Fashion Blogs

Leather is considered among the toughest natural materials for boots that is also beautiful and luxurious. It is commonly used in many other clothing items, such as jackets and shoes. It is durable, long-lasting, and in addition, exudes style and savviness. However, high-quality men's leather boots need particular care, especially in the colder months of the year, i.e. autumn and winter, if they are to have a lengthy service for its owner. Caring for leather boots is not hard; the only requirement is to be mindful enough to maintain a regular cleaning practice.

Cleaning

If your boots have been covered in dirt such as mud or sawdust, you should perform certain steps in cleaning before drying out your boots. Below are some ways to clean them. 

Brushing

The first step is to remove the boots’ laces. In leather that is not made of suede, you may use a stiff bristle brush or simple horsehair brush to brush away dirt. Start by brushing as gently as possible, covering areas where dirt, dust and grime are present. 

Use of soaps and leather cleaners

If you are dealing with stains that brushes cannot remove, you may use soaps, such as a saddle soap or liquid and mild castile soap. Leather cleaners are also an option. There are generic and branded versions that you can use, and all are useful.

You should keep in mind that oil stains should be removed and treated as soon as possible, or else they will set in and be almost impossible to remove. You may soak a clean piece of cloth in your leather cleaner and use it to wipe off the stain on the leather. Afterwards, you may wipe the area dry with another dry piece of clean cloth.

Roughout and suede leather

For suede, you may use a suede brush. It is important to note that standard leather cleaners are not appropriate on suede and roughout leather boots. Instead, you may use a rubber suede cleaner and rub it into the stains on your suede boots. If necessary, you may use some water as well. Afterwards, the leftover rubber bits from the rubber cleaner may be removed by using the suede brush again.

Treating and Conditioning

After drying, you may then treat and condition your boots. If you own a pair of high-quality men’s leather boots, it will most likely be accompanied by instructions on how to condition the pair you own. Otherwise, the guide below will show you how to condition different kinds of boots.

Smooth-finished leather

For conditioning polished smooth-finished leather, use any kind of shoe polish or shoe cream, and dab it on the surface using a piece of clean cloth wrapped around your finger. Rub it in in small circles and let the cream reach all surface areas. Dry it afterwards, then buff the boots with a brush or cloth. Repeat as necessary until a beautiful luster appears.

Oil-tanned leather

Oil-resistant, water-resistant and perspiration-resistant leather boots need various conditioners or oils, which are applied similarly as with smooth-finished leather.

Roughout and suede leather

These kinds of leather do not need oil, polish, or conditioner; instead, they will benefit from a drying.

Drying

The right way to dry your high-quality men's leather boots would be to leave them in a cool and dry place for a minimum of one day. Leather, being a natural material, means that it has to breathe and will absorb moisture, regardless if it has undergone drying, processing or dyeing during the boots’ manufacture. This being said, you need to remember that you should always dry out your leather boots after being used, regardless of whether they accumulated dirt or not, and especially during winter or cold weather.

Where to dry your boots

Wet boots should be dried indoors during freezing weather. Leaving them on the garage or on a stoop outdoors will create issues and ruin your boots. This is because freezing temperatures will freeze the moisture inside and outside your boots, damaging them. Indoors, however, will be ideal and warm enough to prevent damage. If your boots have a removable liner, dry them out separately.

Additional drying

To hasten the drying process, you may also wipe your boots to remove moisture when they are wet. Paper towels or clothes can be used. Wiping is an optional and added procedure than cannot replace actual drying in a warm area.

Overheating

Conversely, too much heat can destroy your boots, so do not overdo it. The leather material may shrink and tighten, and eventually crack. Once the leather is cracked, it cannot be repaired. To avoid this problem, dry your boots only at room temperature. This mild temperature level will allow the leather to adjust normally without shrinking or cracking.

Conclusion

After cleaning, treating, conditioning, and drying, you can again wear your leather boots with complete enjoyment and peace of mind. If you have done the process right, your boots will have a “youthful” and “rejuvenated” look to them, and will satisfactorily serve you for many long years.