How to DEEP CLEAN Your Boots!, by Nicks Handmade Boots on YouTube. 4 min 45 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 45 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Take the laces out and pull the insoles if they come loose. Shake out grit and knock the boots together to drop the worst of the dry mud.
Let caked mud dry fully, then brush it off with a stiff brush. Work in small circles over the seams, welts and stitching where dirt packs in.
Mix a little mild leather soap into a bowl of warm water. Whisk it until you get light suds, and keep the water lukewarm rather than hot.
Dip the brush in the suds and scrub the whole boot, one section at a time. Go gently around stitching so you do not fray the threads.
Wipe away the dirty suds with a clean damp cloth before they dry. Rinse the cloth often and repeat until the leather looks clean.
Wipe the boots with a cloth wrung out in clean water to lift soap residue. Leftover soap dulls the leather and can dry it out.
Stuff the boots with newspaper or a dry towel so they hold their shape. Set them somewhere airy at room temperature and let them dry slowly.
Once dry, work a small amount of leather conditioner into the whole boot with your fingers or a cloth. Buff off any excess with a dry cloth.
Wash the laces and insoles in warm soapy water, rinse them and let them air dry. Thread the laces back in once everything is completely dry.
Tips and common mistakes
Never dry leather boots on a radiator, stove or heater, because the heat can shrink or crack the leather.
Do not soak boots in a bucket of water, since too much water weakens the leather and the glued seams.
Keep boots out of direct sun while drying, as fast drying pulls moisture out unevenly and stiffens the leather.
Clean and condition every few months of hard use, or as soon as mud and sweat salt build up.
Questions
Can I use dish soap to clean leather boots?
It is better to avoid it. Dish soap strips the natural oils from leather, so use a mild leather soap or saddle soap instead.
Can I put leather boots in the washing machine?
No. Washing machines and dryers ruin the shape, stitching and leather. Clean them by hand and air dry them.
How often should I deep clean my boots?
Clean off mud after wet or dirty days, and do a full wash and condition every few months of regular use.
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.
