How to clean UGGs: sheepskin boots and slippers, by hand

Step by step: how to clean uggs

1. 1

   Brush off dry dirt

   Let wet or muddy boots dry fully first. Then brush the outside with a soft suede brush in one direction to lift dust and dried mud, paying attention to the seams and the edge above the sole.

2. 2

   Erase small marks

   Rub scuffs and small spots with a suede eraser or a clean white pencil eraser and brush away the crumbs. Many light marks disappear here, and if that is all the boots needed, skip to protecting them.

3. 3

   Dampen the whole boot with cold water

   Wet a clean sponge with cold water and wipe the entire outside of the boot until it is evenly damp, not dripping. Wetting all of it, not just the stain, is what prevents a water line when it dries.

4. 4

   Dilute the cleaner

   Mix the sheepskin cleaner with cold water in a bowl, following the dilution on the bottle. Do not pour it straight onto the sheepskin: a diluted solution spreads evenly and rinses out more easily.

5. 5

   Scrub gently with the sponge

   Dip a sponge in the diluted cleaner and scrub the whole boot with light, even strokes. Sheepskin has a delicate surface that roughens if you scrub hard. Give stained areas a few more passes rather than more pressure.

6. 6

   Rinse with a clean sponge

   Rinse the second sponge in cold water, wring it out, and wipe the boots all over to lift the cleaner. Repeat until no suds come off. Do not hold the boots under the tap or dunk them.

7. 7

   Stuff and dry slowly

   Stuff the boots loosely with plain paper or paper towels to hold their shape and leave them at room temperature, out of direct sun and away from radiators and vents. Allow at least 24 hours, often 48 for tall boots.

8. 8

   Brush the nap and protect

   Once fully dry, brush the outside lightly in one direction to restore the soft nap. Spray a suede or sheepskin protector in an even coat, outdoors, and let it dry before wearing.

What is the safest way to clean sheepskin boots?

By hand, with cold water and a cleaner made for sheepskin or wool, diluted as its label directs. The routine in the steps above follows that pattern: moisten the whole boot with cold water, scrub gently with a sponge, rinse with clean cold water, stuff with paper, dry slowly away from heat and sun, then brush the nap in one direction.

Keep sheepskin boots out of the washing machine and the dryer. Soaking, tumbling and heat can stiffen the hide, mat the fleece lining and loosen the sole. Check the care label inside your pair too, since some styles use other materials.

How to remove water, salt and grease stains from UGGs

Each stain needs a slightly different move. Work on dry boots, and test anything new on the inside of the heel first. To get water stains out of UGGs, wet the whole boot rather than the mark, because the ring forms where wet and dry suede meet.

The suede methods in our suede shoe guide also work on the outside of sheepskin boots, but go lighter with the brush.

How to clean UGG slippers and the fleece inside

Wash UGG slippers the same way as the boots: by hand, with cold water and diluted cleaner, never in the machine. Slippers get dirtier inside than out, so give the lining more attention.

• Brush the fleece with a soft brush or a clean pet slicker brush to lift matted fibers.
• For odor, sprinkle a tablespoon or two of baking soda inside each slipper, leave it overnight, then shake and vacuum it out.
• Spot clean the lining with a sponge and a little diluted cleaner, blot well with a towel, and dry slowly with paper inside.
• Wear socks if your feet sweat, and let slippers air out between wears instead of leaving them in a closet.

How to dry UGGs without shrinking them

Slowly, at room temperature. Heat is what stiffens, cracks and shrinks sheepskin, so skip the radiator, the boot dryer on a hot setting, the hair dryer and the clothes dryer.

Woolmark’s wool drying advice applies to the fleece: avoid direct sunlight, direct heat and radiators. Stuffing with paper speeds drying and holds the shape, and Nike’s drying advice for footwear works here too: swap damp paper for dry as needed and keep shoes indoors, out of direct sunlight, in a dry, well-ventilated spot. After drying, protect the boots: Thursday Boot Company suggests an even coat of suede spray from 6 to 10 inches away.

Mistakes to avoid

• Putting UGG boots or slippers in the washing machine or dryer.
• Pouring cleaner straight onto the sheepskin instead of diluting it.
• Wetting just the stain, which leaves a ring as it dries.
• Drying boots on a heater or in front of a fireplace.
• Scrubbing hard with a stiff brush, which roughens the delicate surface.
• Wearing new UGGs in rain or snow before spraying them with protector.