HOW TO: Clean, Condition & Waterproof Your Boots

Taking care of your work boots is essential for them to function well in your everyday job role. It’s important to keep boots clean and tidy so they remain durable and long-lasting. Your boots go through a lot in one day whether they come up against the pouring rain, sweltering heat, harsh cold or thick mud and uneven terrain. So it’s essential to maintain the care of your Magnum boots in order for them to perform to the best of their ability, so you can perform to yours.

The different elements will affect your boots. If you are working outdoors, it is important to invest in a pair of water repellent boots as boots that aren't water resistant can result in cracked uppers. This can be the same for water resistant leathers, which can experience a gradual loss in the waterproofing. Treating water resistant leather boots with conditioning sprays or creams can prolong the life of the water resistant layer.

It is also very important when working in icy and snowy conditions, where salt is very common, that leather boots are cleaned thoroughly afterwards to ensure that the boots are not eroded and stained.

Take a look at our do’s and don’ts of footwear maintenance to ensure that your Magnum boots have a long and healthy life!

• Try to wipe down your boots with a cloth or rag after use to reduce the build-up of dirt and debris that reduces the lifetime of your boots.
• For full-grain leather boots, dampen a paper towel or cloth with a moisturising soap, gently clean the problem areas with a circular motion. For boots which are caked in dirt or heavy dust, use a brush or suede eraser.
• Use a conditioning product regularly to stop both water resistant and non-water resistant leather boots from cracking and never dry your leather boots in front of a heating element. You should also make sure you remove the laces and insoles before drying.
• Store boots in a mildly humid and dust free environment to retain moisture and maintain condition.
• You can remove salt, ice and snow from boots using a vinegar solution. Wipe as much salt away as you can with a cloth or rag and mix 2 parts water with 1 part vinegar. Gently clean the boots with the solution and then use a damp cloth to wipe away the excess. Finally, dry the boots with a clean dry towel.

Finding that perfect, out-of-box comfortable pair of boots is hard enough on its own. But then you have to submit them to hours of wear and tear, gruelling activities and harsh environments. So to help them withstand the elements and keep your feet protected and dry for a long time, you need to take a few steps.

Cleaning Suede & Leather Boots

Maintain your product by cleaning regularly. Dirt and mud should be brushed off once it has dried naturally. Wipe with a clean damp cloth if necessary.

Never wash in the washing machine. Immersion in and exposure to detergents can attack the stitching and bonding agents within the product

Clean your boots if you’ve already worn them. To clean suede or fabric portions of your boots, use a brush to get rid of any dust, without scrubbing to avoid damage. For leather, use a clean cloth with a little detergent dissolved in water. Saddle soap is also a good option for extra grimy boots. After cleaning, wipe with a damp cloth and let them air dry at room temperature.

Conditioning Leather Boots

Since full-grain leather is skin at its base, you will need to condition your boots after cleaning. Professional boots oils and conditioning products are of course great options, but so are mink oil and Neatsfoot oil. However, Neatsfoot oil darkens the boots’ colour, so it is best suited for black boots. To help the leather absorb the conditioner, give your boots a little workout and wear them around indoors. This step is crucial in taking care of your boots, as conditioning will maintain your footwear’s flexibility and durability in time, and will prevent the leather from cracking and flaking.

Waterproofing boots

If you have purchased a waterproof product, the leather must regularly be treated with waterproofing and conditioning sprays or creams. Used in wet conditions the leather will experience a gradual loss of its water resistant qualities, and if untreated the leather will slowly harden and crack.

After conditioning your boots, it’s time to waterproof them. This can be done again either with professional waterproofing sprays or creams or with something as simple as wax or a leather boot silicone. Just work the product into your boots, let it dry/absorb and then wipe and polish the boots with a clean dry cloth.

Magnum has a wide variety of waterproof boots that will keep your feet dry without any additional waterproofing measures. Furthermore, many of our products have a coating of i-shield, which is stain resistant and repels water and dirt. However, all boots need at least regular cleaning and conditioning so they can keep serving you well year after year.

Drying
Dry slowly using natural air circulation at room temperature, do not subject the product to a direct heat source.

Paper can be used to stuff the product in the drying process to help absorb moisture and maintain the shape of the product.

Linings
All linings used in MAGNUM products are made of comfortable breathable material that requires little or no maintenance. Foot moisture is absorbed and the drying process is quick due to the breathable nature of the linings.