How to Clean and Care your Leather Boots this Winter

 The winter season is already here and with winter, boots are always on our feet. Thus, we always want to take the best care of our boots to lengthen their wearability. Whether the issue is about salt stains from unrelenting winter conditions or just your normal amount of dirt from dirty puddles, cleaning and preserving your leather boots is a step to guarantee they will stay in good condition for one season until the next season. But what are the simple ways to take care of your boots especially this harsh winter season? Keep reading!

Cleaning

Whether you have dried cracks of salt or salt ring throughout the bottom part of your boot, or just some dirty marks from day to day living, the first step is to clean the boots of all debris. For some salt stains, you can use a soft cloth and a mixture of white vinegar and water in equal parts to eliminate the stains. Let the boot dry, and buff using a soft cloth when done. Try to eliminate salt stains as soon as they appear, and it's better to get to them off before they are dry, wipe it quickly using a damp cloth and that would do the trick. For all another type of dirt, apply a saddle soap that will further help condition and waterproof your pair of boots. Clean it dirt off using a damp cloth, rub the wet cloth into the saddle soap to form lather, scrub the soap into the boot, and wash off the lather with a wet cloth after a few minutes. If you think like there's a lot of saddle soap on your boots, you can just add a little more water to form more lather.

Erase scuffs

Everything you need to erase scuffs out of your boots is just in your pantry closet. Just pat a soft cloth into water, next into baking soda, and then scrub the scuffs blandly until they are gone. Wash the boot clean and let the boot to dry before doing the last buff.

Anticipate future damage

Constantly give your boots a just protective barrier at the start and ending of each season and also in between after the cleanings. Sprinkle clean and dry boots with a waterproofing substance to block salt stains before they even start. It's a great idea to line up all of your boots at once and finish them all in just one sitting.

Storage

Every time you let your boots dry out, whether from cleaning or the wet conditions outside, place the boots in a warm area but not in a place that is right next to the source of heat like maybe next to a radiator. If the heat is over harsh, it can cause the leather to be more brittle and form cracks. Don't stock leather boots inside plastic bags as the leather must breathe and also a lack of air can make the boot dry out or even have mold. Before you, keep your boots, make sure they are cleaned and dry, so you don't get salt gnawing away at the leather for periods of months through the off-season.

Suede boots are a completely separate thing, and you can't wash them the same way you would with those smooth leather boots or you risk wasting the suede texture and quality. Rather than making the boot wet to spot clean, rub off the dirt by grabbing an emery board from your cosmetic drawer and dust off any marks. If those steps flatten the suede so much, you can take the texture back by rubbing the area using a terry cloth towel or a clean toothbrush. For more heavy matte stains, hold the boot above the steam from a steaming teakettle for just a few minutes, and then brush it against the fabric of the suede to release the dirt.

So just remember, as much as possible clean your boots right after having the contact so that it will lessen your effort in cleaning your boot afterward. Taking care of your leather boots well will not just let you keep them longer, but they will look much better across their lifetime too.