MAKE YOUR BOOTS LAST FOR YEARS
Show them some love now and then, and your boots will last longer than you ever thought they could.
THINK BOOT CLEANING sounds like a chore? Not a bit of it. View it the right way, and it can be a total joy. A frothy coffee or glass of Prosecco, a bit of time in the garden, yard or local park, and the feeling you’re doing something that is absolutely, positively wholesome. The occasional deep-clean and re-proofing will make your boots look nicer, work better and last longer, and saves you money as you won’t need a new pair every time they start to let water in.
Here, then, is the simplest way we know of. Cut out this page and pin it wherever you do your cleaning, and you’ll soon feel less like you’re doing a chore, and more like you’re caring for a treasured friend. And that’s why you should bring the frothy coffee.
PRE-WASH 1
If they’ve got really muddy, you can do half the cleaning job before you finish the walk. Splash them gently in a puddle or stream, wipe them in some long grass, and (when you’ve got them off) whack ’em together a few times and enjoy the muddy explosion that results.
STRIP AND CHIP 2
At home, prepare wine/gin/ lemonade/latte. Remove laces and insoles. Use an old knife (or even better, that vintage contraption the letter opener if you can get one) to prise chunks of mud out of the outsole. This can be oddly satisfying, especially with a beverage.
BRING THE RAIN 3
Wet the boot all over with a wet sponge or garden hose (not a pressure washer – that actually will damage them). Scrub all over with a soft-bristle brush, and rinse again. Go back in with the knife/letter opener for really stubborn bits. Repeat steps until clean.
SWILL 4
This step isn’t always necessary (and it requires a bit more drying-out time), but it’s a good way to revive the membrane, combat odours and provide a really deep clean. Half-fill the interior with warm tap water, swill it round carefully, then tip out.
CLEAN AND REPROOF 5
Apply cleaning and proofing products (gel, spray or wax depending on the material of the boot – Nikwax make cleaning and proofing products for every fabric) to shift ingrained dirt and restore the waterproofing. Afterwards, buff and dry with a cloth.
LEAVE TO DRY 6
Stuff them with newspaper and allow to dry in a warm area. Don’t put them by a radiator as its intense heat can damage the boot. Or try the remarkable Them-ic Dryer (£40, ellis-brigham.com) which stands in both boots and gently warms them without harming the materials.