1. Remove the laces, shake the loose dirt off of your boots, then go over them with a dry cloth.
2. Using saddle soap, individually lather the boots with a horsehair dauber brush, applying in small circular motions.
3. Gently wipe the saddle soap off, then let the boots dry.
4. Apply leather conditioner and buff.
Dirt and grime are leather’s arch-nemeses. Keep your boots clean by following these four easy steps. This is how to clean leather boots the right way.
What You’ll Need
- A bowl of hot water
- Saddle soap (I like Fiebings Saddle Soap)
- Clean, tint-free rags or towels
- Leather conditioner (I like Venetian)
- Horsehair buffing brush
The Best Way to Clean Leather Boots:
Step 1: Remove the Laces and Knock off the Dirt
Shake off as much excess dirt from the laces as possible, then throw them in with your laundry. This is also a good time to evaluate whether or not they need to be replaced. If they were waxed, but no longer are, you might need new laces. If there’s fraying on the body, you definitely need new ones.
Knock your boots together to shake off debris. Then, wipe off any excess dirt using a dry rag. Again, get as much dirt off as possible before you start cleaning. Wet dirt can seep into leather and cause drying, and small sand grains can scratch your uppers during the cleaning process.
Step 2: Clean with Saddle Soap
If your boots haven’t been cleaned in several months, and you’re looking to restore the leather to good as new, your best bet is to clean with a product called saddle soap. Many different brands make saddle soap, but my favorite is Fiebing’s Saddle Soap.
My favorite saddle soap. This stuff does a great job at cleaning and reviving any type of leather back to glory---including boots. It's easy to apply and you should see instant results after just one treatment.
I break down the steps of using saddle soap below, but you can also watch this quick video where I show you everything you need to know about using saddle soap and what it looks like:
Pour out a small bowl of hot water, dampen a clean tint-free rag, and lather up a dime-sized amount of saddle soap.
Clean one boot at a time. In small circles, lather each boot until you’ve covered all of it with the soap solution.
Step 3: Rinse and Dry
Wipe off the solution with a clean wet cloth, then a clean dry cloth. Don’t worry if parts of the boot look more wet than others. This process is too gentle to damage the leather. If there’s still visible grime on the boots, repeat steps 2 and 3.
Once you’ve finished soaping and rinsing, set your boots aside to dry. This might take 24 hours, or even less with a boot dryer.
Step 4: Condition the Leather
Remember how supple and gorgeous that boot leather was when you first saw it out of the box?
You can thank the leather’s natural oils for that, a lot of which is lost after a few months of wear. Restore these oils by conditioning your boots with a quality conditioner like Mink Oil.
Remember how supple and gorgeous that boot leather was when you first saw it out of the box? You can thank the leather’s natural oils for that, a lot of which is lost after a few months of wear. Restore these oils by conditioning your boots with a quality mink oil conditioner like this one.
Apply your leather conditioner with a clean rag. Use small circular motions just like you do with the soap. Make sure you cover the entire boot.
Take your horsehair brush and quickly buff the boots to break up any excess conditioner or soap. Just a few swipes per boot will do. This also helps evenly condition the boot throughout.
Mink oil is great, but it comes with its pros and cons. You can see what a finished mink oiled boot looks like in my video below:
Mink oil tends to darken leather, but it adds a lot of waterproofing. If you want something that doesn’t change the color of the leather, try Venetian Shoe Cream.
Leave your boots be for about 20 minutes, and come back to see a resuscitated old friend.
On the BootSpy YouTube channel, we did a test of the 10 most popular leather conditioners to see which was the best. You can check out that video below:
How to Remove Stains from Leather Boots
Water Stains
Blot the wet water stain using a white cloth until it dries. If that doesn’t successfully prevent stainage, use a slightly damp cloth and very gently wipe. Start from the center of the stain and move outward to diffuse the discoloration.
How Do You Clean Leather Boots with Mold on Them?
1. Remove dirt with a soft brush.
2. Clean with saddle soap and then let air dry.
3. Wipe down with an equal parts mixture of rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) and cool water to disinfect.
4. Use a leather conditioner like Sof Sol Mink Oil to add a supple touch.
Grease or Oil
Blot the grease or oil using a dry, soft cloth. Lift as much of the excess as you can. Dust the stain with talcum powder or cornstarch and let it sit for 20 minutes so it can absorb the oil molecules. Remove the powder or cornstarch using a soft-bristled brush. Repeat this process until the stain is completely gone.
Ink
You’ll likely have to get a professional to remove a really bad ink stain. If you catch it while it’s fresh though, there may be hope. Quickly blot a new stain using a soft, dry cloth. If you rub or scrub the stain, it will spread the damage, so keep your hand still. If the ink is transferring to the cloth, it’s working. Replace the cloth as needed.
When the cloths stop soaking up the ink, rub the leftover stain with a dry cloth and a dab of soap. Don’t use any alcoholic solutions because it’ll damage the leather. Use tiny circular movements to ensure you don’t spread the ink. If you manage to get most of the stain off, the rest will fade over time.
Scuff Marks
To remove scuff marks from leather boots, combine two tablespoons of baking soda with warm water to make a paste. Apply it to the scuff marks then rub the area with a soft cloth.
Using a second damp cloth, clean the paste off. The slightly abrasive properties of baking soda will take the edges off of the scuffs and lessen the visual impact. Repeat as necessary.
You can also use a non-gel toothpaste. Apply the toothpaste to the scuff marks and gently rub it with a damp cloth. Clean off the excess toothpaste with a second, clean cloth. This will sand away uneven surfaces and even do a little polishing.
Salt Stains
If you live in a part of the world that has winter (we mean real winter, like New England winter…not that 70-degree Santa Barbara stuff), you may have experienced sidewalk salt stains.
Remove these white tarnishes using a solution made of equal parts water and white vinegar. Very gently and shallowly rub the solution onto the stain, then wipe away with another cloth that’s damp with pure water.
You’ll likely repeat this process once or twice. You can also use this vinegar solution for mystery stains that are light in color.
For mystery stains that are dark in color, use equal parts lemon juice and cream of tartar. Apply the concoction onto the stain and leave it there for ten minutes. Wipe it off with a damp cloth and, of course, repeat as necessary.
Why Should You Keep Your Boots Clean?
- Hygiene: You don’t know where that dirt’s been or what it’s carrying. Bacteria on your shoes isn’t just bad for the leather, but can make you sick too.
- Protect your investment: Once that leather cracks open, there’s no going back. By keeping your boots clean, you’re fighting off the dirt and grime that causes dryness and cracking. By keeping your boots conditioned, you’re boosting its immune system and keeping the leather pliant and healthy.
- Elevate your style: Did you know that neatly dressed men are perceived to be more competent? This perception also opens more doors for them. A clean, supple pair of leather boots is like a nice watch. It’s something you can throw on in seconds to bolster your style and your overall presence.
A Return to Form for Your Boots
Cleaning and conditioning your boots is literally like giving them new life. After all, you’ll be restoring the natural oils that keep them resilient and attractive.
So if you haven’t cleaned your leather boots in awhile, grab your cloths and get to it. Get those bad boys back to their former glory.
If you want to watch the process of cleaning a pair of boots from start to finish, you can watch me clean my Red Wing Iron Rangers and follow along in the video below:
FAQs
What household items can I use to clean leather boots?
Stick to mild dish soap. Avoid harsh surface cleaners or specialty soaps with kojic acid, as they can damage the leather overtime.
Is Vaseline good for leather boots?
Avoid using vaseline on leather boots. It won’t adequately soak the leather to act as an effective conditioner. At worst, petroleum jelly and substances like it can rob the leather of its natural oils.
What is the best thing to clean leather with?
Saddle soap is the safest cleaning solution you can use for your leather. It’s designed to be used with leather, unlike dish soap or vinegar. I don’t recommend using anything but saddle soap to clean leather.
Can you clean leather boots with olive oil?
No, you really shouldn’t. Olive oil is more likely to stain your leather boots and accelerate its deterioration. Stick to using a saddle soap like Fiebing’s.
