To rock and roll on the tough hiking trails, you need to pay attention to the maintenance of your footwear. You’ll be surprised to know that only 41% of people wash their shoes, and most of them do not follow a regular cleaning habit. But the fact is washing your hiking sandals for a comfy, relaxed walk is always great.
However, how to wash hiking boots pops up in your mind whenever you think of cleaning the shoes. For your convenience, this article covers a detailed guide on how to wash hiking boots so you can easily run on the tracks.
How Often you Should Clean Hiking Boots?
Before we jump into the step-by-step guide on how to wash hiking shoes, you need to know how many times you should wash them. Well, depending on the usage or type of terrain, you might clean your footwear once a week. However, there is nothing bad in maintaining them regularly to wipe off dirt or debris.
5 Reasons You Should Clean Your Hiking Shoes
The functionality of a shoe highly depends on how you care for it. Cleaning alternatively affects the performance, durability, and overall design of slippers. Besides, here are 5 top reasons why you should clean hiking sandals:
1. Preserve Shoe’s Material
When you’re walking through rugged soil, many dirt particles accumulate in your shoes. Washing your boots can help remove those dust or debris and preserve the shoe’s material. Moreover, it also maintains your footwear’s sturdy construction and natural design.
2. Enhance Durability
The muddy trails and wet grounds contain dirt and stubborn stains on a large scale. When you wash your shoes, you ultimately get rid of those scuffs and thus extend the lifespan of your slippers. This way, you can easily wear them for extended hikes or long trips.
3. Maintain Breathability
When you know how to wash hiking boots, you alternatively understand the hidden secrets of increasing your shoe’s breathability. By wiping off dirt and grime, you increase your booties’ airflow and ventilation properties. Plus, it also keeps your feet dry and cool in harsh weather conditions.
4. Increase Waterproofing
Most trail running shoes are water-resistant and thus need proper cleaning to maintain their water-tight properties. Any smudge or scum can affect the waterproofing of the shoes, making them less efficient towards the membrane coatings. Thus, you should clean them to maintain the water-repellent features.
5. Prevent Foot Injuries
Bacteria or fungi entering your shoes during hiking can cause blisters and other health issues. Therefore, cleaning your slippers is crucial to prevent the risk of foot injuries. Keeping your shoe clean and hygienic can protect you from many foot-related problems.
How to Clean Leather Hiking Boots
Although leather boots are considered sturdy and highly resistant to abrasion, they can still get dirty on rugged hiking trails. Therefore, here is a step-by-step guide to how to clean leather hiking boots for your next trip.
Step#1: Properly Clean the Boots
The first crucial step is to clean your leather shoes properly to remove dirt and grim. You can use a soft cloth or a sponge to wipe off the dirt, mud, or debris from the shoe surface completely.
Step#2: Waterproof Your Leather Boots
The next important step is to apply a waterproofing spray to enhance the water-resistance properties of your leather boots. Once the dirt particles are removed, you need to waterproof your boots with boot wax, oil, or spray.
Step#3: Use a Boot Cleaner and Brush for Tough Stains
Apart from normal dust and debris, many tough stains and scuffs cannot be removed from a gentle cleaning. For this, you can use a cleaner and a boot brush to remove areas with stubborn stains and gently wipe them down.
Steps for Cleaning Synthetic Hiking Boots
Shoes made with synthetic materials like nylon or polyester need to clean regularly. Thus, enlisted below are some steps explaining how to wash hiking boots made with synthetic material:
#1: Remove the Laces and Insoles
Remove the laces and insoles to clean your hiking shoes made with synthetic material. Most shoes have removable and machine-washable footbeds, so you can wash them separately with a soapy solution.
#2: Scrub the Hiking Footwear to Remove Dust and Dirt
Scrub your hiking footwear’s fronts, sides, and back using a brush or toothbrush. Rub them in a circular motion to remove the dirty particles, stains, and stubborn grime. Then, prepare a cleaning solution containing warm water and mild soap. Rinse the shoes thoroughly to remove traces of soap residues.
#3: Apply Waterproofing
Another important step of how to wash hiking boots is drying them completely in a well-ventilated area. Before you apply a waterproofing spray, ensure to air dry the slippers so the material remains preserved and there are no water droplets left inside.
Essential Tips for Drying and Waterproofing
An important aspect involved in the proper clean and care of your boot is proper drying and waterproofing. These are the two essential steps that work magic to maintain the structure and sturdiness of your footwear. Follow the instructions below to take care of your gear:
Tip#1: Utilizing a Heat Source to Dry Your Boots
You need to dry your boots perfectly using a heat source or other efficient method for better airflow. For instance, you can use a natural air-dry or a boot dryer to kick off moisture and water residues. However, remember to avoid direct sunlight or radiators for drying as they can crack the leather and might damage the shoe’s integrity.
Tip#2: Waterproofing Your Hiking Boots to Protect Against Moisture
The next significant step in describing how to wash a walking boot is waterproofing the shoe to protect against moisture. Using a waterproofing spray, you can enhance the resistance of your shoes without disturbing the texture and material quality.
BONUS: Simple Quick Way to Clean Your Hiking Boots
Besides washing, drying, and waterproofing, shoe care also requires additional steps. These basic yet integral care tips will help clean your boots and maintain the overall structure. Follow the directions as described below:
1. Store Your Hiking Shoes in a Cool, Dry Place
Once you’re done with the washing and drying steps, it’s time to store your shoes in a suitable or safe place. Usually, it is recommended to place them in a cool or dry area or a place that is not exposed to heat rays. This is because storing the boots in a cooler environment prevents the material from deteriorating and reduces the risk of damage.
2. Regular Maintenance of Hiking Boot Uppers
The answer to how to wash hiking boots simply lies in regular maintenance and day-to-day cleaning of hiking boot outsoles. Depending on the usage and shoe material, you should care for your hiking shoes daily to remove the small dirt particles. This way, you can also extend their lifespan.
How To Clean Different Types of Hiking Boots?
At this point, you’ve got a detailed insight on washing your boots, but you’re not done yet. The washing process might differ depending on your shoe type and material. Therefore, we’ve listed down the step-by-step process of how to wash hiking boots of different types:
How to Clean Walking Boot Cast?
Cleaning your walking boot cast prevents skin infections and maintains a hygienic atmosphere for your feet. Here are some steps you can follow to learn how I can clean my hiking shoes:
How to Clean Oboz Hiking Boots?
Washing your Oboz footwear is simple and does not take much time. Fortunately, you can learn how to wash hiking boots by following the advice on how to properly clean them in three basic steps:
Step#1 Remove the Dirt Particulates
Start cleaning by removing the dust and debris from your Oboz hiking boots and shoes. Use an old toothbrush or damp cloth, then rinse the footwear in lukewarm water containing a mild dish soap.
Step#2 Dry to Soak Moisture
Keep taking care of your shoes by using a boot dryer or natural air-dry. This will remove the moisture from the shoes so your feet can feel comfy while walking.
Step#3 Apply Waterproofing
Finally, if you need regular maintenance or want to treat your shoes with excellent water-repellent properties, apply a waterproofing spray.
How to Wash Hiking Shoes in Washing Machine?
Although it is not recommended to wash shoes in a washing machine as it damages the material, especially full-grain leather. However, some shoe types, such as Salomon, contain removable and machine-washable footbeds or insoles. Here are some simple tips if you want to clean your footwear in a machine:
How to Wash a Walking Boot Liner?
To extend the durability and lifespan of your shoes, it is great to wash the boot liner. You can follow the same washing steps as it will make it easier to clean the footwear. Most liners are removable, so you can easily wash them in the machine or apply hand washing.
To know how to wash a walking boot liner, start by removing the liner. Then, soak it in lukewarm or a soap solution. Rinse it thoroughly, and finally, air-dry the shoes before you store them.
How to Clean Suede Hiking Boots?
Shoes having suede as a durable material need to be cleaned carefully as they are sensitive and are more susceptible to dirt particles. Therefore, learning how to clean suede hiking boots is crucial to maintaining their structure and overall design. Let’s have a quick look at the cleaning steps below:
FAQs
Can I wash my hiking boots in the washing machine?Usually, it is not a great idea to wash your shoes in a washing machine. However, depending on the type of stains and shoe texture, you might need to clean hiking boots in a machine, if necessary. How do you wash shoes after hiking?Once you’re back from trails, you might want to treat your shoes with a soap solution mixed with lukewarm water. This will help remove the dirt, dust, or debris from the shoe surface. How do you clean and restore hiking boots?When learning how to wash hiking boots, you should also know how to restore them to their original shape and texture. For this, you can use a waterproofing spray or a leather conditioner to properly clean your hiking slippers. How do you dry wet hiking shoes?The simple drying method involves air drying your shoes naturally. Moroever, you also need to do some regular drying by putting the shoes in the machine to completely dry them. How do you wash Merrell hiking shoes?Merrell hiking shoes are sturdy and made of full-grain nubuck leather. Therefore, you can wash them with a mild detergent in running water so the texture and shine of the shoes remain preserved. Notice that water temperature is not too high, as it can damage your boots. How do I make my hiking boots look new?You can maintain your shoe quality by cleaning your shoes regularly and performing deep washing once every week. Moreover, you can use gel or a waterproof spray that adds to their functioning to keep them new. What is the best treatment for leather hiking boots?The best treatment for leather shoes is to apply a conditioner or waterproof spray. Soaking them in water is insufficient; these sturdy boots need extra protection to run on rugged hiking trails. Can you wash Columbia hiking boots?Like other shoe types, you can easily wash Columbia hiking boots, made with durable and waterproof leather. The washing process is simple and takes less than a few minutes. What are the negative effects of not taking proper care of your hiking boots?If the hiking boots are not cleaned or cared for properly, they can be damaged after the first or second use. Moreover, the material can also deteriorate, and the water resistance properties can also be affected due to the accumulation of dirt and debris.
Final Verdict – How To Wash Hiking Boots
Now you have a clear guide on how to wash hiking boots, you can easily remove those stubborn stains affecting your shoe quality. The best thing is the washing process is simple, with basic steps and accessible tools. Thus, you can perform cleaning whenever needed without any hassle and comfortably walk on uneven hiking trails.