How to Clean Smelly Sheepskin Slippers

If you have invested in a pair of the very latest expensive sheepskin slippers you obviously want them to last and stay looking good for as long as possible. But what do you do when you when they start smelling and you can’t stop the pong? Well here is our guide to help you learn how to clean smelly sheepskin slippers and banish the odor so that you can avoid throwing them in the trash.

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Can I Put Sheepskin Slippers in the Washing Machine?

We know that the temptation for many people is to take the so-called easy route and to put the slippers in the washing machine to get rid of the foul smell but if you do that you might be about to make a very expensive mistake.

Whilst some synthetic materials that mimic sheepskin slippers might be able to be machine washed the more expensive versions are another story.

Premium brands of sheepskin slippers such as Ugg’s are very clear in their cleaning advice and strongly advise you that if you place them in the washing machine you are likely to ruin them. They don’t even suggest dry cleaning. So when that avenue is closed to you what do you do?

How to Clean Smelly Slippers

Want to know how to clean smelly sheepskin slippers? Well, there are plenty of alternative ways of doing something if you want to learn how to clean sheepskin slippers and here are some of our favourites.

Sheepskin Freshener

If you are wearing a premium brand of sheepskin slippers then you could go direct to the manufacturer and buy one of their care kits. Ugg boots have a sheepskin freshener that comes as part of their kit specially designed to eliminate any bad odor so that your boots are refreshed. Obviously, these kits can come with a hefty price tag so although this is what the main manufacturers might want to recommend there are cheaper alternatives.

Remove Smells From Slippers With Baking Soda

Baking soda is one of the cheapest methods for cleaning smelly slippers. As baking soda is also really easy to get hold of it is also one of the simplest solutions.

Now with some smelly shoes, the baking soda is simply sprinkled inside the shoe, left to do its work for 24 hours and then shaken out the following day. Whilst this may work for ordinary shoes it is not recommended where sheepskin slippers are concerned as some of the product may be left in the inside of the slipper or damage the lining.

Instead, make a simple baking soda sachet or pouch and place that inside the slippers instead. Small drawstring bags can work or alternatively you can use a sock and part fill it with the baking soda and place it inside the slipper. Just make sure you tie the end of the sock so that none of the baking soda falls into the inside of the slipper.

For extra freshness, you can also add some essential oil to the baking soda for an even better smelling pair of slippers. Tea tree or lavender oil are great ones to use.

Replacement Linings For Sheepskin Slippers

Even though replacing your expensive sheepskin slippers is costly there are other cheaper ways to get rid of a bad smell from the footwear.

Many sheepskin slipper brands have removable linings which means that if you can’t be bothered using some of our other methods for removing the odor you could replace the smelly insole linings.

Sheepskin insoles are relatively cheap and easily placed inside the slippers after the old lining is removed making our feet smell fresh and clean again with minimal hassle.

Use Shoe Deoderizer For Freshness

Another way to get rid of the bad smell from sheepskin slippers is to use a shoe deodorizer spray to help. Funkaway is a hardcore odor eliminator that works on products that can’t be placed in the wash. So it won’t just work on slippers but on sports gear, car interiors and even trash cans.

Just spray the product into your sheepskin slippers or normal shoes to get rid of lingering odors. The product smells of fresh linen which is the polar opposite of stinky feet.

Shoe Deodorizer Balls

Odor Drops Shoe Deodorizer Balls are a great convenient way of helping to keep your slippers smelling sweet. These come in a pack of six and all you need to do is twist the ball to unlock it and place it in the offending slippers or footwear.

The great thing about these balls is that they don’t cost the earth and last for up to a year. You can also get them in three different fragrances to suit your particular tastes. These have been specially designed to get rid of even the very worst stinky smelly odors so dealing with a pair of slippers should be a doddle.

Use Dryer Sheets For Footwear Smells

Whilst tumble dryer sheets are not something you would associate with slippers they are actually a simple solution for mild smelling footwear. Just grab a couple from your laundry room and place one in each of the slippers and let them work their magic.

Add Activated Bamboo Charcoal To Your Slippers

Activated charcoal is well known as an odor eliminator and can be a great solution to getting rid of sweat smells inside your slippers. This particular brand uses natural bamboo charcoal to do the job with its fragrance-free bags that you pop inside your slippers.

As these are natural and have no smell they are even safe to use if you are pregnant. Just pop the bag into your sheepskin slippers and let them absorb any moisture and get rid of any bad smells. Just remember to recharge them in direct sunlight for two hours every month and they will last for two years.

Use Rubbing Alcohol For Smells

Rubbing alcohol is another relatively simple solution for deodorizing sheepskin slippers. If you want to know how to clean smelly sheepskin slippers all you need to do is place some on a cotton ball or cloth and make sure you wring out the excess. Then rub the inside of your slippers with the product. The alcohol should dissipate relatively quickly just make sure you do not saturate the inside of the footwear. Try and air dry the slippers to help the process.

Tea Bags To Get Rid of Foot Odor

Lastly, if you like to drink tea then you are in luck because just about any variety of tea bags can help to eradicate odor in your slippers. Just pop one of the tea bags in each sheepskin slipper and allow them to work for 24 hours.

How to Wash Smelly Sheepskin Slippers

Can you wash smelly sheepskin slippers? Well if you want to know how to clean smelly sheepskin slippers we suggest you always check the manufacturer’s instructions before you decide to do anything with your slippers to prevent you from ruining them. Not all sheepskin footwear is made to the same quality so you need to pay attention to what can or can’t be done before trying to use water on them.

Generally whilst sheepskin slippers cannot be machine washed you are able to hand wash them in cool or warm water. Before starting make sure that you have used a soft brush to wipe off any dirt or debris from the slippers.

Next, get an absorbent clean cloth and rinse it in warm water and wring it dry. Then put a small amount of specialist sheepskin shampoo or mild detergent onto the damp cloth and begin to work it into every part of the inside of the slipper. When you have done this rinse the inside of the slipper with cold water to remove the detergent or shampoo. Shake the slippers vigorously outdoors to remove any excess water and then leave to air dry outside on a towel. Where possible avoid placing them in direct sunlight so that they don’t fade.

How to Stop Slippers Smelling in the First Place

Prevention is always a better solution than fire fighting and trying to clean sheepskin slippers when it is too late. One of the best ways to prevent sweat smells in your slippers is to always wear a pair of fresh clean socks when you are wearing them. This can help to prevent odor and bad smells before they start.

In the summertime, it makes sense to wash and clean your feet when you get home from work and change into a pair of fresh clean socks before you put your slippers on. Clean feet and clean socks mean that you are never allowing sweat and moisture to take hold in the first place.

Oh and final thoughts, try using some odor eaters for slippers in your footwear to prevent smells. These are relatively inexpensive and easily placed inside the slippers. Using a pair could help you save a ton of time and effort trying to remove or wash your slippers at a later date.