How to Clean Slippers: What Makers and Care Guides Say
Quick answer: check the care label, brush off dirt, and machine wash only fabric styles in a mesh bag on a delicate cycle. Hand clean sheepskin, suede and leather, and air dry stuffed with paper away from heat.
We compare the makers and care guides and show where they disagree.
How to Clean Slippers: Sources Compared
Slippers range from washable cotton terry to sheepskin that should never see a machine, so the first rule is to check the label and the material. We read Haflinger, Dearfoams, House of Slippers, Hunker, Startrite, Branch Basics and two UGG guides (Journeys and Cleanipedia). They agree on air drying and no tumble dryer. They differ on machine washing for wool, sheepskin and memory foam.
| Source | Machine washing | Hand and spot cleaning | Drying and avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haflinger | Wool felt: only “if absolutely necessary”, wool cycle, max 30 C, laundry bag. Boiled wool: wool or delicate cycle, max 30 C. Never rubber soles or cork footbeds. | Soft brush or damp cloth. Wool detergent in lukewarm water, no excessive rubbing because it causes felting. | Air dry slowly, stuffed with paper. No dryer, heaters or direct sun. |
| Dearfoams | Only slippers without suede or elaborate detailing, gentle cycle. Not suede or fur. | Suede: brush, pat water spots. Fur: mist lightly and blot. Baking soda for odor. | Air dry. No dryer, because heat can distort the slipper. |
| House of Slippers | Fabric: mesh bag, mild detergent, delicate or wool cycle, low spin, 30 C. Not sheepskin, leather, suede, or non-removable memory foam. | Hand wash in lukewarm water, avoid soaking. Brush wool lining monthly. | Stuff with newspaper overnight. Avoid radiators, tumble dryers and direct sun. |
| Hunker | Memory foam: machine wash, cold, gentle or low agitation. | Not covered. | Hang to air dry, or dryer on low heat until fully dry. Check the care tag first. |
| Startrite | Fabric, cotton and synthetic usually machine washable. Not leather, suede, sheepskin or velvet. No zippers or buttons in the load. | Lukewarm water and mild detergent. Do not twist or wring. | Air dry away from radiators and direct sun. If tumble drying, low heat in a mesh bag and remove before fully dry. |
| Branch Basics | Cotton: regular cycle with towels. Fleece: cold, gentle. Not wool, suede, leather or shearling. | Wool: hand wash 15 to 30 minutes, squeeze gently. Suede: spot clean only. | Always air dry. Dryer heat can melt glue, detach soles, shrink fabric and warp shape. |
| UGG (Journeys) | Do not use a washing machine. It can damage suede, shrink the sheepskin lining and distort shape. | Cold water and suede-safe cleaner, lightly dampen the whole boot. Brush. | Stuff with paper towels. 24 to 48 hours away from heat and sun. |
| UGG (Cleanipedia) | Quotes UGG: “never use a washing machine or tumble dryer” even on a gentle wool setting. | Slippers: wipe with microfiber every two weeks, brush with a suede brush weekly. | Stuff with newspaper, up to sixteen hours. Do not saturate or rub hard. |
Several of these sources sell slippers or care products, so their steps may point to their own range. We have not tested any of these methods.
Can You Machine Wash Slippers?
The sources split by material:
- Cotton, fleece and synthetic fabric: House of Slippers, Startrite and Branch Basics allow the machine. House of Slippers says a mesh bag, delicate or wool cycle and 30 C. Branch Basics says towels with cotton on a regular cycle and cold, gentle for fleece.
- Wool felt and boiled wool: Haflinger allows a wool or delicate cycle at max 30 C, in a laundry bag, and calls it a last resort for wool felt. House of Slippers keeps wool away from machine washing, and Branch Basics gives hand steps only.
- Sheepskin and suede: UGG, Dearfoams, House of Slippers and Branch Basics say no. Haflinger says hand wash is best and a machine wool cycle only if necessary.
- Memory foam: Hunker says machine wash cold on gentle. House of Slippers says hand wash when the insole is not removable.
- Rubber soles and cork footbeds: Haflinger says never machine wash them.
General advice: follow the care label, and hand wash when in doubt. Our washing machine guide covers the settings brands give.
Step by Step: Cleaning Slippers
The shared method, with who says what:
- Read the care label. Startrite says the label decides the method for your pair.
- Brush off dry dirt. Haflinger says a soft brush or damp cloth for light dirt. Dearfoams brushes suede gently.
- Remove insoles and inserts. Startrite says to wash them separately.
- Wash by material. Machine in a mesh bag for fabric (House of Slippers), or hand wash in lukewarm water with mild detergent (Startrite). Do not twist or wring (Startrite).
- Roll in a towel. Branch Basics says to roll in a dry towel to absorb moisture, then reshape.
- Air dry stuffed. Haflinger and House of Slippers stuff with paper.
How often: Cleanipedia says to wipe UGG slippers with a microfiber cloth at least every two weeks and brush weekly. Branch Basics says sheepskin linings may not need frequent washing because lanolin resists odor-causing bacteria.
By Material: Sheepskin, Wool, Suede, Leather
Sheepskin and shearling. Haflinger says hand wash in cold or lukewarm water (max 30 C) with sheepskin or wool detergent, and to shake and brush the fleece to keep it fluffy. UGG pages say lightly dampen, never soak, and use a suede-safe cleaner. Branch Basics dabs the lining with a soapy cloth and wipes again to remove residue.
Wool. Haflinger says to avoid excessive rubbing that causes felting. Branch Basics soaks in lukewarm or cool water with a little concentrate for 15 to 30 minutes and squeezes without wringing. House of Slippers says warm but not hot water and to brush the lining monthly with a wide-toothed comb.
Suede. Dearfoams says brush mud with a suede brush, pat fresh water spots, and treat grease with cornstarch or baking soda overnight. Branch Basics uses white vinegar on sweat stains. See our nubuck and suede guide.
Leather. Branch Basics says hand only and warns that the agitator and moisture can cause loss of shape and cracking. Startrite says to dampen a cloth rather than dip it, and not to soak. See our leather shoe guide.
Memory foam. The sources split, see the machine section. Dearfoams does not cover it.
Cork footbeds. Haflinger says to wipe with a slightly damp cloth, avoid harsh agents and prolonged moisture, and use baking soda overnight for odor.
Knit and fleece. See our knit shoe guide for coatings and water.
How to Clean UGG Slippers
UGG slippers are the most searched pair in this category, and the two UGG guides we read agree on a hand-only routine:
- Brush first: Journeys says to let mud dry, brush it off with a suede brush, then brush again after drying to restore the texture. Cleanipedia says to brush slippers weekly and wipe them with a microfiber cloth at least every two weeks.
- Stains: Cleanipedia says to try a pencil eraser without rubbing hard. Journeys says to hand clean with cold water and a suede-safe cleaner, dampening the whole slipper lightly rather than one spot to avoid water rings.
- No machine or dryer: Cleanipedia quotes UGG as saying never to use a washing machine or tumble dryer, even on a gentle wool setting. Journeys says a machine can damage suede, shrink the lining and distort the shape.
- Dry: stuffed with paper, away from heat and sun, for 24 to 48 hours (Journeys) or up to sixteen hours (Cleanipedia).
- Protect: Journeys says to apply a suede or sheepskin protector only when clean and dry, spray from 6 to 8 inches away in a light, even coat, and let it dry at least 24 hours. Cleanipedia says to apply a protector when new and after every wash.
Both are retail guides rather than the maker’s own page, so check the care card that came with your pair.
How to Dry Slippers
Every source says to air dry. The detail differs:
- Haflinger: slowly, stuffed with paper, away from heaters and sunlight. Never a dryer for boiled wool.
- House of Slippers: stuffed with newspaper or kitchen towel overnight in a cool, airy spot.
- UGG pages: 24 to 48 hours (Journeys) or up to sixteen hours (Cleanipedia), stuffed with paper.
- Startrite: low heat in a mesh bag is possible, but remove before fully dry and finish out of heat.
- Hunker: allows a dryer on low heat for memory foam. Dearfoams, Haflinger and Branch Basics say no dryer.
Branch Basics says dryer heat and tumbling can melt glue, detach soles, shrink fabric and warp shape. It also says to stuff toes with crumpled newspaper or paper towels when not in use.
Odor, Storage and Protection
Odor and storage advice:
- Baking soda: Dearfoams says sprinkle inside overnight then vacuum out. Haflinger says the same for cork footbeds. Branch Basics says repeat as needed.
- Dry fully first: Branch Basics says odor lingers if slippers are not fully dry.
- Clean socks: Branch Basics suggests wearing clean, dry socks.
- Storage: Branch Basics says leather needs airflow on a shelf or rack, and most fabrics can go in sealed bags or boxes.
- Protector: UGG pages say to use a sheepskin or suede protector on clean, dry pairs, and Journeys says to reapply every few weeks of heavy wear.
See our shoe sole guide for outdoor-soled slippers.
Where the Sources Disagree
Wool in the machine. Haflinger allows a wool cycle at max 30 C for wool felt in a laundry bag as a last resort. House of Slippers says keep wool from machine washing. Branch Basics gives hand steps only.
Memory foam. Hunker machine washes cold, gentle, with low heat drying. House of Slippers hand washes if insoles are fixed.
Soaking. Branch Basics soaks cotton for at least 30 minutes, fleece 5 to 10 minutes and wool 15 to 30 minutes. Startrite and Haflinger caution against soaking and excess water. General advice: short soaks only for washable fabrics.
Sheepskin. UGG pages say never machine. Haflinger says machine wool cycle only if necessary at max 30 C. House of Slippers and Branch Basics say hand only.
Tumble drying. Hunker and Startrite allow low heat. Dearfoams, Haflinger, Branch Basics and UGG pages say no.
Questions About Slippers, Answered
“Can you wash slippers in the washing machine?”
Only fabric styles per Dearfoams, House of Slippers and Startrite, usually in a mesh bag on a delicate cycle. Not sheepskin or suede.
“How do you wash sheepskin slippers?”
Hand wash in cold or lukewarm water with sheepskin detergent (Haflinger) and air dry. UGG says no machine.
“How do you wash memory foam slippers?”
Hunker says cold gentle machine wash. House of Slippers says hand wash if the foam is fixed.
“How do you get the smell out of slippers?”
Dry fully, then baking soda overnight and vacuum (Dearfoams, Branch Basics).
“How do you dry slippers?”
Air dry stuffed with paper, away from heat and sun (Haflinger, House of Slippers).
“How do you clean suede slippers?”
Dry brush, pat water spots, cornstarch for grease (Dearfoams, Branch Basics).
“How often should you wash slippers?”
Cleanipedia suggests wiping UGG slippers every two weeks. Hunker says whenever they look soiled.
“Can you tumble dry slippers?”
The sources split: Hunker and Startrite allow low heat, most others say no.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Machine washing suede, leather and sheepskin. Dearfoams, Startrite, Branch Basics and UGG pages warn.
- Machine washing rubber soles or cork footbeds. Haflinger warns.
- Heat. Radiators, heaters, hair dryers and direct sun (House of Slippers, Haflinger).
- Twisting or wringing. Startrite and Branch Basics warn.
- Excessive rubbing on wool felt. Haflinger says it causes felting.
- Washing with zippers or buttons. Startrite warns.
- Bleach, household cleaners and hot water on sheepskin. Journeys warns.
How we checked this
- Steps come from Haflinger, Dearfoams, House of Slippers, Hunker, Startrite, Branch Basics and two UGG guides. We name who says each thing.
- The sources differ on wool, sheepskin, memory foam and tumble drying, so we show each side. Our own reading is labelled general advice.
- Several sources sell slippers or care products. None gives test data. We have not tested any of these methods.
Slipper Care Helpers
A mesh wash bag for machine-safe pairs, a gentle detergent for delicates and a suede brush and eraser set cover the steps the sources describe. These are listed on Amazon.
Woolite Delicates laundry detergent
A gentle liquid detergent for delicate fabrics.
Check it on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you clean slippers?
Check the label, brush off dirt, machine wash fabric styles in a mesh bag or hand wash, then air dry stuffed with paper.
Can you machine wash slippers?
Fabric styles usually, in a mesh bag on delicate (House of Slippers). Not sheepskin or suede.
How do you wash sheepskin slippers?
Hand wash in cold or lukewarm water (Haflinger). UGG says no machine.
How do you clean UGG slippers?
Brush, spot clean by hand with cold water and a suede-safe cleaner, and air dry stuffed with paper. No machine (Journeys, Cleanipedia).
How do you remove odor?
Dry fully, then baking soda overnight and vacuum (Dearfoams).
Can you tumble dry slippers?
Hunker and Startrite allow low heat. Dearfoams, Haflinger and Branch Basics say no.
How long do slippers take to dry?
Overnight stuffed (House of Slippers) to 24 to 48 hours for UGG (Journeys).
How often should you clean them?
Wipe every two weeks (Cleanipedia, UGG slippers) and wash when soiled (Hunker).
The Short Version
Check the label, machine wash only fabric styles, hand clean the rest and always air dry away from heat.
