First, remove the dirt!
After every hike and before driving home, remove any rough dirt. Then you’ll not only have less work to do later, but your car stays clean too. Once home, remove the insole and laces of your shoes. Clean the outside with a coarse brush and a little lukewarm water. Then comes the inside – clean with lukewarm water and a small amount of detergent. Detergent for sportswear is particularly god. The inside of your boot is much more sensitive than the outside and should not be cleaned with a brush. Use a sponge instead.
After leaving the soap to work for five to ten minutes, rinse the shoe with water.
Allow enough time for your shoe to dry after cleaning, preferably at room temperature, in a room with dry air such as a boiler room. The heater or stove might be tempting to use as a ‘shoe dryer’ but you should do without. The direct heat affects the leather and could weaken the glue on your shoes, so they could break faster.
The right care makes all the difference
After your shoes have dried well and are sparkling like new, they are ready for another dose of care. Use a classic shoe wax or liquid care product. When applied with a cloth or soft brush, the product is perfectly absorbed into the shoe. At what about leather fat? After all, many hiking shoes are made largely from leather. Nevertheless, you should refrain from using leather fat. It clogs the pores of the material and can loosen glued parts.
Make sure the mesh inserts don’t come into contact with the wax, it clogs the pores and your shoe will no longer be breathable. If your shoes are made entirely from synthetic material, it is sufficient to treat them with a waterproofing spray after cleaning.
How to store your hiking boots
If you don’t use your shoes over winter, store them in a dry, airy place. Best in a box or shoe bag. Never pack your shoes in a plastic bag, the leather cannot breathe and will start to grow mould.
You don’t always need new shoes
If your beloved shoes have a little damage, they are often easy to repair. This can either be by a trusted cobbler, or via the manufacturer. Even small parts, such as metal eyelets, can be replaced relatively easily and cheaply. To prevent blisters on the foot, you should replace the insole regularly.
