How to Take Care of Sheep Skin Boots

 by: Brian Fong

Sheep skin boots and all things made from natural sheep skin are very trendy and very popular among all classes of people. Because sheep skin is a natural material, items that are made with it tend to be very expensive. After spending so much of your hard-earned money on genuine sheep skin boots, you may be scared to wear them fearing that they may become soiled and you won’t be able to get them clean. While it is true that the best way to care for your this type of boot is to not get them dirty in the first place, that likely is not possible. Besides, if you simply wanted to admire the good and expensive look of the boots, then the boots should have remained in the store window display case. They are boots after all, and you should expect that they will get dirty either from urban dirt or country soil.

Keep in mind that sheep skin boots are made from an animal’s skin, and animals do get exposed to the elements. They get wet and dirty and they recover from this exposure to the elements, so it is safe to assume that your new boots can be safely cleaned as well. Boots made from a sheep’s skin are in some ways delicate, and they can be easily damaged by chemicals or by scratches and other types of abrasions. To maintain that expensive, soft look of the sheep skin, never use inappropriate chemicals when cleaning. And always use soft rags that will not scratch or otherwise damage the surface of the boots.

The first thing you should do after purchasing a pair of sheep skin boots is to apply a spray sealant type product to the boot. Be sure to follow the product’s directions for use. Taking this step is more of a preventative measure. It will offer a certain degree of protection by blocking soil and water from penetrating into the sheep skin.

When you do need to clean your sheep skin boots start by using a soft brush or a soft, dry cloth. Apply light pressure and simply try to buff out the stain. If that approach does not work, you can purchase a cleaning product that is recommended for wool. The cleaning product use instructions may or may not require the product to be mixed with lukewarm water. Always read the label first and proceed as instructed. Shoe stores are a good place to locate an appropriate cleaning product to use on sheep skin boots. Searching the Internet is another good way to locate an appropriate cleaning product . If using the Internet, just be sure to take whatever steps are necessary to protect your credit card information.

Once you have successfully finished cleaning your sheep skin boots, they will need to dry. You should never use or expose your boots to extreme heat sources when drying. In the path of direct sunlight, in front of a crackling fire or heater or inside a dryer are the places where these boots should never be allowed to roam. Exposing your boots to these extreme sources of heat likely will cause significant as well as permanent damage to the delicate sheep skin. Instead, find a nice shady spot to place your boots so that they can air dry naturally.

Never attempt to dry clean your sheep skin boots. The chemicals that are used in the dry cleaning process are harsh and abrasive and will definitely cause damage to the boots. So go ahead and get your boots dirty. They can be safely cleaned.