We hope you are enjoying your shoes and you already had a chance to take them out into the wild. After coming back, you probably noticed that your boots were quite dirty, and we hope you didn't forget to clean them.
Cleaning can sometimes be quite a tedious task, but it is one of the most important ones.
Knowing how to properly clean your hiking boots is one of the most important things you can do. Your shoes don't just look better, but also they will automatically last longer.
If you neglect your boot cleaning duties, your boots can go moldy. As mud dries on your boots, it draws moisture out of the leather. Therefore, they are more likely to split or crack.
What's more, with every bend of your boots, tiny dirt particles can slowly get deeper into the fabric or leather. Over time these particles slowly wear away and damage your boots.
With weakened fabric and cracked creases, your boots will not last as long as they should.
So all things considered, how should you clean your boots?
First of all, just after you take your boots off, remove the laces completely, get your hand inside the boots and bash them together to knock off most of the loose dirt and mud.
Next, use your brush to scrub off the excess dirt and take out harder material from between the threads.
When all of the most easily accessible dirt is taken off, use your brush to scrub the boot with warm water and mild soap. Make sure you get right into the tongue too.
What's more, you can also use special gels that will help you out when cleaning your shoes. Check some of them out below.
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Gear Aid Revivex Suede and Fabric Boot Care Kit |
Nikwax Footwear Cleaning Gel |
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Lastly, rinse your boots in clean water, ideally under the tap, and afterward, grab an old rag and wipe off as much moisture as possible.
Now that you have a clean pair of boots, this is a great time to reapply a water repellant treatment.
We have some great products below, just make sure you are getting the right one for the materials of your shoes. Be sure to check the instructions for applying the treatment you chose as some work better when applied to wet shoes.
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Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather Liquid |
Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather |
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