The fleece used to line slippers is taken from the soft coat of a long-haired goat or sheep. A comfortable pair of fleece-lined slippers help keep your feet cozy during the colder winter months. After weeks or months of exposure to your body’s natural oils, sweat and dirt, your fleece-lined slippers can begin to look dingy and smell musty. Instead of machine washing the slippers, which can ruin the fleece, clean and deodorize them by hand.

Create a mixture of 1/2 gallon lukewarm water and 1 tablespoon mild laundry detergent. Stir the mixture to incorporate the soap. “Mild” laundry soap contains no dyes or perfumes.

Dampen the corner of a white washcloth with the soapy water and begin gently cleaning the inside of your fleece-lined slippers. Avoid vigorously rubbing the slippers and instead gently dab at the fabric.

Rinse out the white washcloth. Wring out the cloth until it’s only damp, not soaking wet, and begin dabbing at the fleece lining to remove any soapy residue. Continue until you’ve covered the lining of both slippers. Dab at the damp fleece with a clean, dry washcloth to soak up the excess moisture.

Set the slippers in natural light, away from direct sunlight, and allow them to dry completely. Once dry, sprinkle a light layer of baking soda inside each slipper. Allow the baking soda, which helps draw out any remaining odor, to sit for one hour.

Shake the slippers over a garbage can or outside to remove the baking soda. Use a hand vac or a full-size vacuum cleaner’s hose to suck up any remaining baking soda. Gently brush the fleece lining with a wire brush to restore the nap before wearing.