by Meredith Scott

Created on: November 13, 2009   Last Updated: November 27, 2009

Ugg Boots are sheepskin boots that originated in Australia, dating back to the 1930's when they were worn by Word War I pilots. Legend says that the name Ugg Boot derives from the term ugly boot and is used by Australians to describe the popular sheepskin boot. The entire boot, minus the rubber sole is made from sheepskin.

Today, the Ugg boot is popular in the world of fashion and has been endorsed by everyone from Pamela Anderson to the popular Playboy Bunnies to Oprah. Due to the demand of the boot and the cost of sheepskin, synthetic forms of the boots made from cowhide suede and synthetic sheepskin were created to make the style affordable for all. The original Ugg boot was a simple style, in one color-sandy brown. They are now available in a multitude of styles and colors including pink, cream, chocolate brown, argyle, classic short and classic tall.

The original purpose of the Ugg boot was to keep pilots feet warm in non-pressured planes at high altitudes. Swimmers and surfers also used them to keep warm when out of water. Now they are a fashion accessory that can be found in closets around the world. Because they are meant to be worn casually like slippers, they will not protect your feet from rain or snow and are not meant for rigorous activity.

The popular boot ranges in price from as little as $75 to $200. No matter what you spend on the boot, the best way to preserve the boot is to care for them properly.

The following steps are the Do's and Don'ts of caring for Ugg boots as suggested by Ugg retailers and Ugg consumers. You should purchase supplies specifically for use on Ugg or sheepskin boots including Water and Stain Repellent, Cleaner and Conditioner, a stiff brush and a suede/nubuck brush.

Waterproof Boots. Prevent staining of your Uggs by spraying your boots with Ugg Water and Stain Repellent before wearing them for the first time. Spray the repellent all over the boots until they appear to be wet and allow them to dry naturally out of direct heat or sunlight for at least 24 hours. Once boots are dry, lightly brush in one direction with a suede/nubuck brush. The brushing raises the natural nap and tracking on the sheepskin boots. Reproof the boots as needed.

Shampoo Boots. Use Ugg Cleaner and Conditioner to clean boots. Moisten boots with clean, cold water. Apply a small amount of the shampoo to a stiff brush and then gently work the shampoo into the boot, thoroughly and evenly covering the entire boot. Rinse boot with cold or warm water. Shake off excess water, fill the boots with paper towels and dry boots naturally, away from any direct heat source. Brush boots with a sued/nubuck brush to retain natural nap and tracking.

DO NOT wash your boots in the washing machine and dryer. The washing machine will ruin them and the dryer will shrink them.

DO NOT wash your boots in hot water or soak them, it will weaken the glue and cause shrinkage. Use cold or warm water only and wet the boots completely.

DO NOT apply cleaner and conditioner directly onto boot. Dilute the Ugg Cleaner and Conditioner with water and cleaner and conditioner.

DO NOT scrub boots aggressively. This will damage the delicate sheepskin.

These steps may not be guaranteed to prevent or remove all stains, but they will definitely ensure that your boots will last longer and look good!

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