Owning a pair of leather work boots can provide you with a lot of fun and excitement considering how this specific material works effectively in giving your feet as much protection as possible from a wide range of safety hazards at work. However, it also requires you to learn a thing or two about how to clean leather work boots with household items.
Take note that owning a work boot made primarily of leather material can cause your footwear to be prone to getting messy and dirty. If you are dealing with such a case then it would be a big help to find an effective and convenient cleaning technique for your leather work boot.
Your goal here is to keep your leather work boot clean so you can retain its good condition. It is also the key in letting it serve its intended purpose for a prolonged period or in ensuring that it restores its brand-new look. Fortunately, it is not extremely difficult to clean your leather work boots.
In fact, most cleaning methods require the use of items that you can commonly find at home or in your own kitchen. Here are some highly effective leather work boot cleaning methods that use household items:
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#1 – Baking Soda
It is no longer a secret that baking soda is one of the most popularly used cleaning agents in modern society. This household item is also something that you can use when it comes to cleaning your leather boot.
To take advantage of this cleaning agent, you just need to prepare it and sprinkle some into the specific areas of the work boot where stains and dirt appear. After that, grab one piece of cloth then dip it in water until it gets wet. Use it in rubbing the specific surface where you applied the baking soda gently.
You have to do the rubbing gently to prevent damaging the leather material. After that, allow the baking soda to stay in the boots overnight. Doing that will allow the baking soda to perform its function of absorbing grease, stain, or dirt, thereby allowing the boots to enjoy a full cleaning experience.
#2 – Saddle Soap
You will find this useful in case your leather boots accumulated a lot of soil. Take note, though, that regardless of the specific cleaning method you choose to apply, remember that you need to prepare your leather work boot prior to wearing it.
Also, keep in mind that even if it does not require a break-in period, it is still a must to wear it around your house for several hours. This is something that you have to do prior to reaching the job site. Another thing to keep in mind is that you need to prepare leather work boot prior to wearing it.
Wear it around your house prior to bringing it to your workplace. In case it is not waterproof, it would be perfect to put on some waterproofing agent to it then provide it with a bit of time to work. Wear the boots in your work once it is ready.
As for the saddle soap, you can use it after every shift. However, you also have to ensure that you wipe any accumulated dirt on it with the aid of a nylon brush. You should also dampen a small piece of cloth then use it in wiping the affected leather clean.
Avoid blow drying the boots. Allow it to dry naturally; otherwise, it might cause dryness to the material, causing it to accumulate cracks. In case the entire work boot accumulated a lot of soil, the use of a saddle soap should immediately be practiced. Alternatively, you can use a soap specifically made to clean leather boots.
Once you have the soap, apply it with the help of a damp cloth, giving the footwear a thorough and complete clean. Apart from the saddle soap, you might also find a mild shampoo helpful.
It is because you can use this when hand-washing or washing the removed insoles of your work boots using your machine. Consider doing this every 2-3 months to ensure that the insoles stay clean and fully functional.
#3 – Hair Conditioner
Another household item that you can also use as a powerful cleaning solution for your leather work boot is a hair conditioner. It is a great choice if you want to clean your boots without experiencing any trouble. Just like how it treats your hair, the conditioner can also be expected to do a great job in treating your leather boots.
It is mainly because of its incredible wax properties that can offer great assistance when it comes to giving your leather boot a quick and efficient clean. Another benefit of hair moisturizers is that they serve as excellent moisturizers designed to retain the great condition of the leather material for a long time.
Fortunately, there is no need for you to use an expensive hair conditioner. In fact, inexpensive ones can already do an excellent job of cleaning the boot. This is the main reason why many consider it as a cost-effective technique in making your work boot made of leather completely clean and durable.
#4 – Talcum Powder
You will instantly realize the effectiveness of talcum powder once you start using it in removing grease from your work boot. The good news is that it is easy to buy a talcum powder because aside from being affordable, it is also very convenient to use. The only thing that you should do is to pour some powder into the greased areas.
Another advantage of talcum powder is that it is all-natural, which means that it will not have a negative effect on your work boots. Many also perceive it as a truly powerful natural absorbent, allowing it to work effectively in absorbing grease. After applying the powder, allow it to stay there for at least one hour.
This can help in removing all the grease and stains that the talcum powder removed. After putting and removing the powder, look for a soft brush and use it in cleaning the leather boot. Aside from talcum powder, another alternative that is meant to help clean your work boot is cornstarch.
The problem is that cornstarch is not as effective as talcum powder when it comes to absorbing the dirt and grease stains in your work boot. This is the main reason why you can find a lot of leather work boot owners and users who prefer to use talcum powder over cornstarch.
#5 – Dish Soap
It is also possible to use dish soap in cleaning your work boot. It is not that difficult to find this item at home but you can also use it in cleaning your footwear effortlessly. One thing to remember about biogesic, though, is that this material is not prone or susceptible to water.
With that in mind, avoid thinking two times before using the dish soap in removing dirt and mud from your footwear. Prior to using the soap, it is advisable to take its laces out. After that, you should apply the soap directly into the leather material. Rub the area gently with the help of one piece of cloth or towel.
Again, you need to do the application in a gentle manner. Use one piece of cloth or a towel as a means of gently applying the dish soap. After that, wash the other areas with plain water as a means of removing all residues left into the work boots.
Conclusion
How to clean leather work boots with household items is now actually very easy to do. With the many household items that get stuck in your home or kitchen, it is not that hard to bring foods to her. Check the items in your home and find out which one can give you the benefit of helping you clean up your work boot.
Done correctly, the use of household items in cleaning your work boot can help ensure that you retain its excellent condition, great look, and overall durability for quite a long time.
Our PPE expert, Daniel Rocha, has been working in the industry for 23 years. He provides guidance to our content editor and writers so they may provide well-informed suggestions and tips for machinery and equipment.