How to Clean UGG Boots and Other Sheepskin Boots

To clean UGG boots, brush off dry dirt, wet the whole outside evenly with cold water, and scrub gently with a sheepskin cleaner on a wet sponge. Rinse with clean cold water, stuff the boots with paper and let them dry slowly, away from heat and direct sun (UGG). Never use a washing machine: UGG says hand wash only (UGG).

The same steps suit other sheepskin boots and slippers, unless their maker says otherwise. Sheepskin is a sheep or lamb skin with the wool left on, usually worn wool side in and sueded leather side out (American Fur Council), so you are cleaning suede on the outside and wool on the inside.

Key takeaways

Hand wash only, in cold water. UGG says never to put its sheepskin boots in a washing machine.
Wet the entire outside evenly before you clean, so the boot dries without a ring.
Air dry slowly, stuffed with white paper, away from heaters and sun. A damp lining can take about 2 days.
For oil or water spots, rub plain white chalk in, leave it overnight, then brush it off.
To deodorize, leave baking soda inside overnight or up to 24 hours, then shake or vacuum it out.

What is the best way to clean UGG boots at home?

The best way is UGG's own hand-wash routine: cold water, a little sheepskin cleaner, gentle scrubbing and a slow air dry (UGG). Start with a dry brush. Suede is the underside of the leather buffed into a nap, and a soft brush lifts surface dirt without water (Iowa State University Extension).

You need a soft suede brush, a clean sponge, cold water, a sheepskin or suede cleaner and white paper for stuffing. Use white paper, not newspaper, because the ink can transfer (American Cleaning Institute). Then follow these steps (UGG):

Brush dry. Brush off loose dirt and dried mud with the soft side of the brush, in one direction.
Wet the whole boot. Moisten the entire outside with clean, cold water, not just the dirty spot.
Clean. Put a small amount of cleaner on a clean, wet sponge and scrub the whole boot gently. Sheepskin has a delicate surface that hard scrubbing can damage.
Rinse. Rinse with clean, cold water to lift the cleaner out.
Stuff and dry. Stuff lightly with paper to hold the shape and let the boots dry naturally and slowly, out of direct heat and sunlight.
Brush again. Once dry, brush the nap lightly in one direction with the soft side of the brush.

Which UGGs need a gentler clean?

Not every pair takes the full wash. For fancy sheepskin, fancy suede and all leather styles, UGG says to blot gently with a soft, damp rag, with no rubbing, no brush and no cleaning product (UGG). Its smooth leather boots can be cleaned with any product made for leather or nubuck (UGG).

What is the best cleaner for UGG boots?

Use a cleaner made for sheepskin or suede. UGG's instructions are written for its own cleaner and conditioner, and the brand's approved repair service recommends original UGG products for home care (UGG; UGGrenew's FAQ). Leather in general needs a gentler approach than canvas, often a dedicated leather cleaner and conditioner (American Cleaning Institute).

If you clean without a kit, keep the same steps and stay mild. Woolmark advises against heavy-duty detergents, enzyme detergents and anything with bleach on wool. Skip solvents, harsh chemicals and abrasives on the outside too, since they can damage the material and its color (American Cleaning Institute). For plain suede shoes and jackets, see how to clean suede.

Can you put UGG boots in the washing machine?

No. UGG's care instructions say hand wash only and not to use a washing machine (UGG). The American Fur Council gives the same rule for all shearling: never a washer or a dryer.

Soaking is the problem. Most skins and leathers are damaged by direct contact with water, and wet wool is heavy: the Canadian Conservation Institute notes that wet fur can become too heavy for the swollen, weakened skin and tear it. Dryer heat adds to the damage, because direct heat can make sheepskin dry out and crack (American Fur Council).

Slippers follow the same rule. UGG's New Zealand guide gives one set of steps for both boots and slippers (UGG's New Zealand care guide). So at the laundromat, keep sheepskin out of the washers and dryers, even on a delicate cycle. For sneakers that can go in, see how to wash shoes in the washing machine.

If a pair is too dirty to hand clean, take it to a professional dry cleaner that handles leather and suede. Many cleaners send leather to a specialty leather cleaner, so ask before you drop them off (Iowa State University Extension).

How do you get water stains out of UGGs?

Wet the whole boot evenly, clean it and let it dry slowly. Water spots are rings: on leather, a spilled liquid can move the dye and leave a ring that is hard to fix (Iowa State University Extension). UGG's steps moisten the entire surface, not just the spot, so the boot dries evenly (UGG).

For a single fresh water or mud spot, UGG's New Zealand guide uses chalk instead: rub plain white chalk over the stain, leave it overnight, then brush it off with a soft brush (UGG's New Zealand care guide).

How to fix UGGs that got wet?

Shake off the water and let the boots dry on their own, away from heat, in a well-ventilated spot. The American Fur Council warns against hair dryers and space heaters on wet shearling. Clarks warns that radiators dry leather out and make it brittle.

Stuff them. Paper inside holds the shape while the boot dries (UGG).
Keep air moving. Humidity above 65% favors mold on leather, skin and fur, and poor air circulation raises the risk (Canadian Conservation Institute).
Brush when dry. Restore the nap with the soft side of a suede brush, in one direction (UGG).
Soaked through? Saturated leather can dry mottled or misshapen; a specialist can recondition it (American Fur Council).

How do you remove salt, oil and other stains from UGGs?

Treat each stain by type, then do a full clean if a mark remains. The first steps below come from UGG's care guides, the American Fur Council and Clarks, a maker of suede boots:

Stain	First step	Watch out for
Oil, grease, water, mud	Rub plain white chalk on, leave overnight, brush off, then rub with a clean patch of sheepskin (UGG's New Zealand care guide)	Blot spills; rubbing spreads them (American Fur Council)
Winter salt	Remove it soon: salt can discolor sheepskin and dry it out, and the damage grows the longer it stays (American Fur Council)	Heavy salt damage is a job for a specialist (American Fur Council)
Pen marks	Buff gently with a colorless gum eraser (UGG's New Zealand care guide)	Buff gently, not hard
Stubborn marks	Buff very lightly with very fine sandpaper (UGG's New Zealand care guide)	Too much pressure damages the sheepskin (UGG's New Zealand care guide)

Does white vinegar clean UGGs?

UGG's care pages don't call for vinegar (UGG; UGG's New Zealand care guide). Clarks does use 2 parts water to 1 part white vinegar on suede: wipe gently in the direction of the grain, then let it dry naturally.

Test it inside the cuff first. On leather, stain removal can also remove dye, and deep colors fade more easily than light ones (Iowa State University Extension). After a spot treatment, wet and clean the whole boot as in the steps above, so the treated patch doesn't dry into a new ring (UGG).

Some stains won't lift at home. UGG says sheepskin is delicate and not every stain can be removed (UGG). For a valuable pair, professional stain removal from a leather specialist is safer than another round of scrubbing.

How do you clean the inside of UGG boots?

Start with plain water, then a mild soap only if needed. UGG's New Zealand guide begins with water because soap can strip the wool of its natural lanolin (UGG's New Zealand care guide):

Wipe the lining with a cloth lightly dampened with plain water.
Dry the boots in the shade with plenty of airflow, for about 2 days, until completely dry.
If the lining is still dirty, wipe it with a damp cloth and a little mild soap or wool detergent.
Wipe again with a clean, damp cloth to remove soap residue, then dry the same way.

For odor, sprinkle baking soda inside, leave it overnight, then shake or vacuum it out (UGG's New Zealand care guide). The American Cleaning Institute suggests leaving baking soda in shoes for at least 24 hours.

To keep the lining fresh, put the boots on with clean, dry feet, and store them in a cool, dry, ventilated place (UGG's New Zealand care guide). Skip plastic bags: leather dries out in dry heat and mildews in hot, humid storage (Iowa State University Extension). For wool care in general, see how to wash wool.

How do I make my UGG boots look new again?

Brush, protect and, for worn-out Classics, send them for restoration. Brushing the dry nap in one direction restores the look after cleaning (UGG).

A water and stain repellent helps keep them clean. UGG's directions (UGG):

Work in a well-ventilated area.
Hold the bottle 6 inches from the boot and spray evenly, wetting it but not soaking it.
Let the boots dry naturally for at least 24 hours, out of direct heat and sunlight.
Brush the nap in one direction with the soft side of the brush.

For UGG Classic Boots, the brand-approved UGGrenew program by NuShoe cleans and repairs pairs by mail (UGGrenew):

Refresh, $40: a steam-clean shampoo inside and out, for any color of Classic Boot.
Restore, $60: the shampoo plus a new outsole.
Renew, $80: the shampoo, a new outsole and new bindings.

Allow 3 to 4 weeks including shipping (UGGrenew). UGGrenew's FAQ says shipping is free within the 50 US states, no receipt is needed, and holes or rips in the upper can't be repaired. It also warns that bad water stains, salt, grease and bleach may not come out.

Frequently asked questions

Can you use Dawn dish soap to clean UGG boots?

UGG's care guides don't name any dish soap. Its New Zealand guide allows a little mild soap or wool detergent on a damp cloth for the lining, after plain water. For the outside, use a cleaner made for sheepskin or suede. Avoid heavy-duty, enzyme or bleach detergents on the wool.

Can I use a melamine foam eraser on UGGs?

UGG's care guides don't list one. For marks they use a colorless gum eraser, then very fine sandpaper used very lightly. Sheepskin has a delicate surface, and the American Cleaning Institute warns that abrasives can damage shoe materials, so test any scrubbing pad inside the cuff first.

Can you turn in old UGGs for new ones?

The UGG-approved option for worn Classic Boots is a repair program rather than a swap. UGGrenew by NuShoe offers a shampoo for $40, a shampoo and new outsole for $60, or both plus new bindings for $80. It ships free within the US.

How do you clean UGG slippers?

The same way as the boots: brush dry, wet the outside evenly with cold water, clean gently, rinse and air dry away from heat. Never put them in a washer or dryer. Freshen the lining with baking soda overnight.

How long do UGG boots take to dry?

Let them dry naturally and slowly, stuffed with paper. UGG allows at least 24 hours after a repellent spray, and a damp lining can take about 2 days in the shade with good airflow. Make sure they are completely dry before you wear them.

How we researched this

We read UGG's US care instructions and its New Zealand care guide, the FAQ and price list of UGGrenew, the brand-approved repair program, and guidance from the American Cleaning Institute, Woolmark, the American Fur Council, Iowa State University Extension, the Canadian Conservation Institute and Clarks. We cited 10 sources and put the maker's own instructions first wherever they exist. We did not test these methods, and this guide doesn't cover foot-health questions about wearing the boots. Researched October 2026.