A Foresters Best Tool- Cleaning Your Logging Boots, by NativeHabitatProject on YouTube. 1 min.
- Video length
- 1 min
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Knock the worst of the mud off while the boots are still dry. Bang the soles together or tap them against a rock so the cakes crack and fall away.
Rinse the boots with cool water from a hose or bucket. Skip the pressure washer, which pushes water into seams and past the waterproof membrane.
Scrub the uppers with a stiff brush and a little mild soap. Work from the top of the boot down toward the sole so dirt does not run back over clean leather.
Dig the mud out of the welt and around the eyelets with an old toothbrush. Rinse the brush often and keep the water clean.
Rinse the soap off with cool water and wipe the boots with a rag. Soap left to dry dulls leather and stiffens fabric.
Pull out the laces and insoles and wash them separately in warm soapy water. Let them air dry flat.
Stuff the boots with crumpled newspaper and set them in a shaded, airy spot at room temperature. Change the paper after a few hours if it gets soaked.
Once the leather is dry, rub in a leather conditioner or wax to restore suppleness and water repellency. Fabric boots can take a spray-on proofer instead.
Tips and common mistakes
Never dry boots on a radiator, over a fire or in direct sun, because heat cracks leather and shrinks soles.
Let mud dry before brushing it off, since wet mud just smears deeper into the grain.
Never machine wash or tumble dry hiking boots, as the drum breaks down the glue and the structure.
Store boots clean and fully dry, and loosen the laces so air can move through the collar.
Questions
Can I put muddy hiking boots in the washing machine?
No. The drum and detergent break down the adhesives, leather and waterproof lining. Hand scrub with a brush and cool water instead.
How long do wet boots take to dry?
Usually 12 to 24 hours at room temperature with newspaper stuffed inside. Change the paper once or twice to speed it up.
How do I get rid of smell inside the boots?
Wash the insoles, let them dry fully, and sprinkle a little baking soda inside overnight. Replace worn insoles rather than masking the smell.
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.
