Lambskin Leather Care: Cleaning, Drying and Storing a Delicate Hide

Care for lambskin gently. Wipe marks by hand with a damp, neutral-colored cloth without hard rubbing or soaking, let it dry at room temperature, and take bigger cleaning jobs to a leather specialist rather than a normal dry cleaner. Lambskin is thin, fine-grained and more delicate than heavier leathers, so it scratches and marks more easily.

This guide is part of our leather care and cleaning guide. If you're still choosing a hide, our partner site compares lambskin vs calfskin leather.

Why lambskin needs gentler care

Lambskin comes from young animals and has a very fine, soft grain. It can be worked thinner than 0.02 in (0.6 mm). A fashion maker calls it more delicate than heavier leathers, and a resale site says it scratches more than goatskin, especially near hardware.

What you need

• Soft, neutral-colored cloths
• A soft dry cloth for dusting
• Lukewarm water and a little mild soap, for marks a plain damp cloth won't lift
• A wide, padded hanger and a breathable cover

How to clean lambskin in 5 steps

1. Check the label and test first. Try anything wet on a hidden spot, such as the inside hem or under an arm. If color comes off on a white cloth with water alone, stop and see a specialist.
2. Dust it. Wipe the surface with a soft, dry cloth.
3. Spot clean by hand. Use a damp, neutral-colored cloth with no heavy rubbing and no excess water. For a stain, add a little mild soap to the damp cloth and dry the spot straight away.
4. Blot liquid spills, don't rub them. Blot with a clean cloth as soon as it happens.
5. Let it air dry. Dry it at room temperature, never in a dryer. Keep it away from radiators and direct sun, which can harden, crack and shrink gloves. For lambskin gloves, put them on a few times as they dry to keep their shape. Our leather glove cleaning guide has the full glove method.

Dry cleaning: what sources say

Don't take lambskin to a normal dry cleaner. Normal dry cleaning removes essential oils and can make leather crack, fade and shrink. One lambskin maker says its pieces should not be dry cleaned at all, and bigger jobs should go to a leather specialist. A glove maker advises specialist leather dry cleaning for gloves. Either way, ask for a leather specialist. Our page on dry-cleaning a leather coat lists the questions to ask.

Can lambskin get wet?

Try not to soak it: most leathers are damaged by direct contact with water. Water can move tannins and dye to the surface and leave stains. If lambskin gets wet, blot it and let it dry at room temperature. More detail is in can water ruin leather.

To prevent marks, one lambskin seller recommends a silicone-free water protector made for delicate leathers instead of a regular waterproofer. Leather Collection also suggests a water and stain repellent, tested on a hidden area first.

Conditioning lambskin: sources disagree

Some sources favor conditioning: Leather Collection suggests a leather lotion on a soft cloth for finished leather, and a glove maker uses a small dab of conditioner to keep gloves soft. The US National Park Service says studies found leather dressings have no preservative effect and can leave a sticky surface, though it accepts them on items in daily use. Over-conditioning can also make leather too soft or sticky.

If you condition lambskin, use a thin coat, let it soak in and wipe off the extra. Test it on a hidden spot first. Our guide on how to choose a leather conditioner compares the types.

Wearing and storing lambskin

• Put it on gently and keep it away from direct heat, sharp edges and rough surfaces.
• Don't count on it stretching. One maker says lambskin isn't designed to stretch and suggests sizing up if you're between sizes.
• Keep perfume, hairspray and sanitizer off it. Alcohol-based products strip leather's natural oils.
• Hang it on a wide, padded hanger in a cool, dry, ventilated place, never in an attic or cellar.
• Cover it with breathable cloth or a dust cover, not plastic.
• Keep it out of long spells of sun and heat.

Quick answers

Can you get lamb leather wet?

Avoid soaking it, because direct contact with water damages most leathers. If it gets wet, blot it and let it dry at room temperature.

Is Dawn dish soap safe on lambskin?

No source we read tests Dawn on lambskin. Leather Collection's advice for its leather pants is a damp cloth with a little mild soap, then dry the spot right away. Spot test first.

What does hydrogen peroxide do to leather?

We found no source that tests hydrogen peroxide on lambskin, so we leave it out of this routine. Our page on hydrogen peroxide on leather covers it.

Is lamb leather good?

It is soft and light but more delicate than heavier hides. The choice is covered on lambskin vs calfskin.

If you're shopping for a new pair, Leather Collection lambskin gloves come in lambskin or cowhide, mostly 0.03-0.035 in (0.8-0.9 mm) thick, so the glove steps above apply to them directly.