Shake and vacuum first
Most sheepskin care is dry. Take the rug outside and shake it well to knock out loose dust and grit, then vacuum it gently with suction only and the beater bar off, or use the upholstery nozzle, so the brush does not tear at the wool. Doing this regularly keeps a sheepskin fluffy and clean and puts off any need to wash it.
Spot-clean spills
For a spill, blot it up straight away with a dry cloth, then dab the spot with cool water and a little wool-safe or sheepskin detergent on a cloth — not the whole rug — and blot it clean. Keep it cool and barely damp, never hot and never soaked, and let the spot air-dry away from any heat source.
Washing — only if the label allows
Some modern sheepskins are machine-washable and some are not, so check the label before anything. If it is washable, use cold water on a wool or delicate cycle with a gentle wool detergent — never hot water and never a normal cycle, which felt the wool and stiffen the hide. A genuine, antique or large sheepskin that is not labelled washable should be cleaned by a professional, not risked at home.
Drying and fluffing
Drying is where sheepskins are saved or ruined: never tumble-dry one and never dry it on a radiator or in strong sun, all of which bake the hide hard. Lay it flat to air-dry, hide-side and wool-side both getting airflow, and while it is still slightly damp and again once dry, brush the wool up with a wire pet brush or a wool comb to restore the soft, lofty pile.
Real versus faux
Faux sheepskin is a synthetic pile on a fabric backing, with no hide to protect, so it is far more forgiving — many are machine-washable warm and even tumble-dry on low, though you should still check the label. If your rug has a suede-like leather underside it is real sheepskin and needs the cool, gentle care above; a woven fabric backing means it is faux.