This is a guide on how to dry your work boots. This will be helpful because it’s much easier to remove the excess moisture from this particular area during the drying process. You may still want to use a dehumidifier as well because it can dry out your boots faster if you’re worried about them smelling bad because of all the sweat and bacteria.
First Step: Prepare Your Boots
Remove the Insole of the Boot
If you have a hollowed-out insole of a boot, you will need to remove it to allow air circulation. You can dry your boots with or without an insole, so be sure to clean them both before using them again after they’ve been dried. It’s imperative that you keep all holes clear from dirt and debris while drying, so consider removing price tags from clothing, keeping your handkerchief handy, or just wearing gloves while handling your footwear.
Clean the Boots
Cleaning your boots before drying will help prevent the damage that might occur to them during the drying process. You can clean your dirty work boots with a sponge or work boot brush after removing dirt and debris. If the soles are dirty, you can remove them, so they do not wear out prematurely.
Take out the Laces
While cleaning is important, it’s also critical to remove any laces, so they do not get caught in your boot dryer. The ends of laces can snag inside your dryer, causing damage to both the structure of the boot and its outer covering. If you remove the laces and replace them with plastic ties, they will not catch and break.
To enhance the drying process of your work boots, it is essential to prepare them properly. You can refer to different ways to polish boots in 15 minutes to improve the boots’ condition and make them water-resistant. Proper polishing also ensures that your boots’ leather maintains its natural oils and doesn’t crack or dry out.
10 Ways to Dry Wet Work Boots
Wet work boots are hard to dry. You know what’s worse than wet work boots? The Wet Work Boots never dry out!
We’re going to show you how to dry your wet work boots with a few simple steps. First, take the insoles out of your shoes and put them in a plastic bag or container with holes punched in it for air circulation. Next, place the shoes on top of newspaper or paper towels and leave them overnight so they can dry completely. Finally, insert new insoles into the shoes before wearing again!
1. Use hairdryer and putting paper towels inside the the work boots
The inside of the wet work boots is hard to dry. Make sure that all water is off the outside before drying them or else they will get moldy and smelly fast. You can use your hairdryer, but make sure it doesn’t get too hot on the leather parts because they’ll crack and break apart. The best way I’ve found so far is putting paper towels in the boot and leaving it overnight with a heavy object on top of it!
After cleaning and washing your work boots, you can stuff them with paper towels to help absorb excess moisture and speed up the drying process. Then, use a hairdryer on low heat to gently dry the boots, being careful not to overheat the leather. For more tips on stretching your work boots, check out these easy tips.
2. Use Your Fan
To dry work boots with a fan:
- Place the boots in front of a desk or chair
- Set up a desk fan to blow air inside the warm shoe. If you don’t have access to a desk fan, you can use an electric frying pan on medium-low heat outside to blow air inside.
- Be sure to repeat this process until all water has evaporated from the boot.
Warmer air will rise higher than cooler air which is why it’s important that shoes are placed in front of an object that blows warm air upwards into the shoes. For best results, be sure your hands are dry when using them for this process because any moisture present may cause water damage to your boots prematurely.
3. Put It Out in The Sun
This is most likely one of the most commonly asked questions about how to dry work boots out in the sun – and therefore, it deserves its own post. There are 5 steps:
- Remove dirt and mud from work boots with a damp cloth
- Spread a thin layer of petroleum jelly on the boot to keep the leather from drying out
- Place work boots in an area where they can dry completely in direct sunlight or near a heater for quicker drying
- Bring them inside at night when there isn’t any sunlight; this is important if they are near a heater because extreme temperatures can damage their shape
- Use a hairdryer to speed up the drying process
It’s easy to get distracted by all of the many advantages of dried leather work boots, but there are still some drawbacks. First, don’t use the hairdryer on its high setting, or it may overheat the leather. If you have very thick or tall boots, it may take longer for them to dry completely. And lastly, care should be taken not to leave freshly dried boots in direct sunlight for too long as it can cause them to dry too quickly and warp out of shape.
Once you have cleaned the work boots, consider leaving them out in the sun to dry. The sun’s UV rays help to kill bacteria and dry out any remaining moisture. If you need more ideas on what to wear during 70-degree weather, check out our outfit ideas for 70-degree weather to stay comfortable and stylish.
4. Using Rice
Can you imagine a more unpleasant feeling than having wet boots? Especially when it’s cold outside, and you have to walk across the whole office to warm your feet up. Fortunately, we have a solution! We understand that you spend most of your day at work, but it doesn’t imply that nothing can be done about the fight to remain dry. To solve the problem with wet work boots by using rice, it will take a few minutes of your time every night and will make a remarkable difference in the morning.
- At the end of a long day, place your wet work boots in a plastic container that is smaller than the boots themselves.
- Fill that container with rice. The number of bags you use will depend on how much space within the container you have. To add more spice, add more bags of rice. Packed loosely, each bag will add about a liter worth of volume. Packs can be compressed together if desired.
- Seal the container and leave it overnight. The rice will absorb any moisture slowly throughout the night.
- In the morning, shake out as much excess rice as possible and allow it to dry during your commute or before your next shift. If they’re still wet, repeat steps 1-3.
- Congratulate yourself on excellent work! You can use this same process to dry many different items of clothing and equipment, not just boots. Some rice is good for you – and it’s even better for your boots!
5. Use your Towels
- Hang all your paper towels on a clothesline or over the shower rod.
- Lay the boots out on the edge of your sink.
- Take one towel at a time and lay them dry side up over each shoe, with about 6 inches of space between each one.
- Wrap the towel all around the inside of one boot while pulling it away from you, starting in front and working backward. Be sure to keep your hands tucked in close to protect yourself from any potential splinters caused by rubbing against each other or scraping against anything sharp inside.
- Continue to wrap the entirety of the shoe is around 6 inches of space.
- Wrap, wrap, wrap (it doesn’t take that much longer than it seems like it’s doing) until the entire boot is covered in cool air.
After cleaning your work boots, use your towel to dry them. Rub and pat down the boots until you have removed all the water. You can even use a hair dryer to speed up the drying process. If you want to learn more about how to stretch steel toe work boots, check out Hood MWR’s guide on stretching steel toe work boots.
6. Get a Boot Dryer
Boot Dryer is a device that will dry your boots in minutes. It’s such an easy process, and it will save you hours of time. You can even do it outside on the grass or on a sheet set out for that purpose! Once you’ve dried your boots, give them a quick shine using a small brush and some water. That’s about it!
- Open your boots wide using your hands. Put your boots on a towel that you have folded in half or quarters lengthwise. Leave the towels in place while you proceed with the next steps. You will wrap these towels around your boots to help them dry faster and more evenly.
- Turn on your boot dryer which is about 6-10 feet away from where you are placing the boots. A good distance is face-to-face or arm’s length away is acceptable too.
- Place the boot in the dryer and close the door quickly. The dryer has a timer on it which will turn itself off when it reaches a certain time. Set the time to at least 30 minutes for even greater success!
- Leave your boots in the dryer until they are dry. We suggest leaving your shoes in your shoebox after they have been dried since excess moisture may cause mold and mildew to develop if they are kept in high humidity settings.
- Remove your boots from the towels and give them a quick brush-over with a small brush and a bit of water to seal them back up. They should shine up well and be ready to wear.
- Re-apply your boots and put them back on your feet, and you’re good to go! Now, you can get back to your job in a couple of hours versus the time it would take to dry the boots normally.
You can wrap these towels around your boots as many times as you want. Make sure they are completely white (not stained) and clean (no wrinkles or wrinkles). If they are not clean, you will most likely leave stains on your boots which will ruin the finish. It’s recommended that you use this boot dryer outside, on the grass specifically. If you use it inside, make sure it’s on a hard surface like wood or tile. Some people prefer to skip the towel wrapping process. It all depends on how much time you have and how badly your boots need drying.
7. Using Newspaper
Work boots, as every man who has ever worked on a farm or in an industrial environment knows, are the most crucial item you can have with you. They’re what keep your feet safe and dry when you’re slogging through muck, so they need to be taken care of! Don’t let all the wetness come between you and your feet! Here are some suggestions for drying off your work boots after a hard day at the office.
- Stomp them up and down on the ground to get any excess water out.
- Stuff them full of crumpled-up newspaper.
- And finally, just leave them to air dry in the shade.
- For any really wet boots, you can actually put them in plastic bags, and they’ll dry out faster!
- Just don’t forget to dry out the insides too! Keep your feet safe and dry by learning how to dry work boots out inside and out! When your boots are dry, they’ll smell better too. If your work boots are still smelly , please check this how to clean smelly work boots.
8. Use the Shoe Inserts
- Lay your boots on newspaper or paper towels.
- Tuck the top of the boot under the lower set tooth of each shoe insert, then push it over the heel and up along one leg until both are inside, providing thorough coverage for each foot while leaving room to fiddle with them while you work.
- Stuff a towel (or layered clothes) into your shoe while holding it down with one hand to avoid making a mess in there; use another hand to push shoe insert firmly against both sides of your shoe, pressing them together snugly enough that they make good contact with each other around the entire rim of the shoe (so far away from where they enter).
- Push both shoe inserts firmly down into place, rotate the upper part of the boot to make sure it’s around the bottom of your foot, then work your foot in and out again to get the boot really snug everywhere.
- Wiggle all-around your boot once you’ve finished ensuring that it fits well and doesn’t come off. If it does, stuff another towel or two into there to bring everything together better.
- When your boots are dry inside and out, leave them overnight so they can fully dry under their own weight while you finish up other things in the house.
- The next day, remove your boots by pulling out the shoe inserts. Wear them all day to verify they are dry inside before putting them back on again. If they’re too damp, repeat stomping for a few minutes with the inserts in place until they’re dry.
If you have trouble finding the right fit for your work boots, consider getting shoe inserts with arch support. Not only do they provide extra cushioning and support for your feet, but they can also help with correcting any foot issues you may have. Plus, inserts are easy to remove and replace, making them a convenient solution for finding the perfect fit.
9. Use Kitchen Roll
- Remove dirt and debris by hand, hose down boots with cold water, and scrub with a stiff brush if necessary
- Pour one cup of white vinegar into each boot, work it in with your hands or a scrubbing pad
- Fill the boot with 1-inch of water, then encase the entire contents in KITCHEN ROLL
- Allow to sit for 20 minutes, then empty the boots again
- Repeat steps 2-4 until no more wetness is evident.
- Store boots upside down to dry overnight or for 30 hours for best results
- If boots are still too wet after 30 hours, repeat steps 2-4 again
- If the boots are completely dry after 30 hours, repeat steps 1-7 for each boot
This method should be used to dry work boots that have been worn in light rain or snow but not submerged or fully submerged. Do not use this method on work boots that have been submerged underwater for any length of time. The vinegar odor may remain in the leather after the drying process is completed. The odor should dissipate with the continued use of the boots.
10. Use A Dry Room
In order to dry your boots, you will need an air-drying chamber. This is where your boots will reside while they dry out.
- Put the boots in the dry room.
- Wait for them to dry out.
- When they are done, take them out of the dry room!
- Repeat steps 1-3 for any other work boots that need to be dried too!
After cleaning and air-drying your work boots, you can then store them in a dry room. This is especially important when dealing with leather work boots, as a damp environment encourages bacteria growth which can lead to bad odors and even damage to the leather. For more tips on keeping your feet warm while working, check out this article on 17 ways to keep your feet warm in boots.
The Importance of Keeping Your Shoes Dry
The wetness of boots is caused by prolonged exposure to water which can lead to mold, mildew, and many other problems. The more time your boots are wet, the more likely it is for these problems, as well as bacteria, fungi, or viruses that may be present inside your boat. If you don’t want to become sick from the bacteria and viruses that could be in those shoes, then you need to take care of them now before they become a bigger problem later.
7 Cautions When Drying Boots
- Blot the water out of your boots with a towel before you put them in a dryer to avoid a “wet dog” smell.
- Allow your boots to air dry naturally or place them in front of a window or door that gets plenty of sunlight for an hour or two before putting them in the dryer. The sun will naturally kill any bacteria left from sweat and dirt from inside your boots, as well as help make natural leather more flexible and easier to work with later on down the road. It also helps shoes retain their original color better if they are exposed to sunlight now and then, rather than being subjected only to artificial light indoors all day long.
- Inspect your boots after the drying process to see if you’ll need to squeeze out any moisture that didn’t evaporate in the drying process.
- Keep your work boots away from steamy showers, humid basements or bathrooms, hot pipes, steam cleaners, or automobiles with running engines for long periods of time, as these are all great ways to promote mold growth inside your work boots.
- When lacing up work boots with tight strings of leather, you will sometimes hear an “unlacing” noise coming from inside the boot when it’s being worn for the first time. This is normal and must be expected. This noise will fade away as the leather stretches out over time.
- It’s best to avoid getting rosewater, perfume, or scented oils on your work boots for this very reason – having these compounds on your work boots will promote mold growth and ruin your leather in a hurry.
- Use wax-based polish and protective creams on your gear after each work session before putting it away to protect it from moisture and prevent the leather from turning soft and easily damaged by dirt, grease, water, or other chemicals.
When using a boot dryer, keep an eye on the temperature to avoid overheating and damaging your boots. To prevent your shoes from getting or staying wet, check out our article on how to stop shoes from squeaking, which includes tips for waterproofing and protecting your footwear.
FAQs
How can I dry my boots fast?
Drying work boots is an essential part of maintaining them and prolonging their life. Over time, moisture and dirt will start to accumulate on your boots and can lead to uncomfortable situations such as blisters, odors, and discoloration. To make sure your boots dry quickly, you’ll want to use an airflow drying method such as putting them in the sun or hanging them up near a fan drying. Airflow drying will help speed up the drying process.
Getting boots dry fast will also minimize potential damage to your work boots. The faster you dry them, the less damage will occur. Damage to the boot means an increased chance of bearing problems, blisters, and other uncomfortable situations. Therefore, if you want to keep your work boots safe, it’s important to get them dry as soon as possible.
When in a rush, a hair dryer can speed up the drying process of your boots. Just be sure to use it on the cool setting to prevent any damage. For more methods on how to dry your boots quickly, check out our guide on 7 Basic Methods to Clean and Dry Snow Boots.
How long do work boots take to dry?
Drying boots can take anywhere from 3 hours to 3 days, depending on the airflow drying method you use. If you put your boots in the sun, it can take anywhere from one to three days for them to completely dry. If you lay your boots out near a stream or electric fan, then they’ll probably be completely dry within a few hours.
Is it safe to use the dryer to dry boots?
Drying boots in a dryer will damage them and is not recommended. You want to avoid heat drying methods because heat will damage the rubber composition of your work boot and cause possible tanning, discoloration, and other awful problems.
How do I keep my work boots dry in the rain?
In order for your boots to be dry when you put them on in the morning, it’s important to take precautions when it starts raining. Always have a plastic bag or other waterproof covering at least a foot away from your boots when it starts raining. If you don’t have a waterproof covering, then put the waterproof material over the top of your work boots. For example, if you have a plastic bag in the form of a garbage bag hanging from a building with no door over your work boots, then put a plastic garbage bag over them. You may also want to wear two pairs of socks in order to protect your feet from any leaks that may occur from water getting inside of your footwear.
To keep your boots dry while working in the rain, check out our article on ways to make boots slip-resistant. These tips not only help you with slipping and sliding, but also provide effective waterproofing for your work boots.
Can I dry my boots in the oven?
Drying work boots in the oven is not recommended for several reasons. To begin with, you don’t want to harm your boots by exposing them to heat, which is exactly what you’ll be doing if you put them in the oven. Secondly, there is a risk that any harmful chemicals or substances that are on your work boots could be transferred to the oven. People usually make this mistake when they are trying to dry plastic boots by putting them in the oven.