How to clean your hiking boots

To avoid having to change them sooner than expected, it is important to take care of your hiking boots. Let's find out how to clean your hiking boots to take care of your boots in the best possible way.

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Although we tend to think that mud and dirt act as a protective layer for our hiking boots, the opposite is true, they slowly but surely damage them. In order to enjoy your boots for as long as possible, it is therefore important to clean them simply but regularly most of the time and occasionally more thoroughly. Let's find out together what the basic rules are for caring for and cleaning your shoes in the best possible way. 

Regular cleaning

After every hike, before you put your shoes away, it is important to make sure that they are free of dirt, both on the upper and in the outsoles. Even the slightest dust or residue can damage them by abrasion and lead to premature ageing. To avoid this, a simple surface brushing in a few steps is sufficient:

• knock your two shoes together to remove the least encrusted residues
• check the soles of the shoes and remove any small stones or mud clusters
• take a brush and scrub the surface of the uppers, not forgetting the tongue
• if you have walked in the mud, rinse with clean water, scrubbing with a brush and a little elbow grease
• leave to dry in a dry place away from a source of heat or direct light 
• store in a dry, ventilated place, away from dust 

Further cleaning

If you have to store your shoes for a longer period than usual, if you have been in sea water or if your shoes are really full of mud, then a more thorough washing is necessary. A minimum of equipment and a few minutes at your disposal are all that is needed. In just a few steps, your shoes will look like new: 

• as for a simple post-hike cleaning, knock your two shoes together 
• loosen the laces and tongue so that you can reach every corner and remove the insole
• let the insole dry, if necessary wash it first 
• using a soft brush, rinse your shoes with clean water and rub them until they are free of all traces of dirt (if they are really dirty, you can add a little neutral soap to the warm water). Wash the inside and outside of your shoes, not forgetting every corner 
• let your shoes dry completely in a dry place away from a source of heat or direct light
• finish with a nourishing protective treatment if your shoes are made of leather
• once or twice a year, conclude with the use of a water-repellent product - leave to dry in the open air and then store in a dry, ventilated place, away from dust

You now have all the keys and know exactly how to clean your hiking boots. To find out more about hiking boots, follow our full guide.