We want you to enjoy this beautiful, natural product for many years to come, so here are a few tips to help you care for and use it safely:

CARING FOR YOU…

All Ciora's sheepskin products are prepared in small, family owned tanneries using generations-old methods.  Only tanning and finishing agents which meet strict EU Directives on Environmental Protection are used, all free from harmful Chromium VI salts - so we can guarantee our products are safe and beneficial for the most sensitive or fragile skin.

Our ecologically-tanned, 100% pure Sheepskin hot water bottle covers are:

• non-itchy
• anti-bacterial
• hypoallergenic
• anti-fungal
• self-cleaning

…all thanks to the structure of the fleece fibres and their natural lanolin content (dust mites can’t survive on them either!).

The wool fibres reduce shear and friction against your skin, provide support where needed and redistribute pressure, and the thickness of the suede and fleece protect against burns - so Ciora sheepskin hot water bottle covers are also safe for Diabetics and those at risk of pressure sores.

Sheepskin wool wicks away and absorbs up to 30% of its weight in moisture from your skin, leaving you dry and comfortable - unlike synthetic fibres and fleece – so your feet will always be warm, but never sweaty.

CARING FOR YOUR SHEEPSKIN COVER...

The wonderful properties of our eco-tanned sheepskin mean it won't develop odours, so a regular shake and brush with a wire slicker pet brush or comb is really all you should need to do to keep your cover looking and feeling brand new.

If need be though, light marks can be spot-cleaned using a clean damp cloth (cold water only), and then brush the fleece once dry.  We do not advise full washing of your cover and cannot guarantee results if you do fully wash it. However, if you do choose to wash it by hand or machine, please:

• Never hand or machine wash your cover in hot water – it should be cold, 30°C max, on a delicate setting, with only a teaspoon of specialist sheepskin wash, pure, liquid (castile) soap, or – at a pinch – very mild baby shampoo.
• Never use conventional laundry powders/detergents or bleach. Any cleanser used must be a non-ionic, liquid detergent containing no enzymes, peroxides, phosphates, bleach or alkalis. Beware specialist woollen detergents too – if they don’t say they can be used on sheepskins, avoid them!
• Never spin your cover. It should be gently squeezed, then rolled up in a clean towel to get rid of excess water after washing.
• Never dry your cover on radiators, or with other direct sources of heat, or in direct sunlight;  this will shrink and harden the suede.  Allow your cover to dry slowly and naturally (on a towel or drying rack), and brush the wool fleece with a metal brush or comb frequently as it dries. This will take a few days. Flex the cover during and after the drying process to soften and loosen the suede again, and after a few days back in use it should feel as soft and supple as ever.

RUBBER HOT WATER BOTTLE SAFETY…

For your peace of mind, all Ciora Sheepskin covers come with a new, 1.7 litre natural rubber hot water bottle which is safety kitemarked and conforms to British Safety Standard BS1970:2012; this is the benchmark safety standard used to assess hot water bottles under the general safety requirement of the EU General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC.

However, before first use:

• Please check your bottle for water-fastness/leaks by filling it with water as instructed, and leaving it upside down over a basin or jug for 30 minutes. [N.B. – not all hot water bottles are designed with a rubber washer on the stopper].
• Always remove the rubber bottle from the cover before filling with hot water. Ensure the top is screwed on securely and not leaking, and mop up any water with a dry cloth before returning to the cover. Please avoid any water coming into contact with the cover as this may cause the skin to dry out and split or crack over time.
• Rubber degrades with use;  we advise you replace your rubber bottle annually.

For your safety, please:

• When filling your hot water bottle, do not use boiling water and fill to a maximum of two-thirds capacity or less.
• Do not overfill as this might cause the bottle to burst.
• Hold the bottle by the neck in an upright position and fill slowly to avoid hot water splashing back.
• Expel air from the bottle by lowering it carefully onto a flat surface until water appears at the opening.
• Screw the stopper sufficiently tight to ensure that there is no leakage.
• If there is a possibility that prolonged contact with the skin could occur, an adequate cover should be used to prevent burns.
• Under no circumstance should the hot water bottle be used as a cushion and/or be sat on.
• Do not fill using water from the domestic hot water system as this can considerably shorten the life of the hot water bottle.
• Prevent contact with hot surfaces, and prevent contact with oil or grease.
• When not in use drain completely and keep with the stopper removed, in a cool, dry, dark place; prevent exposure to sunlight.
• Do not place anything on top of the bottle during storage.
• Check the bottle and stopper for wear and damage prior to use.

WARNING – RUBBER HOT WATER BOTTLES CAN CAUSE BURNS. AVOID PROLONGED DIRECT CONTACT WITH SKIN.