Caring for a Shearling Coat

Peter Lasto on Feb 8th 2010

Shearling coats are one of the warmest materials used in jackets. Not only are they warm, but everyone looks great in a shearling coat. Unfortunately, they aren’t cheap and with their price tag you definitely will want your coat to last as long as possible. There are several rules one must follow in order to keep your shearling coat looking as good as new for years to come. In this guide, I’ll share these simple rules to prevent any damage to your shearling coat.

Never use a washing machine or dryer when cleaning your shearling coat. It’s always best to either dry clean or air-dry your shearling coat. Using these machines could seriously damage your jacket, if not ruin it.

The second rule is a bit tedious, but it’s really not that tough. If you love your shearling coat, you’ll want to clean it pretty frequently. Depending on the amount of use you get from your coat, this may vary but shearling easily picks up dirt. The dirt settles into the shearling and becomes harder and harder to remove as it settles. With that said, the frequent cleanings will keep your shearling coat looking like its brand 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.

Always be aware of the amount of sun light your shearling coat is exposed too. This is a very easy way to bleach your jacket and the colors will fade. Don’t hang your coat in a window that gets a lot of sun light. It can happen as quickly as a few weeks!

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.

If you can treat your shearling coat well and care for it by following these rules mentioned, your jacket will last a very long time. Shearling coats are very pricey, so it’s definitely worth giving it a bit of attention.

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

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