Nothing says Fall has truly arrived like Uggs! If the crisper weather has you itching to wear your Uggs everyday, remember that with that increased usage comes a greater need for maintenance.
Keep your favorite boots looking fresh through the entire season by avoiding these 7 mistakes:
1. Don’t Wear Your Uggs in the Rain
It may seem obvious, but sudden rain showers can quickly leave your trusted pair of uggs well-soaked. Rain (or sleet, or snow!) is can leave water damage, stains, and permanent structural damage – yikes!
If the forecast calls for rain, leave the Uggs at home, or throw a spare pair of shoes in your car that you can switch into.
If you live in a damp or humid environment (like we have here in Louisiana!) it may be worth investing in making your Uggs a bit more weather resistant. They’ll never be truly waterproof, but some DIY weather-proofing treatments can help keep a few drops of rain from being deadly.
2. Stop Using Random Cleaning Solvents On Your Uggs
Keeping your Uggs up to snuff means using the right tool for the job. When it’s time to clean your shoes, not all cleaning solutions are created equally!
Using harsh or incorrect cleaners can not only damage your Uggs, it can discolor the fabric, leaving ugly spots behind and ruining their perfect color.
Even worse, harsh cleaners can change the very texture, taking them from soft and fluffy to scaly and rough.
Stick to cleaning solvents specifically made for the job, or outsource the task completely and leave cleaning your Uggs to the pros!
3. Don’t Try to Speed Up the Drying Process
So despite our warning in #1, you accidentally got your Uggs wet – now what?
Lucky for you, the best answer is the easiest, but not the fastest: air drying!
Stuff them with newspaper to hold their shape, and leave them to air dry in a well ventilated space.
Don’t give into the temptation to hurry along the process by putting them in the sun, hitting them with a hair dryer, or, worst of all, throwing them in the dryer. Slow and steady is the way to go with Uggs!
4. Stop Neglecting Regular Ugg Maintenance
You love the way your Uggs make you look, with their soft and comfy fit – but it takes regular maintenance to keep them that way!
Don’t let debris build up on them. Use proper cleaning techniques, then brush out the suede and let them dry properly. It’s much easier to do minor regular upkeep than to attempt a huge restoration when they’re much farther gone.
If doing regular maintenance to your Uggs feels overwhelming, find a local Ugg specialist that you trust to do it for you. It’s more cost effective to be proactive than reactive!
5. Don’t Underestimate Proper Ugg Storage
Equally important to how you wear your UGG boots is how you store them.
It’s important to store your boots in a dry and clean space. Don’t make the mistake of shoving them into a tiny corner of your closet, squeezing them lopsidedly into a bin under your bed, or throwing them in a drawer until you need them again. They need space to maintain their shape!
Uggs should always be stored where it’s cool and dry, like a shoe rack in your closet.
If you’re preparing to store your boots for the off-season, don’t store them with dirt and stains that will only further set over the next few months. Either bring them to a professional cleaner to prep for storage, or research some DIY methods!
6. Stop Wearing Uggs Without Socks
Yes – the inside of your Uggs is fluffy and soft and tempting.
No – you should not try to wear them without socks.
Seriously – don’t do this!
Not only will any moisture from your feet damage the interior, but the material of Uggs is going to hold on to the smell much more fiercely than other shoes might.
So wear socks with your Uggs!
If you’ve made the dire mistake of sporting your Uggs sockless, it may take a professional cleaning to knock them back into shape, removing any odors, bacteria, and damage that was caused.
7. Don’t Ignore Small Damage
“It’s just a TINY tear!”
Most problems with footwear start small, but they won’t stay that way.
Take care of any small damage that you see before it has the chance to become big damage. Not only will your Uggs thank you, but your wallet will too!
Kean’s is Baton Rouge’s Ugg Cleaning Specialist
Whether your Uggs were left out in the rain or have had years of regular wear and tear, we’ve restored Uggs in all conditions.
Bring yours in to any of our locations, and we’ll be happy to give them a once over and make suggestions for restoration and maintenance!
