UGG boots are a popular and comfortable choice of sheepskin footwear originating from Australia. UGG boots can easily get dirty and aren’t immune to common shoe nuisances like any other footwear. A person interested in buying a pair of UGG boots might ask, can UGG boots get fleas?
UGG boots can get infected with fleas. To prevent fleas from infesting your UGG boots, you need to know how to clean them properly. On top of this, it’s essential to know ahead of time how you can avoid contact with fleas altogether.
This article will explain how you can nip this problem in the bud. With the correct cleaning methods and preparations in mind, you’ll be able to prevent fleas from settling into your UGG boots.
UGG Women's Adirondack Boot III Boot
One of the most common ways for fleas to latch onto us is through our pets. If you frequently walk your dog in fields with long grasses, fleas can cling to their fur and will inevitably end up in your house.
Go Pests warns that watching your pets for fleas is crucial to prevent them from infesting your clothing or shoes. When a dog or cat gets infested with fleas and comes into contact with its owner, the fleas can jump onto us in turn.
Another cause of fleas getting into your shoes is hiking. You’re likely to be exposed to fleas and other invasive pests during long walks. When you come home after a hiking adventure, it’s crucial to check your clothing and shoes for signs of fleas.
Something else to watch out for is unwashed clothing. If a flea can’t get to your skin to feed, it can still lay eggs on your clothing or in your shoes. Since both fleas and their eggs are so tiny, you might not be able to realize at first glance that your clothing is infested.
While this might be daunting, there are still a few easy ways to prevent fleas from contaminating your boots.
One of the best ways to prevent fleas from getting into regular clothing and shoes is to wash your items in the hottest water possible. This will kill off any fleas or eggs that you might’ve encountered while outside.
However, something to keep in mind for UGG boots is that UGGs and hot water don’t mix well. The UGG company site advises owners not to use hot water because it shrinks the boots.
Instead, use cold water as recommended by The Spruce’s article on UGG maintenance. You can use a disinfectant like Lysol for the inside of your boots. However, avoid bleach because the chemical will ruin your boots.
By using a disinfectant like Lysol, you’ll be able to kill off any lurking fleas or eggs hiding in your boots. Just remember to be careful not to apply too much disinfectant solution, or you could ruin your boots.
Besides cleaning, another reliable method for preventing fleas is checking your pets to see if they’re infested. The CDC suggests limiting your pet’s contact with both the outdoors and other animals as an essential means of prevention. Since stray animals especially can carry fleas, you must monitor your pet’s interactions.
Now that we’ve covered these prevention methods, let’s take a deeper look at how to clean your UGG boots for preventive purposes.
Koolaburra by UGG Women's Victoria Tall Fashion Boot
Since UGG boots are made from sheepskin and wool, you need to be careful with how you clean them. The last thing you want to happen is accidentally ruining your boots through improper cleaning methods.
UGG Express provides a handy list of the best, safest ways for cleaning your boots. They stress the importance of avoiding the washing machine when cleaning UGG boots. This is because the water is likely to stain the outer lining of the shoes.
On top of this, as stated before, never use harsh chemicals to clean your UGG boots. While it’s understandable to want to rely on heavy-duty options like bleach, these will ruin your boots and you’ll have to buy new ones.
This chemical “no-nos” list includes peroxide, which can easily stain your boots. Your best bet is to use the lightest amount of disinfectant possible, such as Lysol wipes, to purge your boots of pests.
When it comes to drying out your UGG boots after cleaning, your safest bet is to dry them in the sunlight. While this process won’t be as fast as other methods, it will save your boots from potential shrinkage.
For this reason, always avoid putting your UGG boots in the dryer. Although it would likely kill off any lurking fleas or eggs, the heat of the dryer would damage your boots beyond repair.
UGG Women's Adirondack Boot III Boot
Tea tree oil can also prevent fleas from infesting your boots when used in safe moderation.
Optiderma explains the benefits of tea tree oil as a protective barrier against fleas. Tea tree oil contains the natural compound carvacrol, which can be deadly to fleas on contact.
If you choose to use tea tree oil, be careful to dilute it properly. Like any other essential oil, you should never use tea tree oil directly on your skin or boots. Always dilute tea tree oil with water before usage.
Additionally, if you decide to use tea tree oil, never let your pets come into contact with it. While tea tree oil is safe for humans, it can make your pets sick.
Remember, the trick is to first minimize any potential contact with fleas. If you suspect that your pet will come into contact with the pests or is already infested, taking measures to protect them will also protect you.
If your boots have become infested, you can save them through localized treatment. So long as you avoid dousing your boots with harsh chemicals like bleach and peroxide, you'll be able to save your UGG boots from fleas.
