You get a new pair of UGG boots. You wear it for a few years. One day you wake up and notice that the boots aren’t fitting that well anymore. And you were quite sure about whether UGGs run big or small.
Even though it’s not that common, it most certainly happens to some people. Some people look for how they can stretch UGGs while others look for shrinking techniques. Nonetheless, I made this elaborative guide on how to shrink UGGs.
I’ve mentioned 5 tried and true methods of how you can shrink your favorite pair of boots to their original glory.
On top of that, there’s a different section on what things you need to keep in mind when shrinking these boots.
So, without further ado, let’s get to the action-
How to Shrink UGGs: 5 Proven Methods
The first 2 methods I’ll be explaining are the ones I’d recommend before you try out any of the other methods. These methods will cost you some money but there’s no risk involved.
The other methods don’t have risks either. However, they do require you to do some things to your precious UGG boots. So, here goes nothing-
Method 1: Get Sheepskin Insoles
You ever thought it could be as easy as getting some new insoles? Well, not every insole won’t work. If this was any other boot, you could’ve gotten the normal ones.
But in this case, the only insoles that are going to work are sheepskin insoles. Although it doesn’t involve any kind of shrinking or whatsoever.
If you can solve your problem with a pair of sheepskin insoles, then there’s no need to go all the way.
Sheepskin insoles have plenty of cushions that are automatically going to fill up plenty of space. Here are some of your options-
ABUSA Sheepskin Insoles
The ABUSA Sheepskin Insoles have genuine wool, not the fake chemical cilia. The cushion is great. Most importantly, both men and women can get it. If it were up to me, these insoles would’ve made it to the top of the list.
UGG Women’s Sheepskin Insoles
You can already guess from the name that it’s only for women. But if you’re a woman, lucky for you. You’re getting original UGG Women’s Sheepskin Insoles. You already know how awesome UGG boots are. So, you don’t have to worry about the quality.
WARMORE Australian Sheepskin Insoles
When it comes to these custom insoles, getting the right size can be quite hard sometimes. Well, the WARMORE Australian Sheepskin Insoles make that problem go away. Apart from impressive quality, all the sizes are available.
You Can Also Get a Heel Grip Too
The insoles alone might do the trick but it doesn’t hurt to try. The Space Lion Heel Grip was made for people who’ve bought a size bigger shoe. But as your UGG boots are already pretty stretched out, it can work just as well.
Method 2: Wear Thick Wool Socks
Whether it’s breaking in a new pair of boots or fitting in them, thick wool socks are always there to save the day.
Normal socks would work too. But you’d have to wear two of them. As a matter of fact, I was going to suggest wearing two wool socks. So, I’m not quite sure how normal socks would’ve compared in this situation.
Method 3: Apply Vinegar Inside
This is a tried and true method for regular leather boots. But the process is a bit different for UGG boots. As these are pretty sensitive to water stains, you need to be extra careful.
But don’t worry, the process I’m not going to show couldn’t get any easier. Here it is-
Step 1: Find Some Old Socks
It’s better if you get old socks. Trust me on this, after what you’re about to do, you are not going to want to wear those socks. So, it’s going to hurt more if you choose new socks.
Step 2: Make a Mixture of Water and Vinegar(1:1)
I can’t stress this enough. But DO NOT use the vinegar directly. You might think a stronger solution is going to work better.
But it won’t.
So, make a mixture using equal amounts of water and vinegar. And make sure it’s a clean bowl.
Step 3: Soak the Socks in the Vinegar Mixture for 5 Minutes
I know I said 5 minutes but give it more time if necessary. You want the socks to be fully soaked.
Step 4: Remove the Socks Without Wringing
Don’t wring the socks. It’s totally okay if there is some excess liquid in it. After some of the liquid drops off, you can proceed to the next step.
Step 5: Put the Socks Inside the Boots for a Few Hours
You want to spread the socks inside the boots. As soon as you put it inside, most of your work is done. Now, leave the boots like that for 1 or 2 hours.
Step 6: Remove the Socks and Let the Boots Dry
Once the waiting period is over, let the boots dry in a well-ventilated area. But, don’t leave them under direct sunlight. That can do some pretty bad damage.
Related: How To Protect UGG Adirondack Boots: A Brief Discussion
Method 4: The Hot Water and Socks
This method is pretty much the same as the previous one. The only difference is you won’t be using any vinegar. And it tends to work better too. Everyone knows that hot water shrinks wool.
Instead of vinegar, boil up some hot water and soak your socks in it. After the socks are nice and warm, leave them inside the boots like before.
After 1-2 hours, the fibers in the boots should be a bit loosened up. You want to wear the boots for some time now.
Let the boots take the shape of your feet. After that, they should shrink to some extent. If you want to shrink more, repeat it after a couple of weeks, not before.
Method 5: The Hairdryer
Finally, the infamous hairdryer method. Well, it’s a bit different. So, before you say heat damages UGG boots, take a look at the process-
Step 1: Fill up Hot Water in a Spray Bottle
It’s not completely necessary that you use a spray bottle. It just lets you pinpoint better. The hot water also spreads evenly.
But then again, you can always use an old rag or a sponge to get the job done.
Step 2: Start Spraying Your Boots
Let the spraying begin. Now, don’t be afraid. You can go all out with the spraying. When the boots are soggy enough, you can stop.
However, make sure you are spraying 5-6 inches away from the boots.
Step 3: Blow Dry the Boots on Low Speed
You might get tempted to use the higher settings. But unless you want to ruin the outer surface of the boots, avoid it. Too much for too long can damage leather boots.
Instead, keep the hairdryer on low speed and like before, maintain a distance of 6 inches.
Although, when you’re starting to blow dry, remember that the parts you’ll dry first are going to shrink the most. So, target the most important areas first.
Step 4: Check If the Fit is Alright
Now, it’s time to check whether the experiment has worked or not.
Don’t get disheartened if it didn’t work that well. The progress might be slow at first. And you can always repeat the steps to shrink it even more.
Things to Keep in Mind When Shrinking UGG Boots
It’s hardly unlikely that everyone has experience with shrinking boots. So, people tend to make mistakes.
There are other methods of shrinking boots. Meaning, there are plenty of other mistakes too. However, I’ll only be sticking to UGG boots-
Be Careful When Applying Heat
Sure, UGG boots feel like you have heaven under your feet. But these boots are also pretty sensitive to heat. As you’ve seen, a few of the methods require you to use heat.
And it can be tempting. But never do it.
Although if you want to shrink a particular area more, you can use the hairdryer on medium heat. But remember to wet the area first.
Never Submerge UGG Boots in Water or Any Liquid
I never get why people suggest submerging boots in water. I mean it might work for oiled leather. Even then you might get mold in your UGGs. But that’s a worst-case scenario. However, you cannot deny that your UGGs will smell bad.
But for UGG boots, you can forget about it. Unless that’s the only way out, you shouldn’t wash your UGGs in the washing machine.
If you somehow keep them submerged for too long, the leather can get destroyed. What’s worse is people even mix rubbing alcohol in the mixture, which is known to dry out leather.
Make Sure to Dilute the Vinegar
People think that using vinegar directly is going to work better. Well, they couldn’t have been any more wrong.
Doing that will destroy the leather. After all, even though raw vinegar is diluted it’s still too strong for your sheepskin UGG boots.
DO NOT Apply Leather Conditioner
If it was a pair of Doc Martens, this would’ve made sense. But NEVER apply leather conditioner on your UGG boots. There are products made specifically for this purpose, use those.
Related: Mink Oil Ruined My Boots: Here’s How to Fix It Using 2 Surefire Methods
The Bottom Line
I hope now you’re all cleared out on how to shrink UGGs. I know how a lot of people feel about a few of these methods, that’s why I kept all the options for you.
Before you try it out, think about what method suits you better. And if you’ve found any other methods, don’t forget to leave a comment below.
