How to Care for Your Shearling Coat: Complete Maintenance Guide

A shearling coat requires specialized care to maintain its warmth, softness, and luxurious appearance. The key to preserving your heirloom-quality investment lies in understanding that shearling combines leather and wool—two materials with different care needs. Never machine wash; instead, use gentle brushing, targeted spot cleaning with barely damp cloths, and professional cleaning annually. Store your coat in breathable garment bags at 65–70°F with 45–55% humidity, apply leather protector spray twice per season, and avoid direct heat sources. 

This guide walks you through identifying your specific shearling type and applying expert-backed cleaning and storage practices. Proper stewardship ensures your coat maintains its plush texture and distinguished appearance for decades, becoming a treasured piece that transcends fleeting trends.

Why Shearling Needs Special Care

Shearling blends two materials that respond differently to moisture, heat, and chemicals. The leather side stiffens or cracks when stressed, while the wool side can shrink, felt, or lose loft and warmth.

Natural oils in both leather and wool create softness and protection. Generic household cleaners strip these oils, leaving the material dry, dull, and more susceptible to damage.

Because of this dual structure, shearling does not tolerate machine cycles or aggressive scrubbing. High heat and agitation can cause:

• Leather cracking and hardening

• Wool felting and shrinkage

• Loss of natural texture and appearance

• Permanent structural damage

Temperature sensitivity demands vigilance during both cleaning and storage. Research from museum conservation laboratories and the Smithsonian Institution confirms that excessive heat robs leather of flexibility through oil evaporation and collagen degradation. Excessive moisture leads to warping, persistent odors, and biological breakdown across both layers. Even ambient storage conditions matter—conservation science demonstrates that every 9°F temperature increase doubles the chemical decay rate in organic materials like shearling.

Dense wool fibers naturally collect oils, environmental pollutants, and odors more readily than smooth synthetic fabrics. Without proper techniques handed down through generations of furrier expertise, this buildup becomes stubborn. Removal attempts using conventional methods often inflict more harm than the original soiling—a costly lesson many shearling owners learn only after irreversible damage occurs.

Professional-grade treatments preserve the material's balance far better than home remedies. For a comprehensive overview of proper fur cleaning and care practices, understanding these fundamentals is essential. Standard detergents and multipurpose products lack the nuanced chemistry required for materials combining leather backing with intact wool pile—they address one component while destroying the other.

Treat your coat like the premium garment it is. Knowing these vulnerabilities helps you sidestep avoidable mistakes that degrade appearance and performance.

Identifying Your Specific Shearling Type

Your coat's construction dictates the care routine. Different hides, finishes, and manufacturing approaches call for distinct maintenance steps. Real shearling uses lamb or sheep skin with the wool attached, and typically needs professional service.

Exterior Material Identification 

The shell finish shapes your plan. Smooth leather benefits from moisture barriers and periodic conditioning. Suede finishes respond best to specialty brushes and fine-mist waterproofers.

Weight and Thickness Matters 

Heavy, field-style coats hold moisture longer and need slower drying; lighter bomber cuts may dry faster yet require more frequent conditioning to stay supple. Assess texture on both sides. Stiff leather signals it's time to condition. Soft, pliable panels suggest recent or consistent care.

Essential Care Practices

Consistent maintenance blends gentle brushing, targeted spot care, and smart protection. With thoughtful storage and quick fixes, your coat keeps its plush look and balanced structure.

Routine Maintenance Tips

• Daily care starts with light brushing using a suede or shearling brush. Move in one direction to align fibers and deter matting.

• After each wear, remove surface soil promptly. Blot moisture or debris with a dry, clean cloth before it seeps into the leather base.

• Weekly maintenance includes a once-over for loose stitches or early tears. Small repairs handled early remain small.

• Rotate your outerwear. Giving shearling days off allows natural oils to redistribute and prevents stress on the same panels.

• Use a wide, padded hanger between wears. Thin wire concentrates weight at the shoulders and can misshape the coat.

• Monthly inspections help you catch hot spots, stains, or texture changes. Address anything suspicious before it turns into a bigger problem.

Cleaning Your Shearling the Right Way

Never machine wash shearling—the combination of water immersion and mechanical agitation irreversibly damages both leather and wool. The American Fur Council issues explicit guidance: professional shearling cleaning requires specialized equipment, proprietary cleaning agents, and expertise that removes particulates without depleting the natural oils essential for suppleness. Standard dry cleaning chemicals designed for conventional fabrics strip these protective oils, leaving pelts brittle and prone to tearing. Once natural oils deplete beyond recovery thresholds, no amount of conditioning can restore original hand-feel.

For minor surface spots between professional cleanings, use a barely damp cloth with cold water. Blot gently with light pressure—rubbing drives stains deeper into fiber structures and creates permanent discoloration rings. Let the treated area air-dry naturally away from heat sources. Never apply direct heat from hair dryers or radiators, which cause localized leather shrinkage and wool damage.

Specialized shearling cleaners formulated specifically for dual leather-wool construction outperform household alternatives by orders of magnitude. They clean effectively without compromising structural integrity. Learn more about how to clean shearling with proper techniques and products.

Treat winter salt deposits promptly—salt crystals draw moisture and create white residue rings that permanently alter leather color if left untreated. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water, apply sparingly with a soft cloth using gentle blotting motions, then immediately blot dry with clean towels. This technique neutralizes salt chemistry before it bonds with leather tannins.

Professional cleaning once annually—or after significant soiling from extended wear—maintains consistent structure and preserves the luxurious hand-feel that distinguishes fine shearling. For garments worn frequently (6+ times per season) or exposed to smoke, cosmetics, or fragrances, mid-season professional cleaning provides additional protection.

Between professional services, hang the coat outdoors on dry, breezy days when weather permits. Natural air circulation disperses accumulated odors without chemical interventions that might compromise material integrity.

Protecting Your Coat From Wear and Stains

Proactive protection preserves your investment's distinguished appearance and ensures it remains an heirloom-quality piece. Apply a leather protector spray specifically formulated for shearling twice per season—early fall before first wear and mid-winter. Always test in a hidden area first to confirm compatibility and verify the product won't alter color or texture.

Skip heavy rain and wet snow when possible. Prolonged water saturation causes leather fibers to swell unevenly, creating permanent stiffness and distorting the tailored fit that defines luxury construction. Once leather undergoes moisture-induced warping, even professional restoration cannot fully recover the original drape and silhouette.

Strategic layering protects high-contact areas that show wear first. A silk or cashmere scarf shields collars from makeup transfer and skin oils—substances that gradually discolor leather and create permanent dark patches. Keep pockets lightly loaded to prevent fabric stretch and hardware abrasion that compromise structure over time.

Keep pens, rough hardware, sharp jewelry, and abrasive accessories away from wool and seams. A single snag from a bracelet clasp or ring can pull delicate wool fibers, creating runs that spread with each subsequent wearing. Prevention costs nothing; repair requires skilled artisans and often proves impossible to make invisible.

Indoor precautions matter equally: avoid abrasive seating surfaces—rough concrete, splintered wood benches, textured automotive upholstery—that catch and pull fibers. When dining, drape your coat over chair backs rather than compressing it against rough surfaces. These small courtesies extended to your garment compound over seasons into dramatically extended lifespan.

Storing Your Shearling for Longevity

• Climate-controlled storage protects flexibility and loft. Aim for 65–70°F and 45–55% relative humidity to minimize drying and mildew risk.

• Choose a breathable cotton or canvas garment bag. Plastic traps moisture, encourages odor, and can imprint creases.

• Cedar accessories deter moths naturally. Place blocks or sachets nearby, not directly against the coat.

• Minimize folds during storage. If folding is necessary, cushion bends with acid-free tissue to avoid set-in creases.

• Seasonal preparation means cleaning before long rests. Stains and odors set deeper over time and are harder to correct later.

• Check on stored coats monthly in the off-season. Brief airing and a quick brush keep conditions stable.

Solving Common Shearling Challenges

• Matted wool improves with slow, gentle strokes using a wire-bristled suede brush. Work small areas, following the fiber direction.

• Flattened pile often perks up with careful steaming. Hold the steamer about six inches away and brush lightly as you pass.

• Odor elimination favors patience and dry methods. A light sprinkle of baking soda left overnight lifts many everyday smells.

• If the leather feels stiff, it's likely dry. Professional conditioning restores flexibility; DIY creams can migrate into the wool and cause clumping.

• Color fading from sun exposure rarely reverses. Prevention—shade, rotation, and smart storage—keeps color truer longer.

• Even tiny leather tears deserve quick professional attention. Small, neat repairs beat large, costly panel replacements.

What Not to Do With Shearling

1. Never machine wash your shearling coat. Agitation and water damage the leather base and permanently mat the wool.

2. Avoid hanging your shearling on wire hangers. Thin metal creates pressure points and stretches shoulder seams.

3. Don't expose your coat to direct heat sources such as radiators, vents, or hair dryers. Heat dries and cracks leather and makes wool brittle.

4. Never use regular leather cleaners or conditioners. Many will discolor wool and create stiff, uneven patches.

5. Avoid wearing your shearling in heavy rain or snow. Light moisture is manageable; soaking leads to stiffening and possible shrinkage.

6. Don't store your coat in plastic bags or airtight containers. Airflow preserves natural oils and limits mildew.

7. Skip the fabric softener if you're spot cleaning. Conditioners meant for laundry can strip lanolin and alter leather texture.

8. Never brush the wool when it's wet or damp. Wet fibers are fragile and prone to matting or pull-out.

9. Don't ignore stains or spills. Quick attention keeps them from setting into both leather and wool.

10. Avoid over-brushing the wool. Too much friction thins fibers and can create bare spots.

Professional Care Services for Your Shearling Investment

While at-home maintenance keeps your shearling coat in excellent condition between professional services, expert cleaning and storage remain essential for long-term preservation. 

Pologeorgis offers comprehensive fur care solutions designed specifically for luxury garments like shearling. Learn more about our complete range of professional care services:

Expert Fur Care Guidance: Learn the fundamentals of maintaining your investment with our detailed fur care resources and best practices.

Professional Fur Cleaning Services: Find specialized cleaning services near you that understand the unique requirements of shearling and other luxury furs. Our recommended professionals use techniques that preserve both leather integrity and wool loft.

Climate-Controlled Fur Storage: Protect your shearling during off-season months with professional storage facilities that maintain optimal temperature and humidity levels. Our storage partners provide the breathable, climate-controlled environment your coat needs to stay supple and fresh.

Whether you need annual professional cleaning, emergency stain treatment, or secure seasonal storage, we ensure your coat receives the expert attention it deserves.