Care instructions for Haflinger shoes

A shoe for many years

Haflinger shoes are made from high-quality natural materials and designed for durability. Whether wool felt, boiled wool, leather, or sheepskin – each material brings natural properties that make the shoe especially robust, breathable, and comfortable to wear.

Many materials partially clean themselves due to their natural structure and are therefore particularly easy to care for. With the right care, your Haflinger shoes will remain beautiful and comfortable for a long time.

Care for boiled wool & wool felt

Our boiled wools and wool felts are made from high-quality virgin wool and impress with their natural properties.

Advantages of wool felt & boiled wool:

  • breathable
  • temperature-regulating
  • dirt-repellent
  • odor-neutralizing
  • Durable and robust

Due to the special surface structure, dirt often does not penetrate deeply into the fibers. Additionally, the wool fibers partially clean themselves through movement and release moisture and odors back into the environment.

Cleaning boiled wool & wool felt

Light dirt can easily be removed with a soft brush or a slightly damp cloth.

Washable at 30 °C

Some Haflinger slippers, such as the Karl model or the Alaska model made of pure boiled wool, like models without a solid sole or footbed, can be gently washed at 30 °C – unless otherwise specified. 

Important:

Not suitable for washing machines:

  • Shoes with cork footbed
  • Models with solid rubber sole
  • Shoes with leather parts
  • Sheepskin shoes
  • Felt slippers with latex or rubber sole

These models should only be cleaned by hand with a damp cloth or sponge. In our blog, you will find more information on cleaning and care for felt slippers and wool felt.

Do not use fabric softener

Please avoid fabric softeners or similar additives. These can impair the natural properties of the virgin wool and damage the fibers.

Do not tumble dry

Haflinger shoes should never be dried in a tumble dryer.

Our recommendation:

  • let shoes air dry
  • do not place on radiators
  • avoid direct sunlight
  • stuff with newspaper to dry

This helps the shoes retain their shape and keeps the natural materials soft and comfortable for a long time.

Care for sheepskin

Sheepskin impresses with its natural warmth, breathability, and especially soft comfort.

Advantages of sheepskin:

  • temperature-regulating
  • breathable
  • odor-neutralizing
  • skin-friendly
  • moisture-regulating

Sheepskin has natural self-cleaning properties and usually requires little care.

Cleaning sheepskin

For regular care, often the following is sufficient:

  • thorough airing
  • gentle brushing out
  • Cleaning with a dry or slightly damp cloth

The lining can be gently cleaned with a soft brush or a vacuum cleaner nozzle.

Important:

  • no machine washing
  • no aggressive cleaning agents
  • no hot water
  • do not dry in direct sunlight

This keeps the sheepskin soft and supple.

Care for suede leather (velour & nubuck leather)

Velour and nubuck leather have a soft, open-pored surface and therefore require a bit more care than smooth leather.

Cleaning suede leather

Remove coarse dirt best with:

  • a fine brush
  • a special suede brush
  • a dry cleaning cloth

Suede leather should preferably not be cleaned wet.

Regularly roughen up suede leather

Frequent wearing can cause the fine fibers of the leather to compact. This leads to so-called "greasing."

With special suede brushes, the surface can be gently roughened again.

Impregnation & leather care

Suede leather should be impregnated regularly to protect it from moisture and dirt.

Please note:
Each leather has individual care needs. For optimal care, we recommend suitable care products for suede or nubuck leather.

Care of smooth leather

Smooth leather is particularly durable and easy to care for. At the same time, the natural leather surface provides high comfort and long-lasting quality.

Cleaning smooth leather

Remove coarse dirt best with:

  • A soft brush
  • A slightly damp cloth
  • Mild leather care products

Please ensure the leather is not soaked too much.

Regularly care for leather

To keep smooth leather soft and supple, we recommend regular care with suitable leather care products.

Additionally, impregnation protects against moisture and dirt.

Care of cork insoles

Many Haflinger shoes feature an anatomical cork-latex insole. This provides ergonomic comfort and natural support for the feet.

Care instructions for cork insoles:

  • Air out regularly
  • Protect from prolonged moisture
  • Clean only lightly damp
  • Do not use aggressive cleaning agents

Removable insoles should be aired separately on a regular basis.

General care tips for Haflinger shoes

To keep your Haflinger shoes beautiful and comfortable for a long time, we recommend:

✔ Regularly air out shoes
✔ Avoid moisture as much as possible
✔ Clean natural materials gently
✔ Never dry shoes in the dryer
✔ Avoid direct heat and strong sunlight
✔ Use suitable care products for leather

With the right care, your Haflinger shoes will remain a cozy and reliable companion in everyday life for many years.