How To Clean And Deodorize Smelly Sheepskin Slippers

Fluffy and soft on the inside, looking stylish and durable on the outside, sheepskin slippers always make me feel excited when I get a new pair as a gift. But how can one retain that fluffy inner lining white, clean and odor-free for as long as possible without damaging the leather?

Here, we will give you some great tips to clean smelly sheepskin slippers and deodorize them naturally, so read on!

Causes Of Smelly Slippers

In order to tackle bad-smelling slippers in an effective way, we need to know the causes our footwear gets smelly.

1) Sweaty Feet: When moisture from sweaty feet gets blocked inside the slipper for a period of time, then the bad odor will naturally follow. Keeping the feet dry and clean as well as wearing clean cotton socks can help solve this issue.

2) Poor Ventilation: Closed-toe slippers are obviously less ventilated and more prone to getting smelly than open toe ones. Also, keeping slippers on your feet for long hours especially when they are too warm or they are not made of good quality breathable materials can also create an unpleasant odor. Personally, I like to keep two pairs handy and wear them alternately so I allow each pair enough time to be aired out.

3) Non-Breathable Materials: Quality leather sheepskin is a good breathable material for the upper of the footwear but the materials of the inner lining also play a role in how odor-free the final product is. Generally, synthetic materials are not the best in terms of odor protection, but a lot of products, today, offer anti-bacterial and anti-odor features, so check carefully before you buy. Also, there are some brands that offer replacement linings.

4) Tight Fit: You may have never thought about it but tight slippers can also produce a lot of heat and therefore moisture. Always make sure you get the right size that feels comfortable and is roomy enough.

5) Wearing The Same Pair Of Socks For Days: As the closest ones to your skin, socks are directly affected by poor foot hygiene, body heat or sweating, so changing your socks every day after washing your feet can also protect your slippers from nasty smells.

Freshening Up The Inside

Deodorizing the inside of the slipper is important for keeping it clean and sweet-smelling. Here are some safe and easy methods to get rid of the bad smell.

Baking Soda

As an all-time classic footwear deodorizer, baking soda is effective at absorbing unpleasant odor and drawing out moisture that helps the bacteria to grow.

However, when it comes into contact with sheepskin leather, it can dry it out, so we would recommend against sprinkling it directly into the shoe.

Here is a safer way to use it:

• Put two tablespoons of baking soda into an unused coffee filter and use a rubber band, staples or tape to secure the end and prevent the content from coming out.
• Prepare two of these little packages, one for each shoe, and slide them into the shoe.
• Let them in during the night or for longer if possible.

Dryer Sheets

This is an easy DIY way to fight stinky leather slippers. Just tuck one sheet of a new dryer sheet into each slipper and leave it there overnight to neutralize and get rid of the odor. For a fresh smell, you can use scented sheets instead of unscented ones.

Kitty Litter

It’s surely not the first thing that pops up in your mind when you are thinking about slipper fresheners, but if you think about it, it makes perfect sense. After all, kitty litter is specially designed to neutralize bad smells and absorb liquids.

Spread one or two tablespoons of unused cat litter to each shoe and let it work during the night. In the morning, throw it away and wipe the area with a clean slightly damp cloth to remove any tiny residues.

Lavender Flower Slipper Deodorizer Sachet

Lavender flowers have a concentrated natural smell that is perfect for preventing bad smell or lightly deodorizing footwear. All you have to do is fill up two sachets with lavender flowers and there you have it, a natural homemade slipper deodorizer.

To further enhance the lavender scent and make it last longer, you can add a few drops of lavender essential oil to the flowers. Also, other essential oils that smell great such as citrus oils or woodsy ones such as pine and cedarwood.

Essential Oils

Due to their anti-microbial properties and their lovely concentrated scents, essential oils work great to deodorize and disinfect various surfaces including your shoes.

However, pouring them directly into the inside of the slipper may not be such a good idea because they are oils, so they can stain and damage the leather upper.

Alternatively, you can crumble some absorbent paper or tissue and add some drops of oil to it. Put the tissue into each slipper and leave them there overnight. Some examples of essential oils with deodorant properties are lemongrass, vetiver, lavender, thyme, clove, ylang-ylang and more.

Natural Freshener With Clove Buds

For many people, clove bud brings up memories of delicious smelling Christmas sweets but did you know that it can also be used as a natural deodorant?

Simply wrap 10 clove buds with some tissue and tuck it into the shoe. Leave it in during the night or even more if necessary. For a more uplifting smell, you can also mix the buds with some mandarin peels. Simply amazing!

Tea Bags

If you are looking for one more reason to become a tea fan, the following fact may surprise you: Tea bags are good for absorbing unpleasant smells.

One or two tea bags for each shoe are enough. My favorite herbal and floral tea for deodorizing purposes is mint and lavender.

Hand Cleaning The Upper

While some sheepskin slippers brands allow machine washing on a gentle cycle, most of the brands recommend hand cleaning with a gentle brush and a damp cloth without submerging them into water.

Here are the steps:

• Add some water to a bowl and some castile soap.
• Use a gentle brush to gently scrub the surface with the soapy mixture.
• Wipe down with a clean cloth.
• Let the slippers air-dry overnight and then brush them lightly with a soft brush.
• To remove spots from suede, you can also try the ‘eraser’ trick. Just use a quality white eraser and rub the spot like you are trying to erase it. How cool is that!

When stains are stubborn, a more professional clean may be necessary.

Other Tips To Prevent Stinky Slippers

Here are some more ways to avoid odor buildup:

• Keep your feet clean and dry when wearing slippers. If they tend to sweat, use foot powder and moisture-wicking socks.
• Use an anti-bacterial soap to wash your feet every day and then put on a clean pair of socks.
• Look for good quality breathable slippers that are moisture-wicking and odor-resistant.
• Allow your slippers to air out properly.
• Store them in a well-ventilated area when not in use.

Final Thoughts

Sheepskin slippers are great quality durable slippers that can last you long if you care for them properly. As they cannot, most of the time, be machine washed, it is good to invest a bit of time and effort to keep them clean and nice smelling.