place near a radiator.
How to Make a Sheepskin Rug Soft Again
After cleaning — or after normal use — a sheepskin rug can lose some of its fluffy softness. Here's how to restore it:
Use a wire slicker brush (the kind sold for brushing dogs or cats works perfectly). Once the rug is completely dry, brush the wool in long, firm strokes working from one end to the other. You'll notice the fibers separating and the pile lifting almost immediately.
Work in sections and brush in the natural direction of the fiber first, then lightly against it to fully open up the pile. This step is non-negotiable after any cleaning — it's what transforms a flat, slightly matted rug back to its original fluffy state.
If the rug feels stiff despite brushing, the leather backing may have dried out slightly. See the section below on restoring the underside.
How to Restore the Underside of a Sheepskin Rug
If the leather backing of your sheepskin rug has become stiff, cracked, or board-like, moisture is usually the culprit — either too much of it during cleaning, or the rug drying too quickly near a heat source.
For mild stiffness: Apply a small amount of leather conditioner to a dry cloth and work it into the hide in circular motions. Use very little — you want to condition, not saturate. Let it absorb fully before placing the rug back on the floor.
For severe stiffness or cracking: This level of damage typically requires professional treatment. A severely hardened hide has lost its natural oils and may not be fully reversible at home without the right products and techniques.
What not to do: Do not apply water, oil-based products, or human skin moisturizers to the hide. These can darken the leather, cause uneven softening, or introduce mold risk.
Prevention is the best approach: always dry sheepskin rugs slowly at room temperature, never near heat, and never fully soaked.
How Much Does It Cost to Dry Clean a Sheepskin Rug?
Professional cleaning of a sheepskin rug typically ranges from $50 to $150+ depending on the size, condition, and how soiled it is. Larger rugs, heavily soiled pieces, or rugs requiring restoration work (stiffened hides, matted wool, staining) will be toward the higher end.
At Mother Nature's Cleaning in San Rafael, we assess each rug individually before quoting — because no two sheepskins are quite the same. Our method is labor-intensive by design: the combination of dry cleaning and controlled moisture cleaning we use on the wool side takes significantly more time than a standard rug wash, but it's the only way to clean a sheepskin without risking damage to the hide.
About Yellowing: What Cleaning Can and Can't Fix
Natural wool yellows over time through oxidation. You can clearly see the difference between a newer sheepskin and one with some age — the older one will have a warm ivory or cream tone rather than bright white.
This color change is permanent. Cleaning will not reverse yellowing, and no product should be able to claim otherwise without using harsh bleaching agents that would damage the fiber. What cleaning does do is remove dirt, oils, and odor so the rug looks and feels vibrant again — soft, fluffy, and fresh, even if no longer the same shade of white as the day it was purchased.
If you are cleaning a sheepskin or flokati with the expectation of restoring it to brilliant white, you should know upfront that this isn't achievable — and any cleaner who promises it is overselling.
