You saved your favorite UGG boots for a special occasion only to find out that they’ve been infected with mold. The musty smell is only making things even worse.
Related: How to Clean Smelly UGG Boots? 7 Effective Methods That Work
So, how to remove mold from UGG boots?
In short, you’ll be wiping off the mold with a mixture of vinegar/rubbing alcohol and water. But there’s a lot more happening in between.
On top of that, you need to know how you can prevent the mold from coming back ever again.
Well, that’s all this article is about. Let’s start, shall we?
How to Remove Mold from UGG Boots?
It’s not that hard to clean mold from UGG boots. But there are small things to consider with each step. So, don’t skip any steps if you want to remove all the mold.
That said, here’s how to clean mold off UGGs-
Step 1: Brush Away the Spores Outside Your Home
Grab a soft-bristled brush or a clean dry cloth for brushing away the spores. It’s better if you do it outside your room. I’ll be explaining the reason below. So, don’t forget to check.
Don’t apply any kind of liquid yet. Keep the brush or cloth and dry. You don’t have to try too hard. The rest of the mold will be taken care of later.
Step 2: Make 1:1 Mixture of Vinegar/Rubbing Alcohol and Water
Take a container and fill it up using 1 cup of vinegar or rubbing alcohol. You can use either one.
However, you should keep in mind that vinegar has a distinct smell that you might not like. And depending on the amount of mold, you can even substitute these ingredients with isopropyl alcohol which has a higher concentration.
But unless you really need that, you should stick to vinegar or rubbing alcohol.
Step 3: Use a Rag to Wipe the Boots with the Mixture
Now grab a clean rag and dip it into the solution you made. Wring out the excess liquid and start wiping your UGG boots.
The sheepskin leather is going to soak up most of the liquid. So, don’t forget to soak the rag from time to time.
However, the trickiest part is going to be cleaning the linings. In this case, use a cotton bud. These can reach into those corners and get rid of the mold in no time.
Related: How To Protect UGG Adirondack Boots: A Brief Discussion
Step 4: Dry for 1 Hour and Wipe with Wet Cloth After Brushing
Leave your UGG boots like that for about an hour. The alcohol probably needs less time than that as it dries pretty fast.
After the waiting period is over, brush away any remaining mold. If there are still too many left on the outer surface, repeat the previous steps again.
Anyway, after you’re done with all that, you should soak a clean cloth in warm water. And use it to give the boots a light wash.
The outside is mold-free now. So, let’s move on to the inside.
Step 5: Repeat the Steps with the Inside the Boots
For the insides, it’s better if you use rubbing alcohol. Vinegar can leave a weird smell that you won’t like.
As you already know, the insides of UGG boots are already delicate. So, it’s better if you don’t use harsh chemicals.
Step 6: Sprinkle ½ Cup Baking Soda and Leave Overnight to Dry
After brushing off the mold from the insides, it’s time to take care of that musty smell. The most effective yet affordable option is to use baking soda.
Sprinkle about ½ cup of baking soda inside and leave your UGGs like that overnight or at least 8 hours.
The baking soda is going to soak up any excess liquid along with most of the smell.
Step 7: Vacuum Out the Baking Soda and Start Wearing
The next morning take out the vacuum cleaner and remove all the baking soda inside. You might want to take your time with this one as you don’t want baking soda on your feet. Especially if you don’t wear socks.
Finally, use a disinfectant spray to make your UGG boots smell paradise(yes, it does both).
Things to Consider While Cleaning Mold from UGG Boots
There are a couple of things you need to keep in mind before you jump into the process. These could get lost along the way. That’s why I’m creating a different section for these.
Take Care of Your Boot Storage Containers
Did you use a cardboard box to store the boots? If yes, the first thing you should do is throw away those boxes.
Related: How to Dye UGG Boots? (Fix Faded UGGs in No Time)
Although you can save any fabric storage containers. Simply wash those with warm water and detergent. Finally, dry them in sunlight and they’ll be as good as new.
For plastic containers, the best way to disinfect is using bleach and drying in direct sunlight.
Never Do It Inside
I’m talking about the first step of the process. You should never brush away while you’re inside your house.
Related: How to Clean Black UGGs?(Most Efficient and Gentle Method)
By doing that you’re just helping the mold spores spread around the house. And I guess I don’t go on about how dangerous mold can get, right?
Vinegar Can Leave a Weird Smell
If you already didn’t know, vinegar doesn’t smell that nice. It’s not the worst but it’s not pleasant either.
The alternative is to use rubbing alcohol. It dries off pretty fast and leaves no smell.
However, if you’re still determined about using vinegar, at least spray some tea tree or essential oil/water mix to get rid of the smell.
Related: How to Wash UGG Boots in Washing Machine?
How to Keep Mold off UGG Boots?
Like every other type of prevention, you only need to follow a few things to keep off unwanted mold off your UGG boots. Here are they-
Keep Your UGGs as Dry as Possible
UGGs aren’t the roughest boots and they don’t claim it either. Whenever you get the boots wet, whether it’s from walking in the rain or splashing from the sidewalk, dry them as soon as possible.
Don’t let any moisture get locked inside the boots. Apart from all these, make sure to wear socks with your UGGs. This will ensure the prevention of fungus.
Clean Your UGGs Before Putting Them in the Closet
No matter what you do, you should never put dirty UGGs or any kind of clothing, footwear for that matter.
If you didn’t know, dirt or food debris creates the perfect breeding ground for mold. And once mold sets camp, it spreads faster than you can imagine.
If Possible Switch to Wire Closets
Wooden closets look great but the problem is they don’t let air pass by. The best solution is to install wire closets.
These closets cost much less and they let plenty of air pass by. And of course, maintaining and cleaning are much easier too.
Keep the Humidity Under Control with Extra Help
There are 3 ways you can keep the humidity under control in your closet. Here’s a bit of info on each of them-
Related: How to Shrink UGGs? (5 Effective Methods That Actually Work)
Electric Dehumidifier
Something as compact as the SEAVON Dehumidifier can fit right in your closet. Simply put it in the corner and it’ll suck in all the excess moisture in that room.
It might seem too much but you won’t ever have to worry about mold or mildew while spending not more than 50 bucks.
Dehumidifier Bag
An electric dehumidifier works better but you do have to maintain it from time to time. That’s not a problem with Vacplus Moisture Absorber Packets.
And the best part is you can use these anywhere you like, even in your refrigerator. Just hang it up somewhere and forget about mold.
Silica Gel Packets
Finally, the all-known mold prevention trick. It’s been an effective method for more than many years.
Simply place the silica gel packets all around the closet and that should keep things under control.
FAQs
How often do you clean mold from UGG boots?
You should clean your UGG boots every 3-6 times even if you don’t wear them. Every time the season changes, you should clean out everything in your closet and make sure to check the area for any kind of mold growth. The sooner you take care of mold, the easier it’ll be.
What causes mold on UGG boots?
If there’s excess moisture, it can become a breeding ground for mold. This is why you mostly see mold on damp corners, leaks, or even wet insoles. On top of that, when boots are stored in closets while wet or dirty, it turns into the perfect environment for mold growth. But then again, you never know when you’re bringing in a mold spore from outside. These spores are so tiny that you won’t even know.
Is mold on UGGs dangerous?
Mold can get extremely dangerous if the spores somehow get in your respiratory system. From allergy triggers to asthma attacks, a number of things can happen. While the smell is irritating, what’s worse is, it can result in toenail fungus infection if you’re not taking care of it.
Does vinegar kill molds?
Vinegar having antibacterial and antifungal properties, is effective for killing and preventing mold. However, even after having 4-4.2% acidity levels, it can’t kill every type of mold. This is why it’s better to keep rubbing alcohol as an alternative.
Does baking soda kill mold?
Baking soda alone isn’t that effective when it comes to killing mold. However, it gets far better when you combine it with another cleaning agent such as vinegar. Nevertheless, baking soda is still great for removing the musty odor of mold and mildew.
The Bottom Line
I hope I could help you out with this guide on how to remove mold from UGG boots. As you can tell, the process isn’t that hard. You just need to have some patience with some of the steps.
Anyway, if you have any tips, don’t forget to comment down below.
