The craft / September 2, 2026 / 4 min read
How to care for shearling so it lasts more than one winter
Shearling is forgiving about wear and unforgiving about water. Four rules cover almost everything.
Shearling is a single hide with the wool still attached, which is why it insulates the way it does and why it does not behave like a knitted fabric. Treat it like leather that happens to be fluffy and you will get it right most of the time.
Keep it dry. This is the only rule that really matters. Water stiffens the skin side as it dries and no amount of conditioning fully reverses it. If a pair does get wet, dry them slowly at room temperature and away from a radiator. Heat is worse than water.
Brush, do not wash. A suede brush used in one direction lifts the nap and takes surface dirt with it. Machine washing is the fastest way to ruin a pair, because the agitation felts the wool and the heat shrinks the skin.
Let them breathe. Storing shearling in a sealed box or a plastic bag traps moisture against the hide. An open shelf is better. If they are going away for the summer, a cloth bag with room for air is fine.
Rotate if you can. The wool recovers its loft when it is not being compressed, so a pair worn every night flattens faster than a pair worn most nights. That is true of every shearling product and it is the least expensive thing you can do to extend one.
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