Everyone Does It Wrong! - How to Clean Red Wings, Thorogood, Thursday Boots, by Rose Anvil on YouTube. 9 min 23 s.
- Video length
- 9 min 23 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Knock off dried mud and loose dirt with a stiff dry brush. A cheap dish scrubber from the dollar store works well and costs almost nothing.
Work an old toothbrush into the stitching, welt and other tight spots the big brush cannot reach. Keep the brush dry for this first pass.
Load a brush with saddle soap and scrub the wedge sole. Use white saddle soap on light or white soles so you do not stain them.
Scrub the leather upper with saddle soap and a soft brush, working in small circles over the whole boot. Do not soak the leather.
Wipe the soap off with a clean damp cloth before it dries. Rinse the cloth and repeat until no more suds come away.
Let the boots air dry at room temperature, away from radiators, heaters and direct sun. Stuff them with newspaper to hold their shape.
Apply a thin coat of leather conditioner such as Leather Milk and work it in with your fingers. Wipe off any excess.
Finish with a neutral cream polish like Angelus Lustre Cream and buff with a clean cloth for an even shine.
Tips and common mistakes
Let mud dry fully before brushing, or you push grit into the leather grain.
Never soak boots in water or dry them near heat, since leather cracks when it dries too fast.
Condition after every wash, because saddle soap strips the oils the leather needs.
Work in a ventilated area and keep soap and polish off your skin.
Questions
Can I use dish soap instead of saddle soap?
No. Dish soap strips the natural oils out of the leather and dries it out. Use a proper saddle soap made for leather.
How often should I clean leather boots?
Every few months for normal wear, and after any muddy hike once the mud has dried. Condition them each time you wash them.
Do I have to use white saddle soap?
Only on light or white wedge soles, where yellow soap can leave a stain. On dark soles the yellow version is fine.
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.
