How Often Should You Clean Your Work Boots?

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When it comes to reliability and durability, your work boots are dependable. To ensure they last longer, there are several factors you need to consider, and it is imperative for you to take care of them properly. Work boots are designed to last for years, and this is the whole point of their design. 

It’s easy to extend your work boots’ lifespan while maintaining their quality. Most workers wear their boots in the toughest conditions. These include trash, dirt, mud, wear & tear, sand, and more. There are several steps you need to follow to maintain its quality.   

Caring For Work Boots

You may have thought before about how often you should clean your filthy working boots. Degrading the quality of your work boots is inevitable, and you can’t avoid damaging them over time. Whether you have leather or synthetic work boots, here are some awesome tips on how to clean dirty timberlands at home to ensure the quality lasts for years. Plus, proper caring retains quality and makes them look new, even after using it.

Work boots keep you comfortable, dry, and warm. Once properly taken care of, they will take care of and protect you. If you haven’t tried caring for your boots, this article will serve its purpose to help you out on how to care for your boots properly. 

Aside from breaking your new boots for several days, proper maintenance starts on day one. Some apply conditioners on their boots while others waterproof them. Cleaning your boots before you waterproof them is essential. You’ll need to use a nylon brush and a water-based cleaning solution of your choice.

If you’re wearing leather boots, keeping them supple and always in the best shape is essential. If possible, cleaning the interior using a low pH shampoo and thorough rinsing can help retain the boot’s quality. 

Here’s a detailed guide on how to do it properly.

  • Breaking in

One of the best ways to retain the quality of your boots is to break them in for several days in your house. That means wearing them around for a week to help out with the process. Some shoes take time to break in and can be a challenge. Wearing the new boots without breaking in can cause blisters and bot spots. 

Tip: Apply waterproofing solutions once your boots are broken. A conditioner can speed up your breaking-in process. 

  • Waterproofing and cleaning

While several brands will ring the bells for superior quality and ensure your feet are dry, knowing how to clean and waterproof is vital. First, you’ll need to clean the boots using a water-based solution for waterproofing. This will make your shoes water-resistant. 

Water-based solutions are highly recommended due to several reasons, including: 

  • Ideal for applying for both wet and dry boots
  • It won’t affect your boot’s breathability features, especially for nubuck footwear and leather boots.
  • It does not contain petroleum which may stretch or affect your boot’s fitting.
  • It does not require heat to help the solutions penetrate the leather
  • It does not attract dust or dirt
  • It offers better moisture repellency
  • It won’t harm the boots even with frequent use

New Work Boots Care Tips

  • New leather boots

Purchasing good-quality boots is a healthy investment. Proper maintenance and care help lengthen and protect investment lifespan. The most common elements that affect the quality of your boots are excessive oiling and negligence.

To ensure the quality of your new boots last for years and won’t degrade over time, you should:

  • Wear new boots around your house for a week or a few days to help with the break-in process
  • Use a conditioner to assist and fasten the break-in procedure
  • Clean them using a nylon brush and water-based solutions
  • Wet your boots or footwear before applying the water-based solutions. After 2-3 weeks, resume and apply with the next coating and repeat for 3x to improve water repellency
  • When worn during extreme wet situations, it’s best to use waterproof wax

Caring for old leather work boots

Caring and maintenance of your older footwear are essential to make sure they’ll last for more years. Cleaning and removing dirt build-up and applying solutions from excessive oiling and waterproofing can improve the quality of your footwear. 

Ensure that you’ll carefully remove or brush off seams to be free of dirt and unwanted elements. This needs to be repeated varying on the condition of your footwear. It’s highly recommended to apply conditioner for older boots since they are stiff and dry. 

Once your footwear becomes dehydrated, boots can develop several cracks where your boots flex. A leather conditioner will prevent the issue from happening. 

Once in a while, you can clean the interior of the boots using a low-ph boots shampoo. Ensure you’ll properly rinse the solution out to remove all acids, specks of dirt, salts, odor, or dead skin. In case you have smelly feet, you can spray the interior using a spray for shoe odors. 

Final Words

Getting to know the basics of your footwear can help with care and maintenance. Furthermore, work boots are an investment that can add protection and convenience to fulfill your duties at work.

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