Best Boot Care Tips for Cleaning PVC, Nylon, & Leather | Safety Boots

Best Boot Care Tips to Make Your Footwear Go Further

Maintenance is key to keeping your safety boots safe, so invest in your work boots to save your boots—and yourself—down the road.

 Many consider work boot preparation and maintenance either too difficult or too inconvenient, but a little bit of work now goes a long way toward keeping your favourite footwear around. Here are some great boot care tips to keeping your work boots safer for longer.

 

Getting Started with Boot Maintenance

Getting started is often the hardest part, quite literally if you’re breaking in a brand-new pair of safety boots. Proper boot care starts with preparation, so strengthen your steel caps for the elements and break them in before you break them out. Check out our top tips below.

 

Break in your safety boots early for lasting comfort

Wear your safety boots at home for a few days before wearing them to work. This can prevent nasty blisters or hot spots. For leather wearers, condition your boots first to make them softer and more comfortable, and set them up to withstand further wear down the track!

 

Waterproofing your boots after you’ve broken them in is a top tip and almost non-negotiable

How you waterproof your safety boots will depend on their material. Suede, nubuck, nylon, or PVC uppers need material-specific waterproof sprays, while leather can be sprayed, waxed, or polished for protection. Repeat twice or three times; just make sure they’re dry to start and dry to finish.

 

Keep your boots up to scratch

Preparing your boots sets you up, but effective boot care relies on regular maintenance to keep them clean, strong, and safe.

 

Clean Your Boots Regularly

Again, material matters. Leather, nubuck, or suede safety boots need a soft cloth or a gentle soft-bristled brush. For hardier oil stains, a bit of baking soda and a quick wipe goes a long way. Nylon and gumboots are less fussy; wipe or brush your boots with water or a light detergent and you’re good to go.

 

Polish and Condition Leather Boots

Care for leather boots with wax polish or shoe cream to keep them supple and minimise the risks of cracks or wear. Leather is thirsty, so use a conditioner every few weeks to keep them hydrated and happy.

 

Regular Maintenance Checks

Keeping your safety boots safe means giving them a regular warrant of fitness. Check the soles for metal shards, stones, cracks, and holes to make sure they stay strong and protective. Don’t forget to check and change your laces regularly.

 

Best Safety Boot Storage and Gear

After a long day on the tools, taking off your boots can be a welcome relief, but pay as much attention to them when they’re off your feet as when they’re on. Solid boot storage and quality maintenance gear will give your boots a longer working life.

 

Best Boot Care Tips for Storage

Dry your work boots overnight at room temperature. Never dry them in direct sunlight or forced heat, which can crack or disfigure your boots and undermine hard-earned breaking-in. Store your boots in a well-ventilated place, ideally at room temperature.

 

The Best Boot Gear

Good boot maintenance requires good gear. Invest in a solid shoe brush, soft cloths, and quality protective material and make sure to store them correctly to keep your safety boots safer for longer.

 

Each boot requires its own maintenance ritual

With enough tender loving care and the right maintenance techniques, you can earn a higher return on your safety boots investment. Here at Safety Boots, we offer several styles of quality work boots from leading brands. See what your boots need by exploring our range of quality work boot brands and use these boot care tips to make your safety boots go the distance.