Whether your job requires you to constantly traverse hostile terrain or you just want sturdy footwear for an intensive DIY project, the quality and durability of leather work boots means that they're a great choice for many different occasions. To maximize the life of your leather work boots, it's important that you periodically clean, oil, and apply a protective waterproof coat to their surfaces. Remember to avoid these three pitfalls whenever you're brushing dirt off of your leather work boots.
Brushing When The Leather Is Still Very Cold And Stiff
The colder it is outside when you wear your work boots, the stiffer the leather will be when you first come back inside. While you can still clean your boots when the leather is very cold and stiff, the hard bristles on a cleaning brush are much more likely to cause a scratch. Additionally, since the stitches in the leather won't be able to move as easily in response to your brush, it'll take significantly longer for you to remove every speck of dirt.
So let the leather warm up a little in your home first before you start cleaning your boots in earnest. If you're really impatient, put the boots next to a heating outlet in your home to speed the process up.
Letting Too Much Soapy Water Leak Into A Boot's Interior
Using a fair amount of soap and warm water is unavoidable if your boots have been accumulating dried dirt for a long time and you really want to make the leather look new again. However, if you use more water than necessary and spread it around the boot's exterior too carelessly with your brush, some of it could spill into the interior of a boot, damaging its sole. Since the soles in work boots aren't generally waterproof, this water will quickly sink to where you can't reach it.
Don't drench the exterior of a boot in soapy water all at once. Instead, only apply water to one small area at a time right before you start scrubbing with a brush.
Not Strengthening The Waterproofing Layer Afterward
While a brush with hard bristles is usually necessary to completely remove stubborn dirt, the waterproof layer on your work boots will get worn down in the process. You may not notice the effect immediately if you ignore this problem month after month, but the total lifespan of your work boots will be reduced considerably every time you have to go out in the rain. Therefore, after every serious cleaning, apply at least a little bit of shoe grease to the leather.
