A Beginner's Guide to Cleaning Your Hiking Boots

As your good hiking boots are designed to protect your feet and bring you comfort, they are reasonable to get dirty. That said, cleaning them routinely can help extend their durability. Following a hike, you should remove the insoles and laces. Next, get rid of dirt deposits using a nylon brush. Wash the shoes with dish detergent and water, and scrub the crannies and nooks using a toothbrush. Try freezing the footwear to eliminate sap or sticky wax. After you are done washing them, you can protect them by applying a conditioning cream and waterproofing compound. Air-dry the boots out of direct sunlight. Note that you should keep them from exposing to heat’s intense sources.

See Page: Best rated hiking boots

Getting rid of stains and dirt

1. Remove your insoles and laces.

Since insoles can gather plenty of moisture, you need to remove them before beginning to clean your pairs of boots. Use baking soda to sprinkle them, which will help make them dry and get rid of odors. Besides, by taking out your laces, you can clean and polish the metal hardware and lace holes with more ease.

2. Eliminate dirt deposits.

Remove the caked dirt from the surfaces of your shoes by using a nylon shoe brush. In a pinch, using damp paper towels to get rid of accumulated grime is possible as well.



3. Use mild dish detergent and water to scrub your boots.

This mixture should be enough to eliminate most stains and grime from your footwear. Scrub using a soft cloth. Rely on a soft-bristled brush to tackle stubborn stains. If the shoes are suede, you should not use firm pressure to avoid any damage to the material.

4. Wipe the soap away from the boots.

After you finish scrubbing, wash the cloth under warm water for the soapy residue to be rinsed out. Or else, use a new wet cloth. Wipe soap off of your boots with that cloth.

5. Throw the shoes in the freezer to get rid of sap.

For gum, wax, sap, or other pesky gunks, place the footwear in a freezer bag before putting it in the freezer. Let it be inside for anything in between 1-2 hours, or until you notice the sticky spot has become hardened. As soon as it is frozen, removing it with a nail file or blunt knife cannot be more comfortable.

Waterproofing and conditioning

1. Waterproof the shoes with a waterproofing compound or wax

After cleaning your best hiking boots of all time, the hide-based boots’ surface pores (nubuck, suede, and leather) will open - meaning they become more receptive to water. For closing and protecting them, we recommend you apply a waterproofing spray that is labeled for their particular material. Alternatively, a wax will be able to waterproof and moisturize your footwear.

2. Apply nubuck, suede, or leather conditioner.

Now that you are done with waterproofing the hide-based shoes, you should apply a conditioner or cream - say, a silicone-based protectant, for the moisture retainment. Use a care item labeled for the particular material of your boots. Apply it to the shoes only after waterproofing, because when you condition them, they should be damp.

3. Use chrome polish to treat hardware.

Hardware - for example, the metal around the lace holes of your backpacking boot, is vulnerable to rust. To remove and avoid rust, you can apply a chrome polish on a cotton swab. Apply and let the polish sit. After that, use a dry cloth to wipe off excess.



Drying the shoes

Go to a well-aired location and air dry them. You can prevent discoloration and cracking by drying them at the spot out of direct sunlight. Also, it is possible to sprinkle baking soda and put crumpled newspaper inside your shoes so that they can be dry and free of odors. Take the place of the newspaper if it gets damp.

Conclusion

Hopefully, the guide above helps you take better care of your Good hiking boots. Remember, only when your shoes are completely dry can you put them away in a box or shoe bag. Storing wet or damp footwear will encourage mold growth.