First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot fresh wet marks with a dry cloth, pressing rather than rubbing.
- Check for a care tag and follow any hand-wash instruction on it.
- Stick to cold water and a gentle sponge for the first attempt.
- Leave the boots to dry slowly once you're done.
Water spots on Uggs are the most common worry, and sheepskin marks easily. Fresh spots lift best when you treat them quickly and gently. Old, set-in stains may only fade, since sheepskin can't take stronger products or heat.
Brush off loose grit while it's dry, then wet the whole boot with cold water before you touch the stain. For grease or oil on sheepskin boots, a sheepskin and suede cleaner is a safer pick than soap. Let them dry at room temperature, away from radiators, and brush the nap up once they're dry.
Before you start
What this material can take
Use with care1
- Water
Avoid4
- Hot water
- Soaking
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
7 items
What you'll need
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- Soft spongeHolds the diluted cleaner and lifts the stain without scrubbing hard. (opens Amazon)
- Cleaner and conditioner made for UGG bootsDilute it half and half with water; these boots take water only with care.
- Clean cold waterWets the whole boot first so it dries evenly and no water lines show.
- Paper towelsLightly stuffed inside, they hold the shape while the boots dry. (opens Amazon)
- Very soft suede or nubuck brushLifts the nap once the boots are fully dry, brushing in one direction only. (opens Amazon)
- Clean cloth and wool washFor a small spot only, dabbed with a little cold water. (opens Amazon)
- Suede and nubuck cleaner (opens Amazon)
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7 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 7
Mix and spot test the cleaner
Mix the sheepskin cleaner and conditioner half and half with water. Test a little of the mix on a small hidden area, such as inside the cuff, to make sure it doesn't change the color or feel.
Tip. Let the test area dry before you judge it.
Step 2 of 7
Load a clean wet sponge
Wet a clean sponge and squeeze it until it is damp, not dripping. Load it with a small amount of the diluted mix, ready for the stain.
Careful. Never use the cleaner undiluted or straight on the boot.
Step 3 of 7
Wet the whole boot first
Moisten the whole boot with clean, cold water before you touch the stain. Wetting the entire boot lets it dry evenly, so no water lines show.
Careful. Warm water or heat makes sheepskin shrink and change shape, so keep the water cold.
Step 4 of 7
Sponge the stain gently
Work the damp sponge over the stain in light, slow strokes. For a small spot only, you can instead dab with a clean cloth and a little cold water mixed with wool wash, or use a cleaner made for sheepskin.
Tip. Keep the strokes light and let the cleaner do the work.
Step 5 of 7
Rinse and shape the boots
Rinse the boot in clean, cold water until the cleaner is gone. Wring out the excess water gently, then lightly stuff the boots with paper towels to hold their shape.
Tip. Press the water out rather than twisting the boot.
Step 6 of 7
Let the boots dry slowly
Let the boots dry naturally and slowly, away from direct heat and sunlight. Keep them in a cool, shaded spot until they are completely dry.
Tip. Swap in fresh paper towels if the first set gets soaked.
Step 7 of 7
Brush the nap once dry
When the boots are completely dry, brush lightly with a very soft suede or nubuck brush. Brush in one direction only to keep the nap even.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best stain removers for uggs & sheepskin boots
Look for a sheepskin cleaner and conditioner, plus a very soft suede or nubuck brush, and skip general household cleaners. The cleaner is the only product this routine really needs.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on uggs & sheepskin boots, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The stain should be gone or nearly gone once the boots are dry, and the nap should look even rather than patchy. If a faint mark is still there, the spot may just be damp, so let the boots dry slowly before you judge it.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your uggs & sheepskin boots
Water spots
For water spots, wetting the whole boot matters most, because it stops the boot drying in patches. Once the boot is wet all over, use the same sponge routine and rinse.
If the spot is small and you're worried about the rest of the boot, the dab method with a little cold water and wool wash is the gentler choice.
Road salt
Salt marks follow the same principle as any other mark: keep the water cold, the cleaner diluted, and the sponge gentle. Don't reach for stronger products to speed things up, since harsher treatment is what these boots can't take.
Check the boot once it is fully dry before you judge the result, since damp areas can look marked. If the mark still shows, repeat the gentle cleaning, and use the set-in advice if it's stubborn.
Oil
For oil, the closest principle is to lift the excess first and then use the gentle routine, and to avoid strong degreasers and solvents, which these boots can't take. Start by blotting the excess oil with a dry cloth, pressing rather than rubbing.
Then work the sponge over the spot with the diluted cleaner in the usual way. Give it the same patient, gentle cycle and judge the mark only once the boot is fully dry.
Grease
Grease follows the same gentle routine as oil, so use the diluted cleaner in the usual way. Grease often needs a second gentle round, so plan for some patience.
Keep the sponge light so the grease isn't pressed deeper into the sheepskin, and judge the result only once the boot is fully dry. If it still shows, repeat the gentle cycle rather than stepping up to a stronger product.
Whole boots
When the whole boot is dirty rather than one mark, do the full routine: wet every part of the boot first, then sponge in sections. Patchy cleaning leaves uneven lines, so work evenly across the whole boot.
Keep to the same cold water and light sponging throughout, and don't scrub a grimy area harder than the rest. The drying steps don't change for a full-boot clean either.
Ugg shoes
The same routine applies to sheepskin shoes and boots, since sheepskin footwear is handled as one group. Wet the whole shoe with cold water before you sponge, so the whole piece dries evenly.
Keep the cleaner off any sole or trim that isn't sheepskin, and wipe those areas separately with a barely damp cloth.
Sheepskin rug
For a rug, the same rules hold: cold water only, a gentle sponge, no soaking and no heat drying. The wet-boot step still applies in spirit, so keep the rest of the rug dry while you work on one small area at a time.
For a full rug or a stubborn mark, ask a professional leather or sheepskin service rather than improvising. Spot test first, and move slowly so the piece keeps its shape.
Dirt and mud
Let the mud dry completely, then brush off the loose dirt with a very soft suede or nubuck brush, in one direction only. Wet mud smears into the sheepskin, so don't sponge it while it is still wet.
Once the loose dirt is gone, use the wet routine on anything that remains. Keep the cleaner light and the water cold, and let the boots dry slowly afterwards.
Odor
For odor, the closest principle is the routine itself: clean the boots gently and let them dry fully, slowly and away from heat. Clean boots that dry properly are the best starting point.
Skip household deodorizers and strong sprays on the sheepskin; clean the boots gently and let them dry fully instead. If the smell stays after a full clean and dry, the boot maker's customer care is the next contact.
Old, dried or set-in stains
An old stain that has been sitting for weeks is harder, and set-in marks on sheepskin are the hardest kind to lift. Start by repeating the gentle diluted-cleaner routine rather than moving to anything stronger.
If the stain has dried, wet the whole boot again with cold water, then sponge it with the diluted cleaner and let the boots dry slowly. If the boots were dried near heat, such as a radiator or dryer, expect the stain to be harder and the results to be slower.
Be realistic: not all stains come out, even with the right cleaner and a careful routine. If a mark is still there after a few gentle rounds, stop and contact the boot maker's customer care rather than trying harsher products.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on uggs & sheepskin boots?
Plenty of home fixes float around for stains, but most aren't written for sheepskin. These boots do best with a diluted cleaner and cold water, so most home fixes don't belong in their care.
Skip5Avoid2
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't put the boots in a washing machine
Sheepskin is hand wash only, so a machine cycle is off the table, even on gentle. Clean the boots by hand with the routine above.
Don't soak the boots
Soaking isn't allowed for sheepskin, even for a short time. Wet the boot and rinse it, and skip the bowl or tub.
Don't dry the boots with a hairdryer or radiator
Heat shrinks sheepskin and changes its shape, and a hairdryer or radiator can do it quickly. Dry them slowly in a shaded spot instead.
Don't scrub the stain hard
Hard scrubbing can damage the delicate surface and strip the natural lanolin and oils that keep sheepskin soft. Light, gentle strokes with a damp sponge do the job without that damage.
When to call a professional
If the stain won't lift after a few gentle rounds, contact the boot maker's customer care, since they know their own materials best. For unusual stains or damage, a professional leather repair service is the place to ask.
Questions
How do I clean the whole boot?
Stains need their own gentle method first, and sheepskin only gets the cold-water, diluted-cleaner routine rather than a machine. The full deep clean has its own guide on how to clean sheepskin boots.
Is it okay to soak Uggs to lift a stain?
No. Soaking isn't allowed for sheepskin, so wet the whole boot with cold water and sponge the stain gently instead.
The rinse afterwards is the only other water the boots need. Once rinsed, stuff them with paper towels and let them dry slowly away from heat and sunlight.
How do I get a water stain out of Uggs?
Wet the whole boot with clean, cold water first, then sponge the spot with the diluted cleaner. Rinse, stuff with paper towels and let it dry slowly away from heat and sunlight. Wetting only part of the boot is what leaves water lines, so the whole boot gets wet first.
Does road salt ruin Uggs?
Salt marks follow the same principle as other marks: cold water, a diluted cleaner and a gentle sponge. Skip harsher products, since they are what these boots can't take. Let the boots dry fully before you judge the result.
Can I use dish soap to remove grease from Uggs?
No, skip dish soap on Uggs; a diluted sheepskin cleaner is the gentler choice. The diluted sheepskin cleaner is the gentler choice for the boots. Keep the sponge light and let the boots dry fully before judging the result.
Can I clean a sheepskin rug the same way?
Mostly, yes. The rules carry over, so use cold water, a gentle sponge, and no heat drying, and spot test first. Clean one small area at a time, keeping the rest of the rug dry.
How do I get dried mud off Ugg boots?
Let the mud dry completely, then brush off the loose dirt with a very soft suede or nubuck brush. Use the wet routine only on any mark that remains.
Can you get the smell out of Uggs?
For odor, the closest principle is the routine itself: clean the boots gently and let them dry fully and slowly, away from heat. Skip household deodorizers and strong sprays on Uggs; if the smell stays after a full clean and dry, contact the boot maker's customer care. If the smell stays after a full clean and dry, contact the boot maker's customer care.
Related
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.