In the past few decades, leather shoes have become one of the most essential footwear for most people due to their elegant appearance and toughness. However, to keep them new and usable for many years, cleaning leather boots regularly is important. This includes cleaning, conditioning, waterproofing leather treatment, and most importantly, preserving the longevity, fit, softness, and design of your leather footwear.
For this purpose, we have prepared a guide that will teach you how to clean leather boots properly, how to protect them from damage, and how to care for them. These easy-to-follow steps will guide you through the process of leather boot maintenance and also how to deal with dirt and tough stains.
How Often Should You Clean Leather Boots?
Leather boots require regular polishing along with the rest of the shoe maintenance activities. However, excessive cleaning will also make them wear out faster. As a general guideline, after every wear, wipe the boots with a moistened cloth and clean, and condition them once every one to two months. This will help you prevent any build-up of dirt and thereby increase the durability of your boots. This step is highly important for the long-term maintenance of leather boots.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Clean Leather Boots
Some cleaning tips are informative and helpful. Firstly, leather boots can be worn for some years and still look as fashionable as the day of purchase. Therefore, taking good care of them is very important. Here’s a detailed breakdown of cleaning leather boots and maintaining their long-lasting appeal.
1. Remove the Laces
Before we start our guide on how to clean leather boots, it is best that you remove the laces. Removing the laces from the boots allows the soap and water to easily pass out without any build-up. This will provide a better cleaning of the boots.
2. Knock Off Loose Dirt
The second crucial step on how to clean leather boots is to knock off any extra dirt on them. Remove your boots and bang them against each other a few times to remove any excess dirt. After that, grab a piece of dry cloth and clean up as much of the leftover dirt as you can. This helps to avoid situations in which hosing down the leather only smears dirt.
3. Apply Soap and Water
Prepare warm water and saddle soap and mix them. Use a soap that is designed to be used on leather. Soak a fresh cloth in this solution and clean around the boots without rubbing the bottoms. This is useful in cleaning the dirt found on the surface without scratching the leather in the process.
4. Rinse and Dry
The next step on how to clean leather boots is to take another clean damp cloth and clean the soap solution. Remember to wipe thoroughly to avoid any soap remnants. After that allow your boots to dry naturally without heat as such can make the leather brittle.
5. Warm the Leather for Conditioning
After cleaning leather boots, make sure they are truly dried. When the boots are dried, you will have to get them ready for conditioning. Make the leather a bit warm by putting it under the sun for some time or using a hair dryer on the lowest setting. Do not subject the boots to excessive heat, as this will destroy the leather.
6. Condition the Leather
Conditioning happens to be an important process in the maintenance of leather boots. Take a leather conditioner, boot oil, or wax and with a clean cloth evenly rub it in a circular motion into the leather. By doing so the leather boots stay moist and do not crack. Wait for about 15 minutes for the conditioner to dry and remove excess by wiping with a clean cloth.
7. Waterproof Your Boots
After cleaning leather boots, you should waterproof them for extra protection. Depending on your preference, you can select from beeswax, liquid wax, or silicone spray. While beeswax works well with full-grain leather boots and gives durable protection, silicone sprays are quick to apply, but the protection is short-lived. This is even more important when you intend to wear the boots in wet or muddy conditions.
8. Polish and Shine
After cleaning and conditioning, you’ll want to polish your boots to bring back their elegant appearance. Take a clean cloth and dab a little bit of boot polish on it and then lightly smear it across the surface of the boots. Finally, to bring out the gloss on the boots, buff them up using a soft brush or cloth.
How to Remove Tough Stains from Leather Boots
Stains on leather boots can be frustrating but manageable with the right approach. Here are some tips on cleaning leather boots when dealing with stubborn marks:
Water Stains
If you want clean water stains from the boot surface, use a wet cloth to dab the stains starting in the middle. In other situations, where the stains are caked in, a mixture of dish soap and water would be ideal to deal with the watermarks.
Grease and Oil Stains
To attempt cleaning a grease, or oil stain, first cover the affected area with a dry cloth to soak up the oil. After which, cover the stain with cornstarch or baking powder for about 20 minutes and it should absorb the oil. After that, the powder can be brushed away and if there are still any remains then repeat the process.
Ink Stains
To get rid of an ink stain or spot take a clean cotton swab and dip it in a liquid such as rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover and then gently blot the ink stain. Try not to rub at the stain otherwise the ink will spread. Gently wipe the area with a damp cotton. After the stain has been cleaned, pat dry with a fresh towel.
Scuff Marks
Scuff marks can be cleaned using a simple mixture of water and baking soda in a paste-like consistency. Use a soft toothbrush to reach the area for light scrubbing, followed by a cloth rubbing around the area. Finally, do not forget to use a wet cloth to clean the paste off the shoe to leave it looking free from scuff marks.
Salt Stains
A common problem of discoloration in fabric shoes is salt stains which can be treated using a liquid solution. This solution is made from equal parts of water and white vinegar. Apply the liquid to the affected area and allow it to soak before cleaning with a towelette dampened with plain water. Keep repeating this method until you can remove the salt stain completely.
Why Leather Boot Maintenance Is Important?
Leather boots require care not only to look good but also to ensure that they last longer. For instance, regular cleaning of leather boots helps avoid dirt and grime that may wear out the leather while conditioning the leather prevents it from drying and cracking. Moreover, waterproofing your boots protects them boots from excessive moisture which may cause permanent damage.
Failure to maintain the leather boots can have adverse effects such as cracked skin, color change, or even a bad smell emanating from the cadaver. If you follow a good care system, your boots will always look great and remain comfortable for several years.
Wrapping it Up!
Leather boots can be kept in the best shape possible through care and maintenance practices carried out regularly. If you follow this guide, the boots will likely be clean, conditioned, and polished for several years. Of course, maintaining their look and quality does not take much work.
And now that you have all the tips and tricks on how to clean leather boots and how to maintain them, isn’t it time to update your styling? Take a look at Barismil where durable and fashionable oriented footwear is available. Whether you want stylish or durable shoes, Barismil has the right shoes for you!
FAQ-All your Questions on How to Clean Leather Boots
How to care for leather boots?
To maintain leather boots, it is advisable to clean them regularly. Using saddle soap, apply a conditioner on the leather for softness and also waterproof them for protection against water. In addition, applying polish to your boots will keep them looking neat.
How do I waterproof leather boots?
Make leather boots water-resistant by using beeswax, liquid wax, or silicone spray. Before spraying the leather with the waterproofing agent, make sure the boots are free from dirt and moisture, and give time for the waterproofing agent to soak into the leather completely.
Are leather boots waterproof?
Yes, a pair of leather boots provide natural resistance against moisture, but they are not capable of keeping water out completely. To seal the boots completely so that no water can enter, one has to use beeswax or a silicone waterproofing agent.
How to condition leather boots?
It is important to use a clean piece of cloth and coat the leather with a good-grade leather conditioner. Using circular movements, work the conditioner into the leather and allow it to sit and permeate for about 15 minutes. After this excess material can be and should be buffed off.
How to shine leather boots?
Polishing leather boots is easy. Take a clean cloth and moisten it with a modest amount of boot polish. Apply the boot polish on the leather and rub it in. Finally, use a soft cloth or a brush and rub off the dullness to bring the shine on the polished boots.