There’s nothing worse than pulling out your brand new shoes and getting them filthy after their first wear. Christian Dare gives us the best tips to keep our boots looking brand spanking new wear after wear.
Protecting Your Leather Boots
Dirt and Salt
With winter being in full swing, there’s no doubt our sick kicks are going to encounter an unimaginable amount of salt, leaving our shoes with white lines and salt stains. Have no fear; it’s super easy to wash these stains right off. All you need is a mix of equal parts water and white vinegar, a few drops of tea tree oil. Once you’ve got your mix, take a clean cloth and wipe your shoe!
Slush
This hack is super easy. If your boots are wet from slushy walkways, massage a dab of olive oil into damp leather (after testing on an inconspicuous area). This will help keep the leather soft as it dries.
Oily Spots
Cover the spot with baking soda, and then using a makeup sponge or cotton tip, apply 99% rubbing alcohol to the spot. The baking soda will absorb oils, while the alcohol will evaporate quickly to prevent moisture damage.
Tips For Cleaning And Polishing
Use one part white vinegar, two parts linseed oil, and a few drops of tea tree oil. Massage it into the boots to condition the leather. Allow it to sit on the leather for 15 minutes, and then rub the oil into the boots in a circular motion to remove any excess. Repeat as necessary until the leather no longer seems to be absorbing the oil.
Caring For Your Suede
Dirt and Salt
Brush off as much of the dried salt and dirt as you can with the soft-bristled brush. Follow up by spraying a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water onto the bristles of your brush, and then gently scrub the brush against the boots to remove any remaining residues. Wetting the bristles of the brush instead of the shoe itself helps keep the boot from getting too saturated.
Water and Wetness
There’s nothing worse than soggy suede. To dry your boots, take a microfiber towel and blot the boots to remove the moisture. The material will stiffen as it dries, but once it is completely dry, use the soft-bristled brush to soften and loosen the nap. If white salt lines are present when the material dries, you should wet the bristles with the vinegar/water solution described above.
Rejuvenating Your Rubber Boots
Dirt and Salt
Both real and synthetic rubber boots are easy-to-clean and difficult to damage. Soap and water will clean them, but filling a spray bottle with 50/50 white vinegar and water is more convenient. If you spritz the boots when you remove them, it’s easy to wipe off residue and salts with a soft, dry cloth.
Prevent Flaking and Cracking
This tip is super easy; avoid putting your rubber boots in the sun or directly beside the heater to dry.
Removing Rubber Blooming
Over time, the rubber of your boot may look powder-covered. This is a natural phenomenon with real rubber products. It doesn’t mean that they’re getting old, but you can make the boots look shiny-new again by buffing with a boot cleaner, a tablespoon of olive oil in a cloth, or – surprisingly – Armor All wipes that you might have stored in the garage for use on our car.
Fixing Scuff Marks
We’ve all accidentally stubbed our feet on a curb or tripped on a crowded sidewalk while scrolling our social media during our morning commute, leaving our rubber boots scuffed up. Scuffs may not easily wash off with soap and water, but a pencil eraser often does the trick! Gently erase the scuff, and then buff the area clean.
Masking Our Smelly Feet
It’s no secret that our feet sweat and smell in the worst cases. To deodorize your stinky boots, mix one cup of cornstarch, ½ cup of baking soda, and ½ cup of baking powder in a small bowl. Add five drops of essential oil. We recommend lavender and tea tree oil for removing odours. Sprinkle the deodorizing powder into your boots. If you have some leftover, put it in an airtight container and save it for later. Leave this powder for eight hours or overnight. Dump out the powder in the garbage afterward. Vacuum the inside of your boots.
