How to Clean UGG Boots & Slippers

Your UGGs are an investment, and a little care keeps the sheepskin soft and the suede looking new for years. Here is exactly how to clean UGG boots and slippers safely at home. Feet Heart has been an authorized UGG retailer since 2003, so this is the same advice we give shoppers in our stores.

Can you put UGG boots in the washing machine?

No. UGG advises against machine washing or drying. The heat and agitation can warp the soles, harden the sheepskin, and ruin the suede. Always clean UGGs by hand with cold water.

How do you clean UGG boots at home?

• Brush off loose, dry dirt with a soft suede brush.
• Lightly dampen the entire outer surface with cold water, so you avoid water rings.
• Apply a little UGG suede cleaner or a mild, diluted soap to a damp sponge.
• Rub gently in one direction. Never scrub hard.
• Rinse the sponge and wipe away the soap. Do not soak the boot.
• Blot with a clean towel, stuff with paper towels to hold the shape, and air dry.

Can you use Dawn dish soap to clean UGG boots?

We'd steer you away from it — and this is one of the questions we get most. Dish soap is built to strip grease, which is exactly what you do not want on sheepskin and suede: it pulls the natural oils out of the hide, and the residue it leaves tends to stiffen the nap and show as dull patches once dry. When the cleaning step above says "mild, diluted soap," think a small amount of a gentle, wool-safe soap in plenty of cold water — not a squeeze of degreaser. Honestly, the dedicated UGG cleaner is the cheap insurance here: a bottle costs a fraction of one boot and takes the guesswork out. Whatever you use, test it on a hidden spot near the heel first.

What can I use instead of UGG cleaner?

Three home options, in order of safety. First, try no liquid at all — a suede brush and a suede eraser handle most everyday dirt and scuffs dry, and dry is always safest. Second, for salt and water stains: the 50/50 cold water and white vinegar mix described below, dabbed on and blotted off. Third, for overall grime: a gentle wool-safe soap, heavily diluted in cold water, applied with a damp sponge to the whole panel — never straight soap on one spot. Skip anything with bleach, heat, or "deep clean" promises, and test any liquid on a hidden area first. If the boots are expensive to you — and UGGs are — the brand's own cleaner remains the answer we actually recommend at the counter.

Are my UGG boots ruined if they get wet?

Almost never — wet UGGs are usually rescuable if you resist the one fatal move: drying them with heat. If they get soaked, blot off as much water as you can with a towel, stuff them with paper towels so they hold their shape, and let them air dry at room temperature — no radiator, no hair dryer, no sunny windowsill. Heat is what hardens sheepskin permanently; water alone mostly is not. Once fully dry, brush the nap back up and treat any tide marks with the vinegar mix above. The pairs that genuinely do not come back are the ones that were soaked and heat-dried, or left wet and crumpled for days. And prevention beats rescue: protector spray before first wear, and save the sheepskin for dry days.

How do I make my UGGs look new again?

A twenty-minute revival, in order: brush the whole boot with a suede brush to lift the flattened nap — this alone is most of the transformation — then work scuffs and shiny spots with a suede eraser, clean any remaining marks with the methods above, air dry fully, brush again, and finish with protector spray. For the inside: sprinkle a little baking soda in, let it sit overnight, and shake it out — it freshens the wool lining without wetting it. What no method restores: sheepskin hardened by heat-drying, or lining that has been worn flat over years — that is the boot's life, not its dirt. If yours are at that point, we can at least make the next pair last longer: start with the protector spray on day one.

How do you get stains out of UGG suede?

For scuffs and light marks, a suede eraser or suede brush usually lifts them. For salt or water stains, dab the area with a 50/50 mix of cold water and white vinegar, then blot and let it dry. Treat stains promptly, because set-in stains are much harder to remove.

How do you dry UGGs without ruining them?

Air dry at room temperature, away from direct heat, radiators, and sunlight. Stuff them with paper towels so they keep their shape as they dry. Never use a hair dryer, heater, or clothes dryer.

How do you protect UGGs so they last longer?

Apply a sheepskin or suede protector spray before the first wear, then re-apply periodically. Brush the suede after wearing, avoid heavy rain and puddles, and rotate between pairs when you can. A protected boot stays cleaner and is far easier to maintain.

Need new UGGs or fit help?

Popular in-stock UGGs: Classic Mini II, Classic Ultra Mini, the Scuffette II slipper, and the Women's Neumel.

Browse the full range in our UGG collection, or check our UGG Classic Mini sizing guide and best UGG slippers for women. Not sure on size or care? Call our store team at (310) 398-7497 or email info@feetheart.com. Every order ships with free U.S. shipping and free 30-day returns (sale items final).