Monday, August 22, 2016

Guide To Walking Boot Care

By Lucifer Guson


What are the best ways to clean and protect your walking boots? Cleaning and caring for your walking boots is a guaranteed way to extend the life of your hiking footwear and will delay the need to buy new boots. But with so many different products on the market, what is the best way to clean and protect your walking boots?

First of all, take out the laces and insole out of your shoe. Lots of boot styles feature a completely removable insole for this particular purpose. It can help you thoroughly air the boot, take away odour, plus replacing the insoles in your shoes or boots is another important aspect to help extend the lifespan of your walking boots. Taking out the shoelaces will help you get to corners that will be normally folded away. This allows a more in depth clean. Also, removing the laces means that you can spot any kind of deterioration and see whether the shoelaces need to be replaced.

After removing the laces and the insoles, use a brush and lukewarm running water to remove dirt from the walking boots. If they are very heavily soiled it may be necessary to use special boot cleaning products. These will help lift the dirt and clean the boot more effectively. Once the boots are clean, the leather will be in a state which means it is able to soak up water. Adding a water repellent spray whilst the shoe is still damp will help defend the leather from water. This is sprayed onto the shoe and, after being left to dry thoroughly, water will bead off. It is advised that shoes are left for 24 hours to dry.

Adding a water based cream to the footwear can help the leather sustain the natural softness. Without this, the leather of the walking boot may become brittle and crack. This can harm your hiking shoe in a way which cannot be restored. Creams are preferable to oils or even greases which could block the pores within the leather and impact the breathability. Leather which has been clogged by using oil or grease functions a lot more like wellington boots.

After using these boot treatments, give your boots lots of time to dry. Leaving them on a radiator, in the car, next to the fireplace or on the back step in the sunlight should be avoided. These can all cause damage to the walking boot. Keeping them confined or in a damp space, in the boot of your car or your shed for example, can allow your boots to go mouldy. It is not worth the risk. Let your Walking Boots breathe and they will keep working hard for you.

I have heard so many people moaning about their boots and how they are developing faults. Many become stiff and brittle and uncomfortable to walk in. But if their owners had simply given them some real care and attention, these boots would still be going strong! With just a little bit of time and some simple treatments, you can genuinely help your boots last longer and delay the day where you have to get a replacement pair.




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