Caring for a cowhide or other animal skin rug and accessories
Cowhide rugs and other animal skins such as zebra or reindeer have made a strong comeback in interior decoration in recent years, as has the need to keep them clean and in perfect condition. Caring for a cowhide or other animal skin rug requires careful cleaning and periodic 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-bristled brush (an old-fashioned scrub brush is ideal)
- A mild cleansing soap.
- A normal household sponge
- Scotch Guard or similar fabric protectant
- A steam cleaner (like a Vaporetto) will help get deep into the fur and get the most cleaning out of the carpet.
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 of your vacuum to clean the coat in the direction of its natural ‘grain’. By doing this every week, you will ensure that the gritty dirt does not start cutting into the fur of the skin. 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 clean it with steam 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 pelts repel water and moisture, thus keeping the animal relatively dry. If cleansing makes your skin too wet, go outdoors and dry your 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 smooth, hairless skin, but when it comes to hair, baby shampoo or a mild detergent will gently scrub into a lather when cleaning is much better for fur with hair. Apply the soapy lather to a sponge, then gently cleanse the leather in the direction of the grain. Finally rinse well with a damp sponge to remove any remaining shampoo residue from the coat.
Step four
Use Scotch Guard or a similar fabric protectant well before your rug gets stained and after it has been cleaned, as this will help the leather repel more stains and thus keep your valuable and beautiful cowhide rug in pristine condition. conditions.