The sheepskin used to make your FLATOUTbear is the hide of the sheep with the fleece intact. It is a natural product and should be treated with love and care.
The natural lanolin in the sheepskin keeps the wool soft, has self-cleaning properties, has anti-bacterial and repels water. Therefore your FLATOUTbear does not need to be washed frequently.
Your FLATOUTbear does NOT need to be washed before use.
If your FLATOUTbear is loved and cherished every day, its lifespan can be limited. In order to prolong the life of your FLATOUTbear, spot clean any significant marks or stains and only wash your FLATOUTbear if it is really dirty. Following the detailed washing instructions.
The sheepskin of the bear can be affected by constant washing and the texture of the wool can change. Please take this into consideration before washing.
Washing or spot cleaning your bear
Step 2: Dissolve a small amount of sheepskin detergent* or woolwash (i.e. non-alkaline mild liquid detergent wool wash) in a bucket of cool water (never use hot water)
TO SPOT CLEAN YOUR BEAR
Step 3: Dip a soft cloth into the water
Step 4: Spot clean the dirty mark (don’t saturate the bear)
Step 5: Gently rub dry with a clean dry cloth
Step 6: Dry flat in shade (see detailed drying instructions below)
OR
TO WASH YOUR BEAR
Step 3: Slosh your bear up and down a few times in the solution; you want a gentle action of water moving through the wool to dislodge dirt particles
Step 4: Rub gently by hand until clean
Step 5: Rinse with cold running water
Step 6: Gently squeeze excess water from your bear – DO NOT WRING DRY. Roll the bear in a dry towel to squeeze out any moisture
Step 7: Lay your bear on a clean, dry towel, pulling the bear into shape, making sure it is flat. Allow to dry in the shade. Please be patient as this can take a day or two depending on the weather. It is important that it dries slowly away from direct heat i.e. direct sunlight and artificial heat as the leather could shrink and/or harden. Don’t be tempted to speed up the drying process. Natural air flow helps the drying process. Fast drying shrinks and hardens the hide.
Please DO NOT put your FLATOUTbear in the washing machine (even on a hand wash cycle) nor in the dryer.
We suggest that you follow the SIDS guidelines as well as using a common sense approach when giving children the FLATOUTbear. Like with anything, we suggest parental supervision and we hope that the FLATOUTbear will become a well-loved member of your family.
