Prep first
Before you start
- Check the care label and the boot maker's care page for your model before you start.
- Test the cleaner on a small hidden area, and check that the color and feel stay the same.
- Brush off loose dirt while the boots are dry, so grit doesn't rub into the nap.
- Set the boots somewhere they can dry slowly, away from heat.
UGG boots are sheepskin footwear, with a suede or nubuck-style outer surface. Both are delicate: rough scrubbing can damage the surface and strip the natural lanolin and oils, and warm water or heat can shrink the sheepskin out of shape. Check your model's care page before you start, and test a hidden spot.
Cleaning UGG boots at home takes patience more than strength. Use cold water and the boot maker's cleaner diluted half and half, applied on a sponge rather than straight onto the boots. The same careful method suits sheepskin boots and suede UGGs, and the inside can be freshened separately.
Before you start
What ugg boots can take
Use with care1
- Water
Avoid4
- Hot water
- Soaking
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat (dryer, iron, hot air)
7 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Very soft suede brushLifts dirt and raises the nap without scratching the sheepskin. (opens Amazon)
- Clean cold waterCold water only, since warm water shrinks sheepskin.
- Sheepskin cleaner and conditioner from the boot makerThe main cleaning product, used diluted half and half. (opens Amazon)
- Clean spongeHolds the diluted cleaner so none goes straight onto the boot. (opens Amazon)
- Clean cloth or paper towelsStuffs the boots to help them hold their shape while they dry. (opens Amazon)
- Water and stain repellent for sheepskinHelps guard against staining before wear, though it can't prevent every stain. (opens Amazon)
- Baking soda and corn flourFreshens the inside of the boots overnight. (opens Amazon)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Brush off loose dirt
Start with the boots dry and loose dirt still on the surface. Brush the sheepskin lightly with a very soft suede brush, always in one direction, to lift dust from the nap.
Tip. Brushing in one direction keeps the nap lying the same way as it dries.
Step 2 of 6
Wet the whole boot
Moisten the entire boot with clean, cold water so it dries evenly. Wetting only one area can leave visible water lines when it dries.
Careful. Hand wash only. Keep the boots out of the washing machine and don't soak them.
Step 3 of 6
Clean with diluted cleaner
Mix half water and half the boot maker's cleaner and conditioner. Load a clean sponge with a small amount of the mixture and gently scrub the whole area, working evenly across the boot.
Tip. Mix only as much as one pair needs.
Careful. Never put cleaner straight onto the boots or use it undiluted.
Step 4 of 6
Rinse and wring out
Rinse the boot in clean cold water until no cleaner remains. Then wring out the excess water gently.
Tip. Pat and squeeze rather than twist, to protect the shape.
Step 5 of 6
Stuff and dry naturally
Lightly stuff the boots with paper towels to help them hold their shape. Let them dry slowly at room temperature, which is the only drying method here.
Tip. Swap in fresh paper towels if the first ones get damp.
Careful. No hairdryer, radiator or direct sun: heat makes sheepskin shrink and change shape.
Step 6 of 6
Brush the nap back up
Once the boots are fully dry, brush them lightly in one direction with the very soft suede brush. This lifts the nap and gives the sheepskin an even look.
What makes the job easier
Best products for cleaning ugg boots
Choose a cleaner made for sheepskin or the boot maker's own, and a very soft suede brush for the nap.
Angelus Nubuck & Suede Kit
UGG PROTECTOR
How we picked these: each product is made for cleaning ugg boots, its maker doesn't warn against using it on ugg boots, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely before you use it again.
How to tell it's really done →Spots that survive a deep clean are usually stains, and each stain has its own method.
Heavy grime or a lingering smell usually needs a second round once it's fully dry.
See what to do for what you're seeing →When to call a professional →How to tell it's done
The boots are clean when the outer surface looks even, with no darker patches or water lines, and the nap lies smooth after brushing. They are fully dry when the sheepskin feels dry all the way through, with no damp patches near the seams. If a patch still feels damp, keep the boots stuffed with paper towels and let them dry longer at room temperature.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your boots
Inside of the boots
The inside needs freshening more than a wet clean, so it gets a dry treatment instead. Shake 2 tsp baking soda and 2 tsp corn flour into the boots, leave them overnight, and shake them out the next day.
If you want a scent, a few drops of essential oil can be added to the mix. Shake out the powder fully before you wear them.
Suede UGGs
Suede and nubuck outer surfaces need a different brush for dust: use a medium-hard brush to remove dust and dirt, where sheepskin needs the very soft one. Test any product on a small unseen patch first before using it on the full surface.
Suede dries best at room temperature, stuffed with something absorbent to hold its shape.
Sheepskin slippers
Slippers are sheepskin too, but they are usually spot cleaned rather than wetted all over. Mix a little cold water with a wool wash or a sheepskin cleaner, and dab the mark with a clean cloth.
Spot check a small area first to see whether the color or feel changes. Dab rather than rub, and let them dry slowly with paper towels inside to keep their shape.
Dyed or fake UGGs
Colored sheepskin can change color under cleaning, so check a small hidden spot with the diluted cleaner and watch the color before going further. Use the full method only once that spot looks the same as it did before.
If the boots are not sheepskin or suede, the material is unknown here, so check the care label or the maker's care page before using this method. Fake UGG-style boots may need a different cleaner, so don't assume the same steps will work.
Wet boots
If the boots got wet from weather, drying matters more than cleaning, so start with the drying step. Stuff them with paper towels, replacing them as they get damp, so the boots keep their shape.
Patience matters more than speed here. Once they are dry, brush the nap back up in one direction.
Between deep cleans
How often to clean it
Deep clean only when the boots need it, since hard cleaning can strip the natural lanolin and oils. Between cleans, brush off dust with a very soft brush, moving in one direction.
Before first wear, spray the sheepskin evenly with a water and stain repellent until it looks wet but not soaked. Let it dry naturally for at least 24 hours, away from heat or sun.
Even with that spray, keep suede-type boots out of wet weather.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work for cleaning ugg boots?
Vinegar and baking soda have their uses around the house, but these boots need little from either. Most products are a poor fit for these boots, and the washing machine is never an option.
Helps1Skip3Avoid2
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't scrub hard
Sheepskin has a delicate surface that can be damaged by aggressive scrubbing. Hard scrubbing also strips the natural lanolin and oils, so keep the pressure light.
Don't use warm water
Warm water makes sheepskin shrink and change shape, even if it seems gentle enough. Stick to clean, cold water for mixing, wetting and rinsing.
Don't reach for alcohol or oxygen bleach
Alcohol can fade dyes, and the oxygen bleach label excludes wool and leather. Both are better left on the shelf for these boots.
Don't brush with a stiff brush
Medium-hard brushes are meant for suede, not the sheepskin nap. Use a very soft brush and brush in one direction so the surface lies flat.
Don't expect every stain to lift
Not all stains can be prevented or removed, even with the cleaner and repellent. Treat the boots gently and accept that some marks may stay.
Troubleshooting
If it still isn't clean
Pick what you're seeing:
Water lines or patches after drying
Uneven wetting causes these, so wet the entire boot next time rather than one area. Once dry, brush lightly in one direction to blend the nap back together.
Boots look shrunken or misshapen
Warm water or heat is the usual cause, because sheepskin shrinks when heated. Stuff the boots with paper towels and dry them slowly at room temperature from now on.
Nap looks flattened or uneven
Brush lightly with a very soft suede brush once the boots are fully dry. Brushing against the nap is what flattens it, so keep to one direction.
When to call a professional
Routine cleaning of these boots is a home job. For unusual stains or damage on leather, a professional leather repair service can advise, and the boot maker's customer care can help with a stain that cleaning does not lift.
Questions
Can I clean UGGs without the kit or cleaner?
The steps are built around the boot maker's cleaner, so it is the safe choice for a full clean. Without it, the sheepskin guidance only supports a light spot clean with cold water and a wool wash, dabbed on with a clean cloth.
Can I get salt off UGGs?
Brush off any dry salt first with the very soft brush, then clean the area with the diluted cleaner using the steps here. There is no salt-specific treatment in the guidance, so test a hidden spot and stop if the color changes.
Can I clean a sheepskin rug the same way?
No, a sheepskin rug is a different item from boots, so don't clean it the same way. For a sheepskin rug, the rug guide is the better place to start.
Can I speed up drying a wet pair?
Not safely, since heat, hairdryers and direct sun can make sheepskin shrink and change shape. Slow drying at room temperature, with paper towels inside, is the safe route even though it is slower.
Will the boots shrink if they get cleaned?
They can if warm water or heat is used, but cold water and slow drying protect the shape. Sticking to the cold-water steps here is what keeps the fit.
Should I spot clean instead of cleaning the whole boot?
Spot cleaning suits one small mark, using cold water and a wool wash dabbed with a clean cloth. When the whole boot is dirty, the full clean keeps the wetting even and avoids water lines.
Methods, care labels and related guides
Good to know
More cleaning guides
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.