Cowhide rug cleaning in Toronto
A cowhide is leather with the hair still on, so it needs different care from a woven rug: a light wash and a hand clean. Cowhide rug cleaning in Toronto starts with the hide in front of us, and a straight answer.
About cowhide rugs
A hide, not a woven rug
Leather underneath, hair on top.
A cowhide rug is usually one whole tanned skin with the hair left on. It has no knots, no pile and no woven threads. The hair is still rooted in the leather, and the leather is what holds the rug together.
That changes the care it needs. Most woven rugs can be washed right through, but leather doesn’t like being soaked. Depending on how it was tanned, a hide can dry stiff or shrink, and dyes can run. The Canadian Conservation Institute, which advises museums on caring for leather and fur, says that getting most skins and leathers wet can damage them.
That’s why a cowhide gets a light wash and is cleaned by hand, and why each one is inspected before any work starts.
- Hair rooted in the leather
- No pile, knots or threads
- Soaking can stiffen the leather
- Dyes and prints can run
First things first
Each hide is judged on its own
Then you know where you stand.
No two hides are alike. The leather can be thick or thin, soft or dry. The hair can be short and firm, or already thinning. Some hides are dyed, printed or stitched together from many pieces.
So we go through yours first and explain what we can do for it, and what we can’t. That way there are no surprises later on. If something turns up that we didn’t expect once it’s with us, you get a call from us first.
And if a damp cloth is all it needs, we’ll say so. No pressure, ever.
- The leather: soft, dry or cracked
- The hair: firm or shedding
- Dyes, prints and patchwork stitching
- Spills, stains and pet accidents
At home
Spills and loose hair at home
Less water is better.
Spill something? Lift off anything solid, then blot with a dry white cloth. Don’t pour water on it and don’t scrub. If you need to wipe, use a cloth that’s barely damp and work in the direction of the hair. Let the spot air dry, away from heaters and fireplaces.
Some loose hair is normal for a natural hide, especially a new one. Worn or bald patches won’t grow back, and no cleaning can restore them. If the hair is coming out in clumps, call us before you clean it.
Everyday care
Shake it outside
A good shake now and then.
Suction only
Vacuum with no beater bar.
Pet accident on a hide? Blot it, don’t soak it, and phone us at (416) 939-7571. We’ll take a look and give you our honest opinion.
Care at home
What’s hard on a hide
Other hides
Sheepskin, goatskin and other hide rugs
Each hide differs, so we go case by case.
Cowhide isn’t the only hide rug we clean. Here’s how the others differ, and what each one doesn’t like.
Sheepskin, including long-haired Icelandic and curly Mongolian lamb: thick wool on a soft leather back. Hot water and heat can harden or shrink the leather. See sheepskin rug cleaning.
Have a hide that isn’t a cowhide? Send us a photo, or call (416) 939-7571. We’ll take a look and let you know what we can and can’t do for it.
Other hide rugs
Printed, dyed, metallic
Fade in strong sun, run when wet. Don’t scrub.
Usually polyester or acrylic, not leather.
Pickup and delivery
Free pickup, and the final say is yours
You decide after we’ve looked.
Our cowhide cleaning service includes free pickup and delivery, from your door and back. Each hide gets seen first, and nothing extra happens unless you’ve said yes.
Text us photos and the hide’s size, and we’ll get back to you with what we can do. If you’d rather not go ahead once we’ve seen it, your hide simply comes back home.
Or talk it through with us: call (416) 939-7571, or get a free estimate.
Questions
Cowhide rugs questions
The questions we’re asked most often, answered the way we would on the phone.
Can a cowhide rug be washed like a regular rug?
Not in the same way. A cowhide is a tanned skin, and depending on how it was tanned, a soaking can leave the leather stiff or shrunken once it dries. So a cowhide gets a light wash and a hand clean instead. Each hide is inspected first, and you’ll know what we can do ahead of time.
Can I put my cowhide in the washing machine?
Please don’t. A machine soaks and tumbles the hide, and soaking can leave the leather stiff or shrunken. Shake it outside, vacuum with suction only, and blot spills with a dry cloth. If that’s all it needs, we’ll tell you.
Do you clean sheepskin and other hides?
Yes. Sheepskin has its own page: sheepskin rug cleaning. For goatskin, calfskin, reindeer and other hides, which ones we can take depends on the hide, since each behaves a little differently. Send us a photo or call (416) 939-7571. You’ll get an honest answer for yours. Faux hides are synthetic: see synthetic rug cleaning.
My hide is shedding. Will cleaning make it worse?
Some loose hair is normal for a natural hide, especially a new one. Bald patches won’t grow back, though, and hair coming out in clumps is a reason to stop and call us before anyone cleans it. We’ll inspect it first and say what to expect before we touch it.
How much does cowhide rug cleaning cost in Toronto?
Cowhide rug cleaning is priced by size, and pickup and delivery are free. Text us a few photos and the hide’s size for an estimate: what we agree on is what you pay, and nothing more. If you decide against it after we’ve seen it, your hide comes back at no charge.
Got a hide that needs some care?
Book your free pickup online, or call (416) 939-7571. Once we’ve seen your hide, you’ll hear exactly what we can do for it.