It’s time to answer the age-old question that plagues just about every consumer and footwear fan: How do you clean Ugg boots?
Before tackling that dilemma, it’s important to understand the makeup and construction of the shoe in order to treat and clean Ugg boots in the best way.
Construction of Ugg Boots
While durable and insanely warm, Ugg’s famed short tan boot is crafted out of delicate sheepskin material that can sometimes stain, making them susceptible to water damage, mud spots and salt stains among other plights.
The classic Ugg sheepskin lining is vetted through extensive, industry-leading processes to ensure only the highest quality sheepskin makes the cut, delivering the signature feeling of Ugg boots. The boots are also treated in order to repel light amounts of water.
In fact, Ugg boots can come with a special sheepskin care kit that includes a spray protectant as well as a cleaner, freshener, conditioner, bamboo handle brush and a suede scuff eraser. The cleaning kit and others like it are available on Amazon and Ugg’s official website, retailing from $25 to $35.
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Can I Clean Ugg Boots in the Washing Machine?
Unfortunately, cleaning your Ugg boots or slippers in the washing machine is also not a recommend option as the cycle can damage delicate materials.
What Are Some Ugg Cleaning Tips and Tricks?
According to Ugg’s official website, consumers are advised to follow these steps:
• Step 1: To use a clean, very soft, damp rag and wipe or blot gently
• Step 2: To clean the sheepskin you must moisten the entire surface of the boot with clean, cold water and apply a small amount of their cleaner and conditioner to a dampened sponge and gently scrub the stained area. Do not rub or use any sort of cleaning product. It should be noted that if you use too much force, the sheepskin surface on the Ugg shoes will damage, so it is advised that a light hand is used.
• Step 3: Once scrubbed, the surface should be rinsed with cold water and then stuffed with paper to hold the shoe’s shape, allowing it to dry slowly and naturally. Consumers are also advised not to dry their Ugg boots in direct sunlight or heat.
Step 4: Once the shoe is dried, lightly brush the sheepskin lining with the soft side of their suede brush in one direction only.
At-Home Ugg Boot Cleaning Method
A suede shoe of any kind needs to be re-treated periodically to maintain protection and lengthen the lifespan, something that not everyone has time or money to do. When your suede shoes do inevitably end up with hard-to-handle stains and you don’t want to clean them, there are many tried and true tips and tricks that consumers have used at home with little to no cost that prove that cleaning Ugg boots isn’t labor-intensive or expensive.
Cleaning water stains on Ugg boots:
• Step 1: Blot the dampened areas with a dry cloth. Similar to Ugg’s directions, consumers are urged to stuff the boots or slippers with paper to keep the footwear’s shape as it dries.
• Step 2: Once dried, clean with a specialty suede cleaner or alternatively, white vinegar or rubbing alcohol.
Cleaning salt stains:
Ugg boots can get messy during the winter months because the salt that paves the roads can sometimes stain the sheepskin material. Combatting salt stains is as easy as mixing a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water.
• Step 1: Using a cloth, dab the solution on salt stains and rinse with a cloth dipped in cold water.
• Step 2: Once you’ve taken the Ugg boot through this process, it is best to let it air dry.
Mud Stains and More Challenges:
Where mud stains are concerned, it’s best to let the residue dry before trying to brush as much as you can off the shoe. If mud still remains, use a suede cleaner to remove the rest.
Beyond the sheepskin uppers, many Ugg styles also include fur trim that can get just as dirty. When dealing with the Sherpa trim, sprinkle baking soda inside your Ugg boots and let it sit overnight before vacuuming up the excess.
From coffee to ink, for all other stains, consumers are encouraged to gently buff or brush at the stain, whatever it may be, with a brush of any kind. Whether that be a suede brush, emery board, toothbrush and or dry towel, you can rub out the stains to ensure a cleaner finish.
Ugg History
Ugg was founded in 1978 by Australian surfer Brian Smith in Santa Monica, California. Smith realized that sheepskin boots were not as widely available in the United States as in Australia, so he created his own. After the brand’s iconic sheepskin boot was created, it enjoyed a surge in sales in the 2000s.
Deckers Outdoor Corp. currently holds the Ugg trademark in more than 130 countries. Today, Ugg has expanded to include a wide range of footwear, socks and even apparel.
Ugg boots and a whole slew of their other products, have taken center stage in 2023, becoming a fixture of the fashion industry thanks to the resurgence in 2000s aesthetics. Ugg boots were widely denounced for a long time, much like Crocs, because of their unconventional silhouette, but they have been enjoying the limelight as of late. The shoes have been seen on loads of famous feet including Madison Beer, Elsa Hosk, Jennifer Lopez, Kourtney Kardashian, Evan Mock and Jennifer Lawrence among others.
PHOTOS: See how celebrities style their Ugg shoes.
About the Author:
Amina Ayoud is an Assistant Digital Editor for Footwear News, where she writes stories about everything from celebrity style to breaking fashion and shoe releases. Ayoud cultivated a love of all things fashion early in life thanks to a deep love of fashion history and the luxury industry. In her free time, Ayoud is a self-proclaimed fashion nerd and thriftaholic.
