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Just that really, my mum has given me a really old and really grimy sheepskin rug she has had sitting in the loft for 30 years. It would be a shame to throw it away, but it needs a good wash.

Any tips on how to go about it, I've got no idea.

I took a chance & stuck ours in the washing machine on a 'delicates' load. I just used a tiny amount of washing soda. It is still a bit grubby, but it seems to have survived.

My biggest tip to you is to dry it outside...it WILL smell like a wet sheep! Try to dry it flat, ie over a frame of some sort, rather than just over the line. (You'll be surprized just how heavy it will be when wet.) I used a mini greenhouse frame laid on it's side.

Good Luck.

MW

Yeah I stuffed one of mine in the washing machine on a low temp rinse. Came out ok,not as fluffy as new but got most of the camping muck off.

You could try dry shampooing it first if it's not too stained - rub in a mix of bicarb and cornflour. Leave it for a while then vacuum it out. Add essential oils to the dry mix if you want.

you can wash them on a cold wash in the machine as stated above, but a dry shampoo is better, then brush it with an animal brush - the ones with lots of little metal pins, that gets lots of the dirty knots out, pulls the fleece out so it goes all fluffy again and gets loads of bits of debris out of the fleece itself.

Wow Nojoke Matt, you're posh having sheepskin rugs when you're camping

Nah, I wouldn't say posh. Just likes me comforts!

The sheepskin was bought at a boot fair for a couple of quid and I find them more comfy and warm to sleep on.

Good point. Those inflatable beds don't usually stay inflated all night long (no, not due to obscene bouncing ). I'll look out for them at boot sales myself, now I know how to wash them and get them all fluffy again.

Thanks for all the replies, I had a go at the washing machine and it seems to come out really quite nice, so cheers all.