Cleaning hiking boots is not necessarily one of your favorite things to do? That's understandable! But with the following tips and tricks, you can clean your hiking boots quickly and effortlessly.
You can also find out why regular care is worthwhile in our blog article.
Why is it so important to look after hiking boots regularly?
After a long hike, shoes usually end up carelessly in the corner. After all, they have (in the best case) served their purpose and carried you safely to your destination.
Even if you're not a fan of washing hiking boots, you should take the time to do it regularly. Because with the right care, you can significantly extend the life of your shoes and wear them for years.
Thereby
- you save money,
- protects the environment
- and improve your own well-being.
Once you've found the right hiking boots, you won 't want to be without them again. However, without care, the leather will become hard and brittle over time.
The result: water can get in and the shoe is "worn out" after a while. This not only leaves you with wet feet, but also paves the way for blisters.
You can also find out how to prevent and treat blisters on your feet when hiking in this blog post.
What is the best way to care for my hiking boots?
Leather hiking boot care is not difficult. Just like brushing your teeth, after a short time it will become a routine that you can do in no time at all with little effort. And this is how it works:
1. remove the laces & take out the insole
To be able to wash your hiking boots properly, you should first remove the laces. Then remove the insole.
This makes it much easier for you to complete the next steps, as you can also reach the hard-to-reach areas.
2. brush off superficial soiling
Use a good shoe brush to tackle the coarse dirt first. This is particularly good for removing dirt and mud.
If there is mud on the shoe or stones in the tread, brushing under running water has proven effective.
3. clean hiking boots with lukewarm water
Once all the coarse dirt has been removed, it's time to fine-tune. Use a soft cloth or sponge to clean your shoes thoroughly with lukewarm water.
Special cleaning agents or soap are not necessary. You can also wash the inside of your hiking boots in the same way. Just use a sponge to avoid damaging the inner lining.
If the insoles are very dirty or give off an unpleasant odor, you can also simply dry them with a damp sponge.
Expert tip: With merino hiking socks, smelly feet and shoes are a thing of the past. This sustainable natural product is breathable, quick-drying, temperature-regulating and odor-inhibiting.
4. allow shoes to dry
Now you have already done most of the work. You can even sit back and relax during this step. Because cleaning hiking boots also involves drying them carefully. And this can take up to two days.
By no means should you follow outdated tips here and use your
- Shoes in front of the fireplace,
- on the heating
- or leave to dry in the sun.
That would be fatal! The heat makes the leather porous and changes its shape. The shoes become hard and no longer fit your foot.
So it's better to steer clear of such questionable methods. Instead, leave your shoes to dry in a dry and well-ventilated place out of direct sunlight.
If you crumple up some kitchen roll and stuff the shoes well with it, you will shorten the drying time.
5. use leather care
Once your shoes are clean and completely dry, you should also care for leather hiking boots. This will keep them waterproof and make them last longer.
There are two components that you should bear in mind.
-
Shoe wax for hiking boots is used to keep the leather soft and supple. It is applied generously with a sponge or soft cloth and massaged in.
- The second component of leather hiking boot care is waterproofing.
The protective waterproofing of your shoes wears off when they get wet.
This will allow moisture to penetrate in the foreseeable future. And nobody wants wet feet. To prevent this, you should waterproof your hiking boots.
There is a special waterproofing spray that you simply spray on and spread with a soft cloth. However, you should only carry out this process outdoors and avoid inhaling the spray if possible.
If you find waxing and waterproofing too complicated, there is another way to care for your leather hiking boots.
There are now products on the market that allow you to complete both steps in one go.
Storing hiking boots correctly
As you know, the leather of your hiking boots is quite demanding. This applies not only to care, but also to storage.
With the following tips, your hiking boots will remain your faithful companion for a long time:
- Store your shoes in a dry place.
- Avoid large temperature fluctuations. (Your shoes are not in good hands in the car)
- Ensure good ventilation.
- Do not store in the sun, on the radiator or in front of the fireplace!
- Store your shoes in an air-permeable shoe bag.
Can I wash hiking boots in the washing machine?
No! You should never wash hiking boots in the washing machine. They will break.
How often should I care for my hiking boots?
Even if you might not like to hear it: Hiking boots should be cared for as often as possible. You should remove dirt with a brush after every tour so as not to damage the leather.
How often you need to wax your hiking boots depends on how often you use them. If your shoes are exposed to high temperature fluctuations and get wet, you will need to wax them more often.
This also applies to strong sunlight. In these cases, you should use appropriate shoe wax for hiking boots after each use. In moderate temperatures without moisture, application after every third hiking tour is sufficient.
If you walk through a wet meadow or hike in the rain, you should waterproof your hiking boots afterwards. This preserves the valuable moisture protection.
Conclusion
At first glance, caring for and cleaning hiking boots may seem quite complicated. The list of do's and don'ts is seemingly endless. But actually, washing hiking boots is not an art.
Special care products also make subsequent care easier. They take care of waxing and waterproofing. With good care, your hiking boots will last much longer.
In view of constantly rising costs, this is a good reason to integrate the unpleasant task of cleaning hiking boots into your everyday life. You can also score points in terms of sustainability. Because you are helping to conserve important resources.
This means that you are even making an important contribution to protecting the environment when caring for your hiking boots.
FAQ
Why is it so important to look after hiking boots regularly?
After a hike, shoes are often neglected, although regular care is of great importance. With the right care, you can significantly extend the life of your hiking boots and wear them for years to come.
This care not only saves money and protects the environment, but also improves your well-being. Without regular care, the leather becomes hard and brittle, which allows water to penetrate and can lead to blistering.
How do I dry my hiking boots?
Careful drying is important after cleaning. Avoid heat sources such as heating or the sun, as they can damage the leather. Leave the shoes to dry in a well-ventilated place out of direct sunlight. Stuff them with kitchen roll to speed up the drying process.
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