Maintain Waterproof Leather Boots

Proper maintenance can extend the life of your leather boots and improve their performance and comfort. Frequent cleaning is important, especially for hiking boots, and occasional conditioning prevents your boots from drying out and cracking. You should also reapply waterproofing to your boots once you start suspecting the initial manufacturer's coating has worn off.

Steps

Cleaning Your Boots

1. Remove the insoles. Many insoles can be machine-washed, but you should check the manufacturer’s instructions before attempting to do so.
2. Remove the shoelaces. This step may not be necessary for a quick scrubbing, but removing the laces allows you to perform a more thorough cleaning on the surface of the boot.
3. Brush away dust and dirt using an old vegetable brush or toothbrush. Be gentle, but firm. You do not need to remove all the dirt, but you should strive to remove any large clumps.
4. Mix water and a specialized boot cleaner in a bowl. Alternatively, you may also use a mild dishwashing soap. Avoid bar soaps or detergents, however, since they often contain surfactants that can dry your leather out or brighteners that may leave residues.
5. Dip the brush into the cleaning solution. Tap it on the side of the bowl to remove excess water.
6. Gently scrub away all the dirt and debris from the outside of your boots. Keep scrubbing until you have removed nearly all grime other than mold.
7. Mix four parts water and one part vinegar if you spot mold on your boots. This solution can be abrasive, so you should only use it for instances of mold and not for general cleaning.
8. Dip your brush into the vinegar solution. Tap the brush on the side of the bowl to remove excess solution.
9. Gently scrub away the mold. If the mold does not scrape off after the first cleansing, re-soak your brush, and scrub again.
10. Fill a shallow pan with an inch or so of water. The water level should be just high enough to cover the soles of your boots.
11. Set your boots in the water. Let them soak several hours to loosen caked on mud. Do not let the upper portion of the boot sit in the water, since doing so could damage the leather.
12. Remove the boots from the pan and blast a steady, strong stream of water at the remaining sludge. Use a hose or hose faucet extension.
13. Rinse your boots to remove any remaining soap residue. Many soaps, detergents, and cleansers are hydrophilic and could cause long-term damage to your boots if allowed to sit. Use a gentle stream of water from a hose or faucet.

Drying Your Boots

1. Remove insoles, if you did not do so during cleaning. Insoles should be allowed to dry separately from the boot to prevent the growth of mold, bacteria, or other damage.
2. Set your boots out, upside down, on a counter or on the floor. Allow them to air dry at room temperature. Do not place them near a radiator, on a sunny windowsill, or in the path of some other heat source as doing so weakens the adhesives used in footwear and turns the leather brittle.
3. Place the boots in the path of a fan to speed dry. The tongue should be propped open, and the fan should still blow room temperature air on the boots.
4. Alternatively, stuff one or two sheets of newspaper into each boot. Newspaper helps absorb the moisture, drying your boots faster.
5. Change the newsprint every hour. After an hour, the paper may have absorbed too much moisture to remain effective.

Conditioning Your Boots

1. Obtain a bottle of leather conditioner. If your boots are made of Nubuck or other specialty leathers, look for a product specifically designed for that type of leather. If you have logging or industrial leather boots, mink oil may also work, but be wary about using it on standard hiking boots. Mink oil may over-soften the dry-tanned leather used for many hiking boots.
2. Pour a small amount of conditioner onto a soft cloth or rag. The rag should be thoroughly moist, but not dripping wet.
3. Rub the conditioner onto the boot using the rag. Make sure you rub the conditioner into the seams, and the surface.
4. Allow the boots to air-dry at room temperature for several minutes.
5. Use a clean, soft rag to wipe off excess conditioner. Do not allow the conditioner to sit on the boots for too long, since too much of it can cause the boots to become too soft.
6. Polish your boots with the same rag you used to wipe off the excess conditioner. Buff the boots using long circular strokes.

Waterproofing Your Boots

1. Select a water-based waterproofing product. Water-based products are good for most leathers and other mixed materials. Oil-based products are only intended for full-grain leather. They may darken and over-soften the leather, especially if used on standard hiking boots.
2. Clean your boots, but do not dry them. Your boots should be slightly damp when you apply a water-based proofing product. Dampness helps the product seep deeper into the leather's fibers.
3. Apply your waterproofing product. The method of application may vary depending on the type of waterproofing you purchase.
4. If you have a pump, pump a liberal amount of product onto a clean, soft cloth.
5. Wipe the waterproofing product over the leather using the cloth. Pay special attention to the seams and joints, since water tends to leak in at these areas most frequently.
6. If you have a spray, thoroughly spray the boot with your waterproofing product. Cover the entire exterior of the boot and pay special attention to the seams.
7. If you have a sponge-on container, uncap the product and rub the sponge over the entire boot. You may have to squeeze the bottle as you rub to get the product out of the container. Apply liberally to the entire surface and all the seams.
8. Do not cover the rubber sole of your boot. These waterproofing products are not intended for rubber.
9. Use a clean, soft cloth to remove excess conditioner. Usually, there will not be much to remove at this point.
10. Let your boots air dry at room temperature for a few minutes. This allows the product more time to seep into the fibers.

Tips

• Know what type of leather your boots are made of. There can be a big difference between full-grain leather, split leather, nubuck leather, suede, and other types. Look for products specifically designed for your type of leather.
• Specialized leather products work better than standard soaps and oils.

Things You’ll Need

• Vegetable brush or toothbrush
• Water
• Mild dishwashing soap
• Leather cleanser
• Vinegar
• Bowl
• Shallow pan
• Soft cloth
• Fan
• Newspaper
• Conditioner
• Waterproofing product

Related Articles

• Protect Winter Boots
• Clean Timberland Boots
• Maintain Faux Leather
• Clean Leather Boots

Sources and Citations

• http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/caring+hiking+boots.html
• http://www.devonbuy.com/protecting-and-waterproofing-leather-products/
• http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infworkclothes/infbootcare.html
• http://www.fogdog.com/fog-how-to-care-for-waterproof-leather-boots--bg-2715350.html

See also

• Remove Dye from Suede Shoes
• Clean Flats
• Scuff Up New Shoes
• Clean Wrestling Shoes
• Scuff Up Boots
• Re‐Ice Shoe Soles
• Clean Muddy Shoes
• Clean Hiking Boots
• Clean Shoe Insoles
• Clean White Converse

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