The Best Way to Clean Bearpaw and Other Sheepskin Boots
When UGG Australia achieved worldwide success with their furry boots in the early 00s, numerous shoemakers immediately wanted a piece of that huge pie. Brands such as Bearpaw, Fitzwell, EMU, Old Friend, and Minnetonka scrambled to make their own version of the ugg boot, most of them uncannily similar to UGG Australia’s classic design.
A variety of people in a variety of ugg boots
While the arrival of the new brands meant very stiff competition for UGG Australia, it was good news for us consumers. We were given more alternatives to the 150-dollars-per-pair UGG boots and many of them were a lot cheaper – to boot (check out this list of cheaper sheepskin boot alternatives).
Now the bad news: UGG Australia boots may be expensive, but the company does provide excellent after sales customer support. They have their own Water and Stain Repellent Spray, their own Sheepskin Cleaner and Conditioner, and they even have their own Sheepskin Care Kit that customers can buy to protect their UGG footwear. Bearpaw and other brands of sheepskin boots may be cheaper, but when it comes to cleaning and protecting them, we’re left to our own defenses.
But we’re not totally defenseless, of course. Bearpaw, for example, provides us with a guide on how to care for our ugg boots. Here’s a step-by-step guide on the best way to clean Bearpaw boots and other sheepskin boots:
Step 1 – Wetting the Boots: Dampen the entire boot with water. Be careful not to soak. Make sure that the boot is evenly wet so as not to create water rings or water marks later on.
Step 2 – Cleaning the Suede Upper: Put a small amount of suede cleaner and water on a soft, damp cloth. Create a lather on the cloth by rubbing it together. Work this lather onto the surface of the boot and gently clean the entire outer portion of the boot. Rinse the boot thoroughly after cleaning.
You may also use a sponge or a soft brush in cleaning, but do not to use a wire brush or a coarse brush because these could scratch the suede.
Never put suede cleaner directly onto the boot. Also, be careful not to transfer any of the suede cleaner on to the sheepskin while cleaning and rinsing the boot.
Step 3 – Cleaning the Sheepskin Lining and Trim: Cleaning sheepskin is the same as cleaning suede, except a special sheepskin shampoo is needed. Use this product to gently clean the sheepskin lining and sheepskim trim on Bearpaw and other sheepskin boots. Rinse the boot again after cleaning.
As in step 2, do not use a wire brush for sheepskin, never put the product directly onto the sheepskin, and be careful not to get any of the product on the suede portion of the boots.
Step 4 – Drying the Boots: Place the boots in a well-ventilated area and let them dry naturally. Stuff them with unprinted paper, paper towels, or a rolled up towel so that they don’t lose their shape while drying. You may also hang them upside down on a boot stand.
Never place your boots under the sun or a direct heat source. These could damage and discolor your sheepskin boots.
Step 5 – Protecting Your Boots: After your boots are all nice and dry, protect them with a stain and water repellent spray. Doing so will protect the surface of your boots from stains, dirt, and mud and will also make the cleaning process easier the next time.
For this step, UGG Australia’s Water and Stain Repellent Spray will work well.
To clean your Bearpaw boots or other brands of sheepskin boots, you can use the Nikwax Nubuck/Suede Proof & Cleaning Gel:
The cleaning gel can be used not just on suede, but also on nubuck, smooth leather, and fabric shoes. It’s water based and solvent free, and it’s gel form makes it eco-friendly compared to sprays.
The nubuck and suede proof protects your boots and maintains their color and texture. It can be applied even when your ugg boots aren’t fully dried yet.
You can purchase the Nikwax Nubuck/Suede Proof & Cleaning Gel for $22.00 at Zappos.com.
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