| Are you one of the many thousands of fashion | | | | boot unless you specifically want to wash the |
| conscious, comfortable footwear loving, | | | | insides. (If you want to you can take the |
| downright sensible people who have | | | | sheepskin insoles out and wash them |
| | | | separately - I've found this freshens the |
| discovered the joy of real sheepskin boots? | | | | boots up nicely without the need to wash the |
| Are your beautiful sheepskin boots looking a | | | | insides). You will be amazed how dry the |
| little dirty and sorry for themselves after | | | | insides of the boot remain even when you dunk |
| all the hard work of keeping you warm and | | | | the whole of the boot into the water - it |
| snug last winter (and maybe some winters | | | | just goes to prove the assertion that real |
| before that too)? Do you look at your once | | | | sheepskin is naturally water resistant.3) |
| pristine uggs and think that maybe they've | | | | Using your hands just pour the soapy water |
| seen better days?Well - don't consign them to | | | | over the boot and massage the boot surface to |
| the rubbish bin just yet because now is the | | | | get it clean - if they are very dirty I use a |
| perfect time to give them a little wash and | | | | soft nail brush to gently scrub them - but do |
| brush up and see if you can't get them to | | | | be careful not to damage the suede outer |
| come up looking as good as new.Boots which | | | | surface of the sheepskin.4) Once clean the |
| have been made from high quality real | | | | boots can be rinsed, either under running |
| sheepskin are very easy to care for. They | | | | water or in another basinfull of clean water |
| can be hand washed in next to no time and | | | | (again lukewarm).5) Squeeze the boots gently |
| provided you use a special sheepskin shampoo | | | | to remove the excess water and then blot the |
| or mild soap flakes they will be fine. (Do | | | | outsides and stuff the insides with clean |
| be careful what you use though - I stripped | | | | kitchen towel.6) They now need to be left to |
| the colour from a cheap pair of sheepskin | | | | dry naturally - away from direct heat. You |
| boots by using too strong a detergent! So | | | | will have to be patient as this can take a |
| now I use a specially formulated sheepskin | | | | few days depending on the ambient room |
| shampoo and have had much better results!) | | | | temperature but please don't be tempted to |
| Also - do not under any circumstances be | | | | put them on a radiator - they might go hard |
| tempted to put them in the washing machine - | | | | and you could permanently damage the |
| you will regret it!From personal experience | | | | sheepskin.7) Once the boots are completely |
| I've found the best method to use is as | | | | dry you can brush them to bring up the suede |
| follows:-1) Fill a basin with lukewarm water | | | | surface, although I've never felt the need to |
| and add some sheepskin shampoo. Stir the | | | | do this.8) Lastly and most importantly, don't |
| shampoo into the water (it won't foam very | | | | forget to re-protect them once they are clean |
| much but don't worry). The essential thing | | | | by spraying them with sheepskin or suede |
| to remember when washing real sheepskin is | | | | |
| that it doesn't like to get too hot - water | | | | protector spray.If you look after your real |
| that is too hot will make the wool's fibres | | | | sheepskin boots they will look after your |
| seize up. If you've ever machine washed a | | | | feet for years to come - so what are you |
| pure wool jumper that should only have been | | | | waiting for - get those boots washed and |
| hand washed you will know what I mean - it's | | | | ready for the coming winter now!(c)2005. Sue |
| quite astonishing how an adult sized jumper | | | | Madelin is the owner of The Snug Stop, |
| can shrink to the size of dolls clothing in | | | | purveyor of finest quality Australian Merino |
| just one wash!2) Dunk the whole boot into the | | | | sheepskin boots, and a huge fan of her many |
| water almost up to the top of the boot - try | | | | pairs of Warmbat sheepskin boots. |
| not to get too much water in the top of the | | | | |