ANIMAL HIDE SKIN

That way you only cut away the leather and not the hairs. To do this you can use a sharp knife and cut on the leather side. If it keeps curling up and it really bothers you, you can just cut off the piece that curls up. You can also try ironing it on both sides with a damp cloth in between the hide and your ironing machine.

ANIMAL HIDE SKIN

A water spray may be helpfull to keep the skin hydrated. There's not really a remedy, but you can try to curl up the leather in the opposite direction and 'massage' it. Curling simply is something that can occor with cowhides. Strong sunlight or floor heating can make the leather very dry and cause it to curl up.Д¬urling occurs mostly around the legs and neck. However good quality cowhides can also curl up when they're in a bad environment. Very cheap cowhides start curling quite quickly. This will cause a tension on the surface and cause the curling.

The leather in thinner layers will dry out quicker than the leather in thick layers. Preferably rolled onto a tube and protected by a cotton cloth around it. If you have to put it away for a longer period of time it's good to do it on a dry and well ventilated spot. On a sunny day you can put your hide outside so that it can air. We can't guaranty the spot will have completelly disappeared, but it is the best way to do it and it is worth the try.Д¬owhides and other animal hides don't like being wet for long. afterwards rub it with a damp cloth which has been soaked in a residue of soft soap and water. Then you can put some eucalyptus oil on a cloth and softly rub it over the spot. This will make any bad smell go away.ДЇor oil-related stains like fat, lipstick and chewing gum: get rid of most of it by scrapping it off with a knife into the direction of the hairs. After that you can clean it with a damp cloth that has been soaked into a residue of water (95%) and vinegar (5%). Afterwards you can use a damp (not wet) cloth which you've soaked in a residue of soft soap and water.В You can rub into all directions now. If it has turned hard try to scrape it off with a knife in the direction of the hairs. Make sure you do not make the hide entirely wet!В Don't put it into your washing machine or bring it to a dry cleaner!ДЇor sheepskins it's good to brush it with a dog or cat brush to keep the hairs nicely soft and fluffy and remove any dirt.ДЇor stains of wine, coffee, tea, juice, food, soup, urine and vomit: try to immediatelly soak most of it into a towel or sponge. You may also use a damp (not wet) cloth which you've soaked in a residue of soft soap and water and rub in the direction of the hairs. If you own a patchwork rug made of animal hides it is good to turn it once every now and then so that it can wear evenly. Vacuuming regularly is sufficient or if the hide is not too big you can just shake it once outside to air it and get rid of dust. Make cleaning your animal rug part of your normal cleaning routine. Natural hides however do not lose their colour and are resistent against sunlight. It is important to keep dyed and printed hides out of direct sunlight so they do not lose their colour. Sun is very damaging for all sorts of textiles, leathers, etc. If you think it is needed you can always put a velcro on the corners or double sided tape on wooden and stone floors. You do this by putting a damp cloth between your ironing machine and the hide.ДЄnimal hides do not shift on carpet or wooden and stone floors because the texture on their bottom is a natural anti-slip. You can also iron your hide on either side. You can speed up the process by putting something heavy, like books for example, on top. After a few days the folds start to disappear. If you decide to fold it the hide may need some time to relax afterwards. It is best to roll it when your store it away. You can fold an animal hide but it's not ideal.

You can use animal hides in business environments or high traffic areas but be aware that they will wear much quicker. Hides are best used in homely environments.

Animal hide