How Do You Clean Soiled Work Boots At Home?

When should you clean your dirty work boots? You can clean them when they start to smell bad, especially if it’s a chemical smell. If you’ve been wearing them in the office or on-site, you can do it there too. But think twice before touching them after working outside or on-site. Even though the soles are usually protected by thick rubber, there is often dirt or oil left behind after you work outside or on-site that can move into your top pair of work boots or onto your pants. You don’t want it getting into those areas of your body that are vulnerable to infection.

Things to be Prepared before Cleaning Work Boots

• 1/2 cup of warm water
• 1/2 cup of peroxide
• 1/2 cup of warm water
• Superior detergent
• Soft brush or toothbrush
• Something soft like a microfiber cloth
• A baking sheet (if possible)
• A bucket or bucket to catch the water you use while cleaning.
• Cotton balls and tape (as needed)

If it’s a new pair and you haven’t worn them for more than a few weeks, it’s not necessary to clean them again. But for older pairs, it may be time to check on them. If they seem less than perfect, heat up your oven and put on some dry heat for about 20 minutes on low heat. That should remove some dirt and freshen up the dull look — if they weren’t cleaned, of course.

3 Steps To Clean Your Work Boots At Home

Step 1: Open and Remove Dirt and Dust Accumulated on Your Work Boots.

• Use a towel to absorb as much water as possible from the shoe before starting to clean the outside of it with water. You can also use a blower or broom to remove dry dirt and dust, especially if you have no time to go into the oven. If you use a blower, make sure that it is not too powerful so as not to cause damage to the shoe.

• Use a toothbrush or soft brush to scrub off all dirt and stains on your work boots at home with warm water and detergent.

• If you want to use a stronger cleaner, add 1/2 cup of peroxide to the water you used in the previous step. In general, peroxide is good for cleaning your shoes and protecting them from dirt. It can also kill mildew and mold that will appear when it dries, but be careful when using it around carpets and other soft surfaces because it can damage them. The best way around this is to cover the area you are cleaning with a plastic bag before using the peroxide.

• Let your work boots dry completely in direct sunlight or in a warm room at home after cleaning with detergent and peroxide in order for them to be completely dry before putting on again.

Tip: Make sure your work boots are completely dry before you start

The first trick to a good job is to make sure your work boots are completely dry before you start. If you find that they are still damp from the day before, it’s best to repeat the cleaning process again for a cleaner and fresher-looking pair of shoes. In addition, remember that one of the most important parts of your shoes is the inner sole, as it provides comfort and support for your feet. Make sure you only clean the outer surface with a sponge or brush so as not to damage or ruin the inner sole. When you scrub it gently under running water, try using a toothbrush if possible so as not to damage it further.

Step 2: Clean the Rest of the Work Boots.

• If you plan to use a brush or toothbrush, use it with care and avoid hard scrubbing motions, as it can damage the shoe even more and cause more harm than good. Try to move around and not use too much force when scrubbing your work boots with a brush, as you can easily damage them if you’re not prepared for it. Remember that if you have just cleaned them, they’ll be fairly shiny from the detergent, so try to avoid using too much pressure on them as that can result in scratches on the shoes as well.

• After cleaning with a brush or toothbrush, it’s time to take care of the inside of your work boots. The easiest way to do this is by using a damp cloth or sponge to wipe down the interior of the boots. Remember that you are using the cloth not just to clean but also to protect against dirt, so be sure it doesn’t have big chunks of dirt on it before wiping down your feet.

• The interior can attract bacteria if you don’t clean it regularly, so try to do so every three months or so, depending on how often you use your work boots at home during that period. Before putting them back on, ensure certain they are completely dry.

• If you have a baking sheet available, you can put your work boots on it and then use a hairdryer to blow-dry them thoroughly at home. This will ensure that they are completely dry after cleaning, thereby avoiding the risk of mold growing inside the shoes after you start using them again.

• If your work boots are new or there is little dirt on them, you can avoid the baking sheet process by simply letting them sit out in the sun to dry out completely after cleaning with warm water and detergent or peroxide.

• If your work boots are older or you find that they need cleaning, you can make a paste of 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of warm water to easily remove dirt and stains on them. You can use this paste to clean any dirt or stains on your work boots in the future if you have little time to clean them thoroughly.

Step 3: Scrubbing The Insoles

Last but not least, when cleaning your work boots just be sure to wear gloves while scrubbing the insoles, since this part is much more vulnerable than the outside of them. Also, try not to dry them in direct sunlight or in a heated room in order for them not to melt if it’s wintertime.

• Using a soft brush or a sponge, sweep the insoles of your boots clean with warm water and detergent.

• Make sure to avoid hard scrubbing motions when cleaning the insoles of your work boots because you can easily damage them if it’s left for too long. You should also try not to use too much force while scrubbing them, as this can damage the shoe even more and cause more harm than good through scratches on their surface. In addition, remember that one of the most important parts of your shoes is the inner sole, as it provides comfort and support for your feet. Make sure you only clean the outer surface with a sponge or brush so as not to damage or ruin the inner sole.

• Now you can wipe your boots clean with warm water and detergent, or use a sponge or cloth if you prefer. You just need to make sure that all the dirt and dust has been removed thoroughly, especially if you have used peroxide on them. When scrubbing gently, try using a toothbrush if possible to avoid damaging the insoles further by scratches on it.

• After cleaning your work boots, you can also spray them down with clear shoe polish if you wish. You can use this process to clean them or simply to polish them up, but remember that it will remove any wax or oil that has been applied before cleaning, so it’s best to leave them in their natural state before staining them, instead.

These are the basic steps that you need to use when cleaning your work boots. Once you have cleaned yours in the previous steps, all that is left is applying some shoe polish here and there and giving them a quick rubdown with a soft towel to make them shine like new. Just remember that once you have cleaned and conditioned your work boots, be sure to use a water repellent and a stain guard to keep them looking great for longer than just one day.

12 Things To Notice When Cleaning Work Boots At Home

Don’t Use Harsh Cleaning Materials If You Don’t Have To.

That means don’t use bleach, ammonia, peroxide, alcohol, or harsh chemicals to clean your work boots at home. Most of these products are very harmful to the inside parts of the shoes, making them more vulnerable to mold or bacteria if left damp after cleaning with them.

Apply Shoe Polish First before Using Rubbing Alcohol or Soap and Water on Your Work Boots

When cleaning leather boots, be sure to apply the shoe polish on new stains or scratches first before trying to clean them with rubbing alcohol or soap and water, otherwise, it will probably remove the polish as well, leaving you with just a stain! To avoid this issue, just apply shoe polish first before using rubbing alcohol or soap and water on your work boots.

Don’t use Water on Old Stains

If your work boots have stains that are quite old it’s best not to use water on them since they can possibly fade quickly if left wet too long. Instead of buying expensive cleaning supplies, make a paste of baking soda and water and use it instead. In fact, baking soda is an excellent cleaning alternative to soap and water since it removes dirt easier.

Use Soft Cloth with Color Leather Work Boots

If you have leather work boots with smooth uppers that aren’t black, they shouldn’t be cleaned with strong cleaning solutions since they can ruin or discolor the leather after a few washes. Instead of using a harsh cleaning solution, use a soft cloth to wipe them down.

Give Your Work Boots Time to Dry out

If you do use a strong cleaning solution on your work boots, be sure to give them time to dry out. If not, they can become very hard and brittle.

Don’t Use Vinegar more than 15 Minutes

If you want to use vinegar to soften your work boots before cleaning them, just remember that the vinegar dries quickly so it shouldn’t be left on for more than 15 minutes or so at most before rinsing with warm water. The same goes for any other harsh cleaning agent that you apply onto the uppers of your work boots like lemon juice or lime juice (if they’re available where you live).

Rinse Your Work Boots with Water When Use Bleach 

If you use bleach to clean your work boots, be sure to rinse well with water. If not, the leather can become brittle and dry quickly over time.

Always Let Your Work Boots Dry Fully before Applying Shoe Polish or Protective Coatings

When using any type of cleaning agent, always let your work boots dry fully before applying shoe polish or protective coatings so that the shoe polish won’t be removed by the cleaning agents.

Make Sure Your Work Boots are Dry before Wearing Them Again

Right after applying shoe polish, let dry for an hour or two before wearing them again. If you don’t, you can ruin your work boots in no time!

Apply Leather Conditioner Evenly all over Your Work Boots

When using a leather conditioner, be sure to apply it evenly all over your work boots instead of just in spots that need it the most (since leather is porous).

Summary

Work boots are made to last you for years, so if you maintain them well and clean them regularly, they may just outlive you! Just look at all the old work boots in pictures from the past whose owners still insist on using them today. It’s amazing! As long as they’re kept in good shape with regular cleaning and maintenance, they can look almost like new even after years of use. Cleaning your work boots is an easy process once you get the hang of it. Once you’re comfortable with it, you can start cleaning your work boots at home. Just remember that it’s not only the outside of your work boots that you need to clean – the insoles are also quite vulnerable to dirt and dust so take care of them as well.

FAQ

Can I apply same cleaning step to all type of work boots?

Yes, you can use the same steps for all work boots. Do not apply the shoe polish on the insoles though, especially leather work boots.

What are the best types of leather conditioner?

The best ones are those made by Lexol. Lexol is very popular among workers who want to keep their leather boots or other leather shoe looking new and shiny for a longer time period. Using this product, your shoes will look like they were just put on for the first time. Another good product is Oil Sheen Plus made by Elemis, which is also awesome for keeping your shoes looking shiny without being too greasy.

How can I keep my leather work boots from being soiled?

Many workers have their favorite method of keeping their leather work boots from being soiled, and there are a few of them. The easiest and most common way is to wipe the outside with a wet cloth to clean it up. You can also use a small plastic bag for this purpose, or just use a small sponge that you placed in warm water. This will be fine if you have some sort of shoe cleaner like Murphy’s Oil Soap around as well as water to rinse it all off with later on after you’ve wiped off the outside.

How often should I clean my work boots?

It depends on how often you use your work boots, but most people would suggest that you clean them every weekend. This is only suggested for people who spend longer periods of time with their work boots on.