How to Clean Ugg Boots

Guide Note Ugg boots can be difficult to clean unless you know the proper techniques. Originally made in Australia, these boots are usually made with twinfaced or doublefaced sheepskin. Cleaning uggs may be tricky, but the steps on this page will show you how to preserve your beloved boots.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• What are Ugg Boots?
• The Difference Between Sheepskin, Suede and Leather
• Waterproofing Ugg Boots
• Minor Cleaning Techniques
  • Removing Scuff Marks
  • Removing Water Spots
  • Removing Stains
  • Deodorizing
• Washing Ugg Boots
  • Machine Washing
  • What to Use
  • How to Shampoo Ugg Boots
• Conclusion
• References

Cleaning Tips

1. Waterproofing your ugg boots will help keep them cleaner.
2. Chalk can remove some grease stains.
3. Do not put your boots in the washing machine.
4. Use only cleansers that are approved for sheepskin.
5. Keep your ugg boots away from heat.

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Introduction

• Ugg boots are a popular item in the United States, Australia and around the world. Like any other garment, these boots can become dirty and stained, especially when not cared for properly. While it is impossible to prevent or remove all stains on your boots, with proper care and cleaning you will find that they last longer.¹

• The instructions listed on this page are aimed at twinface or doubleface sheepskin ugg boots. To understand what this means, check out The Difference Between Sheepskin, Suede and Leather.

What are Ugg Boots?

• "Ugg boots" are a type of soft boot that is made with sheepskin.² They originated in Australia back in the 1930s.³ They have also been referred to as "ugh boots" and "ug boots."²

• In 1978, an Australian named Brian Smith brought these boots to America and eventually formed Ugg Holdings, Inc. This company was purchased by Deckers Outdoor Corporation in 1995.⁴ On May 1, 1995 they applied for the term UGG as a trademark, which was granted on May 14, 1996 (registration no. 1,973,743).² However, the trademark was listed as "canceled under section 8."⁵ The company is now doing business under the name "UGG Australia"⁶

• 

  (Creative Commons photo by Roy and Susan)
  To make a long story short, the trademark registration resulted in a number of legal proceedings both in the United States and in Australia. Several Australian companies fought back since the term "ugg boots" has been used as a generic term to refer to these boots long before Smith began selling them.³ Rather than attempt to make sense of all of it or take sides, this page will do the following:
  • - Ugg boots is used as a generic term that refers to both soft sheepskin boots made in Australia and by the Decker Outdoor Coorporation.
  • - UGG Australia will refer to the footwear line produced by Decker Outdoors which includes shoes, clogs, slippers and boots.
  • - UGG boots (the word "ugg" in all capital letters) will refer to sheepskin boots made by Decker Outdoors and UGG Australia.

The Difference Between Sheepskin, Suede and Leather

• The terms "sheepskin," "suede" and "leather" are often used interchangeably, but they are not always the same things. To start, let's look at the definition for these terms:
  • Leather can be either "animal skin dressed for use" or "something wholly or partly made of leather".⁷
  • Sheepskin is defined as both "the skin of a sheep" and a "garment made of or lined with sheepskin".⁸ There are over 100 different types of sheepskin.⁹
  • Suede is "leather with a napped surface".¹⁰
• In other words, sheepskin and suede are both types of leather, but not all leather is sheepskin or suede. Likewise, some sheepskin can be suede, but not all sheepskin is suede or vice versa.

Twinface or Doubleface Sheepskin

• Many ugg boots are made out of "twinface" or "twin face" sheepskin. Twinface, also known as doubleface or double face, means that both sides of the skin are visible.¹¹ One side is covered with wool or fleece the other side is smooth. When ugg boots are made, the smooth side is to the outside of the boot. When twinface sheepskin is used to make boots, the outside of the sheep (which is covered with wool or fleece) becomes the inside of the boot.

• The term twinface is used to differ these boots from other "sheepskin" boots that are made by gluing a layer of suede to a layer of sheepskin (which are considered "sheepskin" because they are "lined with sheepskin"). However, some manufacturers state that lined sheepskin boots are often made with lower quality sheepskin and suede.¹¹

Merino Sheepskin

• Merino sheepskins differs from other sheepskin in that they come from Merino sheep, a breed that is unique to Australia.¹² They have been bred to have more skin area, so they yield more wool and sheepskin.⁹ They are also said to have very thick skin that hold their shape better when used for boots.¹²

Waterproofing Ugg Boots

• Although sheepskin is naturally water resistant, it is not waterproof.¹³ Anyone who has ever dunked their water resistant watch into the water has learned that there is a difference. To make your ugg boots more water resistant or even waterproof, you will need to treat them with a protector.¹⁴

1. Water repellents will keep your ugg boots cleaner by preventing dirt and oil from soaking into them and make them easier to clean.¹⁵
2. Use a non-silicon water repellent or a spray designed for sheepskin.^{16 15}
3. Ugg boots should be treated before they are worn¹⁷
4. Retreat your boots (once they have dried) after cleaning them or after they have gotten wet.^{18 19}
5. To apply, spray the sheepskin with the repellent evenly until the surface looks wet but is not soaked. Allow the boots dry naturally (do not use heat) for 24 hours.²⁰
6. Some examples of products that can be used include:
   • Official UGG® Australia Site: Sheepskin Cleaner & Conditioner
   • Zappos.com: UGG Shoes: Ugg Care & Cleaning Products
   • Amazon.com: Grangers G-Wax Sheepskin Water & Stain Repellent
   • Nordstrom: UGG Australia Treatment Products
   • Google Product Search: Sheepskin Water Repellent

• YouTube: Authentic Ugg Boots - Waterproofing (Time: 0:50)

Minor Cleaning Techniques

• If your ugg boots are only slightly dirty, there are a few techniques you can use to help spruce them up. These methods are a great way of maintaining your boots in between washings.

Removing Scuff Marks

• Scuff marks, dust and small flecks can be removed using a suede-cleaning eraser, a suede stone or a piece of foam.^{1 21} To use, brush the boot in one direction.²¹

• YouTube: Ugg Boots Care - Scuff Marks (Time: 0:31)

Removing Water Spots

• Small spots can sometimes appear if the boots have come into contact with water droplets. You can remove these by using another portion of the boot to gently rub the spot out.¹⁹ In other words, you will fold a portion of the boot over and use part of the boot's surface.²²

• YouTube: Authentic Ugg Boots - Water spots (Time: 0:41)

Removing Stains

• The soft surface of twin face sheepskin is easily stained.²³ If your boots become stained, you may want to try some of the suggestions listed here or try washing your boots. Unfortunately, some stains will not be able to be removed.

1. Light stains can be removed using a damp cloth.²³
2. Remove grease stains by sprinkling or rubbing them with white chalk.^{22 19}
   1. Leave the chalk on for a few minutes.
   2. Blow away any excess chalk.²²
   3. Using the bottom of your hand or thumb, gently rub the stain.¹⁹
   4. Repeat a few times until the stain has almost disappeared.
3. For a more stubborn stain, you can try rubbing it very gently with sandpaper.²² However, this can also remove some of the dye or coloring.¹⁹

• YouTube: Authentic Ugg Boots - Stain Removal (Time: 0:32)

Deodorizing

• If you need to deodorize your ugg boots, mix together 2 teaspoons of baking soda and 2 teaspoons of cornflour. Then, sprinkle the mixture inside the boots. Shake the boots and leave them overnight. In the morning, you can remove any excess powder by shaking your boots upside down.¹⁷ Many ugg boot makers also sell replacement soles which may help reduce the odor. You may want to consider this if the odor remains.

Washing Ugg Boots

• If your ugg boots are extremely dirty, you will want to wash them. It is not a difficult task, but should be done correctly or you will risk ruining your boots.

Hand Washing versus Machine Washing

• Ugg boots should be washed by hand. Although you can machine wash sheepskin, you should not put sheepskin footwear in the washing machine.^{14 23} Although you may see people claiming to have done this successfully, almost every reputable resource found that refers to ugg boots advises against doing this.²⁴

What to Use

• 

  (Creative Commons photo by Roy and Susan)
  To clean your boots, you will need water, cleanser, paper towels, a sponge or soft brush, and a soft suede or nubuck brush.^{16 20} Sheepskin, like wool, should never be exposed to heat. Heat can damage it and cause it to shrink.^{14 19} This includes hot water, sunlight, direct heat sources (such as heaters or radiators) and dryers.

• Use a non-enzyme liquid soap designed for leather, a mild wool detergent or a shampoo designed especially for sheepskin.^{1 19 23}
  1. Not all wool detergents are mild.¹⁹
  2. Do not use Woolite or laundry detergents.¹
  3. Do not use biological detergents because they can damage sheepskin.¹⁴
  4. Do not use fabric conditioner.¹⁴
  5. Do not use bleach.¹⁴

• Use a cloth or soft-bristled brush. Do not use a wire or coarse-bristled brush.¹⁸

How to Shampoo Ugg Boots

1. You should wash your boots separately from other items.²³
2. Using cold water, dampen the boot evenly to the seams or place them completely into a basin of water.^{18 19}
3. Apply water and a bit of your shampoo or cleanser to a clean sponge, cloth or soft brush.
   1. Do not apply the shampoo directly to your boots.¹
   2. You can also make a cleaning solution by mixing the shampoo with water.¹⁸
4. Clean the boots throughly and evenly to prevent discoloration.¹⁸
5. If necessary, use a soft toothbrush or nail brush gently on stubborn spots.¹⁹
6. Rinse thoroughly using cold water.¹⁶ Make sure all of the cleanser is removed.¹⁸
7. Remove excess water using paper towels or by placing them in your washing machine on the spin cycle for a few minutes.^{23 22}
8. You can help reshape your boots by stuffing them with dry paper towels.¹⁶
9. Allow your boots to dry naturally. If possible, place your boots outside in the shade because an outdoor breeze is an excellent method for drying sheepskin.^{19 14}
   1. Do not use direct heat.¹⁶
   2. Do not place your boots in direct sunlight.²²
   3. Do not place your boots in the dryer.¹
10. You can use a soft suede or nubuck brush and gently brush your boots in one direction to help restore the texture once the boots are dry.²⁰
11. Your boots may have shrunk slightly once they are dry.¹⁹ Don't panic. They will go back to their original state after they are worn for about an hour.²²
12. Don't forget to waterproof your boots after washing.

• YouTube: Authentic Ugg Boots - Shampooing (Time: 1:51)

Conclusion

• Cleaning your ugg boots may seem like a lot of work, but it is essential if you want to ensure that they last. Considering how warm and comfortable they keep your feet, it should not seem like too much work.

References for How to Clean Ugg Boots

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} Australian Sheepskin: Sheepskin Care & Cleaning (July 2, 2008)
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Australian Trade Marks Offices Decisions: Deckers Outdoor Corporation v B&B McDougal
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} About.com: Ugg Boots  
4. ↑ Deckers Outdoor Corporation: Organizational History
5. ↑ Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval: U.S. Registration Number Search for "1973743"
6. ↑ National Arbitration Forum: Deckers Outdoor Corporation v. Bills Distribution
7. ↑ Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary: Leather
8. ↑ Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary: Sheepskin
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Sheepskin.org.uk: Sheepskin Information
10. ↑ Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary: Suede
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} Kiwi Sheepskins.com: Glossary
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} Authentic Ugg Boots: 10 Things You Should Consider Before Buying UGG Boots
13. ↑ Official UGG Australia Site: FAQs - How do I care for my UGG sheepskin product?
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6} London Sheepskin: Sheepskin Care and Cleaning
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1} SheepskinShoes.com: UGG Australia
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4} Nordstroms: UGG Australia - Care & Cleaning
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1} Down Under Boots: FAQ
18. ↑ ^{18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5} SheepskinShoes.com: UGG Australia
19. ↑ ^{19.00 19.01 19.02 19.03 19.04 19.05 19.06 19.07 19.08 19.09 19.10 19.11} Aussie Things: Sheepskin Footwear FAQ - How Do I Keep My Ugg Boots Clean?
20. ↑ ^{20.0 20.1 20.2} Official UGG Australia Site: Features and Benefits of Sheepskin - Care
21. ↑ ^{21.0 21.1} Brandboots.com: Caring for your Ugg Boots
22. ↑ ^{22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 22.5 22.6} Uggstop.com: Information about Ugg Boots from Australia - How Do I Wash My Boots and/or Remove Stains?
23. ↑ ^{23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5} Care instructions for sheepskin footwear and lambskin rugs
24. ↑ Ugg and Shoes: Cleaning Uggs

How to Clean Ugg Boots Videos

• YouTube: Authentic Ugg Boots - Waterproofing (Time: 0:50)
• YouTube: Ugg Boots Care - Scuff Marks (Time: 0:31)
• YouTube: Authentic Ugg Boots - Water spots (Time: 0:41)
• YouTube: Authentic Ugg Boots - Stain Removal (Time: 0:32)
• YouTube: Authentic Ugg Boots - Shampooing (Time: 1:51)