How to Clean a Shearling Jacket
How to Clean a Shearling Jacket
A shearling jacket is a winter treasure — cosy, rugged and built to last. But that wool-and-leather combination needs gentle, specific care, because what's safe for the leather isn't always safe for the wool. The golden rule, as with most leather: never soak it. Here's how to keep a shearling jacket fresh. (New to the material? See What Is Shearling?)
The golden rules for shearling
- Never machine wash or soak it — water damages both the leather and the wool.
- Always let it dry fully and naturally before brushing or treating.
- Be gentle — shearling responds to light, patient care, not scrubbing.
Caring for the wool side
The fleece needs regular, simple attention:
- Brush it with a suede or shearling brush to keep the wool soft, lofty and free of dust. Work gently, in the direction of the wool.
- Spot-clean marks with a barely-damp cloth (just water, wrung out well) on the affected spot only — never wet the whole fleece. Let it air-dry, then brush.
- Freshen odours by airing it out, or sprinkling a little baking soda on the fleece, leaving briefly, then brushing it out. See How to Get a Smell Out of a Leather Jacket.
Caring for the leather/suede side
The outer surface is often suede or smooth leather:
- For a suede outer — brush it and treat marks with a suede eraser, as you would any suede. See How to Clean Suede.
- For a smooth leather outer — wipe gently with a barely-damp cloth and a tiny amount of mild soap if needed, then dry. See How to Clean a Leather Jacket.
Drying a wet shearling jacket
If it gets caught in the rain:
- Blot off excess moisture with a towel.
- Let it air-dry naturally at room temperature, away from radiators and direct heat (which damages both leather and wool).
- Once fully dry, brush the fleece back to its soft, lofty state.
When to call a professional
For a deep clean or any significant staining, a specialist leather/shearling cleaner is much safer than risking it at home — shearling is too valuable (and too tricky) to gamble with aggressive DIY. It's worth the cost to get it done properly once a season or as needed.
Storing shearling
Store it on a wide, padded hanger in a breathable cover (never plastic), somewhere cool, dry and airy. Make sure it's fully dry before storing for the off-season. See How to Store a Leather Jacket and the full routine in How to Care for Leather.
Explore our shearling jackets and aviator jackets.
FAQs
How do you clean a shearling jacket? Gently — brush the wool with a suede/shearling brush, spot-clean marks with a barely-damp cloth, and care for the leather/suede side appropriately. Never soak or machine wash it.
Can you wash a shearling jacket? No — never machine wash or soak shearling, as water damages both the leather and the wool. Spot-clean and brush instead, and use a specialist for deep cleaning.
How do you keep shearling soft and fluffy? Brush the wool regularly with a suede or shearling brush in the direction of the fleece, keep it dry, and store it well. Brushing restores loft after wear or drying.
How do you get a smell out of shearling? Air it out, or sprinkle a little baking soda on the fleece, leave briefly, then brush it out. Avoid soaking it. See How to Get a Smell Out of a Leather Jacket.