How to Clean Leather Work Boots

If you work in a profession that requires leather work boots – such as a lineman, electrician, logger, or construction worker – you’re tough. And so are your work boots.

If you work in one of these fields, leather work boots are a necessary – and, sometimes, expensive – investment. Since they take a beating daily, it makes sense to take care of them with regular cleanings so they’ll last as long as possible.

Fortunately, cleaning leather work boots is a relatively simple task that can be performed in just a few minutes using items around the house. In this article, we’ll explain in-depth how to keep your work boots clean so they’re ready to go day after day, year after year.

How Often Should Leather Work Boots be Cleaned?

Leather work boots should be cleaned on an as-needed basis. If they get particularly dirty on a muddy day, you should thoroughly clean them when you return home from work in the evening.

However, if you’re a factory worker who works inside, or the boots don’t seem particularly muddy, it’s still good practice to clean them thoroughly at least once a month. This will eliminate dust, dirt, and grime. You can also add a conditioner to protect the leather.

Consider wiping your work boots every day when you return home from work to keep them clean between regular cleanings.

Can You Wash Leather Work Boots in the Washing Machine?

Before we delve into the steps of cleaning leather work boots, many people often ask whether or not they can simply throw their work boots into the washing machine. This is something to avoid.

Boots are heavy and dirty, and putting them through a washing machine cycle can damage the boots and your washer. Boots washed in the washing machine can often shrink and become stiff or deformed.

Work boots are required in many professions to protect your feet and ankles from injury, so they’re not always comfortable until you work them in properly. Putting them through a washing machine cycle can cause an uncomfortable fit that leads to blisters and other foot injuries.

How to Clean Leather Work Boots

If you come home and your work boots are so caked in mud that you can’t see the leather anymore, it’s time to clean them. Not only will they look new afterward, but regular cleanings will also prolong the lifespan of the boots.

Before we discuss what to do to clean leather work boots, let’s first discuss what not to do. It’s important to never use harsh detergents which can damage the boots’ leather.

Here are the steps to follow to clean leather boots:

Remove the Laces

Removing the laces makes cleaning work boots easier. You can throw the shoelaces into the washing machine to give them a thorough cleaning. Clean shoe laces can make your work boots appear fresh and new again.

Remove Any Dirt from the Surface

Use a soft cloth, bristle brush, or even a toothbrush dipped in a mixture of water and white vinegar to remove any dirt from the surface. Toothbrushes are handy to remove dirt, mud, or grime from hard-to-reach areas such as the inside of the eyelets or areas between the soles and the upper area of the boot. Scrub the entire boot until all of the dirt or mud is removed.

Clean the Boots’ Leather

There are a couple of different methods to choose from to clean leather work boots.

The first method is using a mixture of warm water and dish soap. Simply dip a soft cloth or microfiber towel into the water-soap mixture, and use circular motions to apply the solution to all areas of the leather. Once you’re finished, use a clean, dry cloth and water to remove the soap from the boots’ surface.

The other method is similar to the first except it involves using saddle soap instead of dish soap. Saddle soap is a proprietary compound used to clean and condition leather.

Apply the saddle soap to a wet cloth or brush and work it into the leather using circular motions on the entire surface of the leather. Next, use a clean, wet cloth to wipe away any of the soap.

Two other tried and true methods for cleaning dirty leather work boots include white vinegar and baking soda.

Dry the Boots

Once you’ve removed all of the cleaning solution, completely dry the boots. Consider using a dry towel to soak up as much of the water as possible. Then, find a dry, well-ventilated area of your home to place the boots to dry. It can take a day or two for the boots to completely dry, so keep that in mind if you need to wear the boots the next day to work. You may find Friday evening or Saturday is the best time to clean your work boots.

Condition the Leather

Once the boots are completely dry, condition them with a leather conditioner, mink oil, boot oil, sealant, or wax. Follow the instructions on the product about how to apply it and for how long to let it sit on the leather. Gently apply the product with a brush or cloth in a circular motion until you’ve covered the entire surface of the leather. Then, buff the boots, and you’re all finished!

How to Clean Smelly Leather Work Boots

Your leather work boots are now looking clean and new again thanks to giving them a thorough cleaning. But what should you do if the inside of your boots still stink?

Here are some easy tips to clean the inside of smelly work boots with some items you probably already have inside your home.

Baking soda. Baking soda has dozens of uses, from helping with heartburn or canker sores to cleaning to eliminating smells in the refrigerator – it can even be used on smelly leather work boots. Sprinkle some baking soda on the inside of the boots and let it sit for 24 hours. When you’re finished, shake the baking soda out, and your work boots should smell much better. To create less of a mess, you could consider filling up two socks with baking soda and placing one in each boot overnight.
Replace the insoles. Your boots’ insoles play an important role by absorbing moisture and keeping your feet comfortable. Because of this, they are often the cause of stinky work boots. One solution is to simply wash them in the washing machine; however, if they’re worn out, it’s a good idea to replace them. This will keep your boots smelling fresh and prevent moisture damage to other areas of the boots.
Freeze the boots. Although this may seem a bit unorthodox, consider placing your work boots in a Ziploc bag and putting them in the freezer overnight. The extreme cold can kill the bacteria in your boots, thus eliminating the odor.
Use citrus peels. Citrus peels have long been used to fight foul smells due to the natural juices and oils contained in the peels. Many homeowners place them at the bottom of trash cans or in garbage disposals to eliminate bad odors. The same logic can be used for smelly work boots. Place a few peels in each boot overnight for a better-smelling boot.
Use rubbing alcohol. Simply spraying some rubbing alcohol in your boots can significantly reduce bad odors.
Use a mild shampoo. If none of the previously mentioned methods fully eliminate the dank smell in your work boots, wash the inside of them out with shampoo. We recommend using a mild shampoo instead of a harsher soap to prevent damaging your boots. Dampen a soft cloth and put a small amount of mild shampoo on it and then use it to scrub the inside of your leather work boots. When you’re finished cleaning the boots’ interior, use a dry cloth to soak as much water as possible before letting the boots dry out.

Removing Stains from Leather Work Boots

Now you’ve cleaned your leather work boots from top to bottom and inside and out, but there are still unsightly stains on them. No worries – we have a few tips for taking care of stains, too.

For most stains, using a cloth and rubbing a little bit of white vinegar or rubbing alcohol into the area will loosen the stain and allow you to brush the residue off.

Here’s how to remove some other common work boot stains:

Water Stains

Water stains are extremely common for workers who spend a lot of time outside, such as linemen, loggers, and construction workers. They often work through rainy and wet conditions, which can leave water stains on their boots. Water stains can be easily removed from leather boots using a mixture of dish soap and warm water and rubbing the area thoroughly until the stain is gone.

Scuff Marks

To remove scuff marks, consider applying a small amount of toothpaste to the area and using a wet soft cloth to rub the area. Use a separate damp towel to remove the toothpaste once the scuff mark is gone.

Oil or Grease

Oil and grease stains may seem difficult to remove, but a little bit of cornstarch or baking soda can usually do the trick. Use a damp cloth to rub the cornstarch or baking soda over the affected area and let it sit overnight. In the morning, use a dry rag to rub the residue off.

Dry Gum or Wax

For dry gum or wax, you can place the boots in the freezer to harden the stains. Once hardened, you should be able to easily remove the gum or wax.

Bloodstains

For bloodstains, use a cloth to dab a little bit of hydrogen peroxide to the affected area. Once the area is dry, the blood should brush right off.