Much like any other investment, buying safety boots can be a tad costly. To ensure you spend all your resources wisely, you have to buy only the best quality boots that will ensure durability. However, even the toughest work boot can succumb if it is exposed to unforgiving conditions. This is why you need to take as much care as you can for your safety footwear both on and off the job.
Safety experts say that by simply dedicating a couple of minutes every day to the care and maintenance of your safety footwear, you can significantly contribute to extending their lifespan. So, how exactly do you improve the mileage on your work boots? The following tips should work great in enhancing your footwear’s performance and longevity?
Regular Cleaning
While a very small percentage of workers actually perform this routine on a daily basis, it is the most sure fire way of increasing your boots longevity. After a hard day at work, safety boots and footwear should be sprayed off with a pressure hose, dipped in warm water and cleaned out with a brush, some soap and a rugged cloth. This of course may depend on how dirty they are since more cleaning could be required.
The type of material also plays a crucial role for the cleaning method. For example, full grain leather needs to be cleaned with mild detergent and a damp cloth or sponge. In addition to helping you detect early signs of deterioration; cleaning also helps detect and repair physical damage to your footwear. It also helps improve performance of your footwear such as slip resistant shoes.
Regular Rotation
If your job involves lots of standing, walking, lifting or any other arduous task, it is highly recommended that you purchase more than one pair of safety footwear. Research shows that a particular worker can sweat as much as 200 ml of moisture into their boots when engaged in physical activities. Couple this with daily impact and compression and you have yourself a recipe for killing boots.
In addition to eating away at the boot, the moisture and wear and tear also causes blisters, corns and a large degree of discomfort for workers. Giving your favorite pair of work boots a rest allows the moisture to evaporate and dry off. You should rotate between at least two pairs every few days to give each a chance to breathe out and recover.
Keep your Leather Supple
The fact of the matter is that most safety work boots are made totally of leather uppers. If this is the case with yours, experts have a lot to say about keeping the leather supple. By using oil, shoe grease and a slew of other moisturizing creams on your shoes, you can ensure you never experience drying or cracking uppers. The uppers are very important to maintaining a strong and sturdy exterior and prevent deterioration of your work boots.
Heel and Toe Tips
Depending on how every individual walks, we usually wear down one particular area of the heel and toe zones. You will notice that all your shoes seem worn out in certain areas while others look almost new. If you know what to expect, you can place a small tip or tap on these areas and further extend the life span of your work boots. Nothing looks more shabby that half worn shoes. Heel and toe tips not only help your shoe last longer, they also enhance your overall look.
Proper Storage
Did you know that you could extend the longevity of your work boots even as you sleep? No, we’re not talking about sleep cleaning, although it could help. You can achieve this by simply storing your work boots in a safe, dry place that will keep contaminants, dust and moisture from clinging to your boots. Don’t worry; you don’t have to build a shoe safe. A simple enclosed shoe box or shoe tree should be a safe enough abode for your favorite pair of work boots. Proper storage also enhances your work boots performance, comfort and over-all appearance.
Final Word
Going the extra length in the care and maintenance of your safety boots will also go a long way to enjoying more service from your footwear. Following the tips above should see you get as much mileage from your shoes as you possibly can. But remember, cleaning and maintenance can only do so much. Sometimes, knowing when to give your safety footwear the boot is very crucial to your health and performance too. And once you purchase you new pair of work boots, don’t forget to take great care of it and get more value for your money. A well maintained boot guarantees better performance too.
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