Can you wash UGGs in the washing machine? No. UGG says never to machine wash its sheepskin, whatever the cycle, and never to tumble dry it or take it to a dry cleaner. Its care instructions are hand wash only, with cold water and a day or more of slow drying.
SneakerSalt is not affiliated with UGG. Below: what UGG says, why a drum is hard on these boots in particular, the Tasman and lookalike question, and what to do if a pair has already been through a cycle.
What UGG actually says
Across its help centre and care pages, UGG says:
- Help centre: never machine wash or dry clean sheepskin or leather products.
- Slipper care page: do not tumble dry.
- Sheepskin care page: hand wash only. Dampen with cold water, clean gently with a sponge and diluted cleaner, rinse, stuff with paper, and let them dry naturally for at least 24 hours, away from direct heat and sun.
That covers the classic boots, the Tasman and the other sheepskin and suede styles. "Can I just throw them in on cold?" and "what about a front loader?" get the same answer. The rule is about the material, not the machine.
Why a drum is hard on UGGs
A classic UGG boot is a 17mm twinface sheepskin upper, a suede heel counter, a sheepskin lining and insole, and a sugarcane EVA or Treadlite outsole. A wash cycle soaks all of that at once and then tumbles it.
- Suede and water. Nike's suede guidance explains the basic problem: suede absorbs water, so washing it can set stains in rather than lift them out. Timberland says the same about porous suede in general, adding that too much water causes staining and warping.
- Detergent and agitation. The American Cleaning Institute notes that most shoe makers discourage machine washing because detergent and agitation may damage many leathers and adhesives.
- Drying. A boot that comes out of a drum is wet through, sheepskin, lining and insole, and UGG wants it dried slowly without heat. Boots that come out stiff are commonly blamed on soaking followed by fast drying.
Our washing machine guide goes through what a cycle does to footwear in general.
"Mine came out fine"
Search the question and you'll find threads of people who put their UGGs through a cold wash and were happy, and threads of people who weren't. Both are real. What they can't tell you is which group your pair will join. A forum post isn't a controlled test, and few people come back months later to show how the boots aged. A cold cycle, a mesh bag and a front loader all still soak the boot through; no source we found shows that a bag or a gentle setting makes it safe. The maker's answer is still no.
Tasmans, slippers, fakes and other brands
Tasman: the upper is suede, and the lining is either 17mm sheepskin or UGGplush, a 60% upcycled wool and 40% TENCEL lyocell blend, depending on the version. Either way the suede upper rules out the machine, and UGG's slipper care page rules out the dryer.
Fakes and other brands: with a counterfeit, the label can't be trusted, so if the outside looks like suede, treat it as suede. Boots in the same style from other brands are made of different things. Bearpaw's current Elle Short, for example, lists cow suede with a wool-blend lining, and its vegan styles use microsuede. So read the label on your pair. If it says machine washable, follow it. If the outside is suede, the same reasons above apply, whatever the brand.
What to do instead
| Option | UGG's position | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Washing machine | Never | Nothing; skip it |
| Dry cleaner | Never | Nothing; skip it |
| Tumble dryer | Do not | Nothing; skip it |
| Hand wash with UGG's cleaner | The maker's method | A boot that is dirty all over |
| Dry brush | UGG brushes the nap once dry | Dust and dried mud |
| Light foam clean, blotted | Not UGG's method; test first | Everyday grime on the suede |
UGG's hand wash goes like this: dampen the whole boot with cold water, so it dries evenly; mix the cleaner half and half with water on a wet sponge, never straight onto the sheepskin; clean gently, because hard scrubbing or neat cleaner can damage the surface; rinse in cold water; stuff with paper; dry for at least a day somewhere cool; brush the nap lightly in one direction.
For the grey film on a boot that isn't dirty all over, a light, even pass of SneakerSalt Shoe Cleaning Foam over each panel, left ten seconds and blotted with a dry cloth, is the quicker job. We rate it "good, blot only" on suede. It stays off the fleece inside, because sheepskin wool isn't on our tested list. Our suede and nubuck guide covers the blot technique.
Already washed them? What to do now
- Take them out straight away and keep them out of the dryer.
- Press, don't wring. Squeeze the water out into a towel rather than twisting the boot.
- Stuff with white paper towels, firmly enough to hold the shape, and swap them for dry ones when they're soaked.
- Dry slowly. At least 24 hours by UGG's guidance, and a boot soaked through will take longer. Cool, ventilated, away from radiators and direct sun.
- Brush when bone dry, lightly and in one direction, to lift the nap.
- Assess. Patchy colour is usually uneven drying, and the water-stain method can even it out: dampen each panel evenly from seam to seam and dry it slowly again. Stiffness is harder. We know of no reliable home fix, and we'd rather say so.
- Freshen the inside once dry. UGG's care text suggests two teaspoons each of baking soda and corn flour, left overnight and shaken out.
Questions people actually ask
Do I need to treat my UGGs before wearing them?
It helps. UGG's product pages say the classic sheepskin is pre-treated for water repellency, and a protector spray on clean, dry boots adds to that. UGG sells its own. Follow the spray's directions and let it dry before you go out.
How do I remove salt stains from my UGGs?
Brush off the dry crust, then dab the white marks with diluted white vinegar, somewhere between one part vinegar to two of water and equal parts. Wipe the whole panel evenly with a barely damp cloth afterwards and dry slowly.
Can you use Dawn dish soap to clean UGG boots?
UGG's instructions don't mention dish soap; its method uses its own cleaner, diluted. Nike advises against soap and water on suede, and strong dish soap can discolour some materials, so it isn't the shortcut it looks like.
Keep the boots out of the drum and clean the suede by hand in a few minutes: SneakerSalt Shoe Cleaning Foam, $24, free shipping, brush and cloth included, and the bottle is yours to keep if it doesn't work.
