STOP Ruining Your Boots With Saddle Soap | How to Clean and Condition Leather Boots The Right Way!, by EDC Vibes on YouTube. 8 min 6 s.
- Video length
- 8 min 6 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Brush off dry mud and dirt with a stiff brush. Work around the welt, seams and eyelets, and knock heavy clumps off outside first.
Wipe the boots with a clean cloth dampened with water. This lifts remaining grit so you do not grind it into the leather.
Dip a damp brush into a small amount of saddle soap and work up a light lather. Use a thin coat, not a large dollop.
Scrub one section at a time in small circles. Keep the lather moving and do not let it dry on the leather.
Wipe off all the saddle soap with a clean damp cloth. Rinse the cloth and repeat until the leather feels clean, not soapy.
Stuff the boots with newspaper or boot trees and let them air dry. Keep them away from radiators, fires and direct sun.
Apply a thin coat of leather conditioner with a clean cloth. Let it soak in for 10 to 20 minutes.
Buff off any excess conditioner with a dry cloth. Add another thin coat if the leather still looks dry.
Finish with a waterproofing spray or wax made for leather if your boots need it. Test it on a hidden area first.
Tips and common mistakes
Saddle soap is a cleaner, not a conditioner, so always rinse it off completely.
Do not soak leather boots or dry them near heat, because wet leather can crack and shrink.
Skip saddle soap on suede, nubuck and synthetic fabrics; use products made for those materials.
Clean mud off soon after a hike so it does not pull moisture out of the leather.
Questions
Can I use saddle soap on hiking boots?
Yes, on smooth full-grain leather. Do not use it on suede, nubuck or fabric panels.
How often should I clean and condition leather boots?
Clean them after muddy or wet walks. Condition every few months, or sooner if the leather looks dry.
Do I have to rinse off saddle soap?
Yes. Leftover saddle soap can dry out the leather over time, so wipe it away with a clean damp cloth.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
