Caring for a rug and accessories made of cowhide or another animal

Cowhide rugs and other animal skins such as zebra or reindeer have made a strong comeback in interior decoration in recent years and so has the need to keep them clean and in perfect condition. Caring for a cowhide or other animal skin rug requires careful cleaning and regular spot cleaning. Using tools and products that you can easily find on hand at home and a simple cleaning process, you can keep a cowhide rug looking fresh and perfect for a long time.

what will you need

• A vacuum cleaner with a suitable brush attachment
• Stiff bristle brush (an old scrub brush is ideal)
• A mild cleansing soap.
• A normal household sponge
• Scotch Guard or similar fabric protector
• A steam cleaner (such as a Vaporetto) will help get deep into the fur and get the carpet as clean as possible.

Step one

Once you have purchased your rug and installed it in your home, you should make sure to vacuum it regularly to prevent your cowhide rug from getting too dirty and thus avoid unnecessary deep cleaning. Use the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to clean the fur in the direction of its natural ‘grain’. By doing this every week, you’ll ensure that gritty dirt doesn’t start cutting through the fur. A good old-fashioned shake of the outdoor carpet will also shake off any embedded contaminants.

Second step

Don’t soak the rug when you clean it; however, you can gently steam clean it without any negative side effects. The fur inside the skin is, of course, made from tanned animal material (to preserve the protein in the skin). Fur skins repel water and moisture, thus keeping the animal relatively dry. If cleaning the skin makes it too wet, go outside and dry the skin naturally in the sun. This also has the effect of killing any bacteria or germs that may be on the hair.

Step three

Remove dirt stains with a non-alkaline cleaning soap. Leather soaps will work on stains on soft, hairless leather, but when it comes to fur, baby shampoo or a mild detergent gently rubbed into a lather when cleaning is much better for furry leather. Apply the soapy foam to a sponge, then gently wipe the skin in the direction of the grain. Finally rinse well with a damp sponge to remove any shampoo residue left on the coat.

Step four

Use Scotch Guard or a similar fabric protector well before your rug gets stained and after you’ve cleaned it, as this will help the skin repel more stains and thus keep your valuable and beautiful cowhide rug in pristine condition. conditions.