Cleaning snow boots periodically can help you get more wear out of your boots. Salt, dirt and mud accumulated over winter wear can easily damage fabric snow boots.
The first thing to consider though, are your boots worth cleaning? Old boots, especially if they have gotten damp, can be a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. If you haven’t taken proper care of them, and they are old and smelly, it may be time to replace them with a shiny new pair.
Throughout winter you should wipe clean your boots to stop the build-up of salt and dirt, but it is worth performing a deep clean at the end of the season. Always check any care details that may be provided with your snow boots before cleaning to ensure they will not be damaged by any cleaning products you use.
Cleaning the Outside of your Snow Boots
Most snow boots can be wiped clean with a damp cloth and usually have a rubber or synthetic sole which is super easy to clean.
The below steps on how to clean snow boots can be followed for most snow boots, including Mountain Warehouse snow boots (check the manufacturers recommendations if your snowboots are from another retailer).
- Fill a bowl with warm water
- Dampen a clean sponge and brush off any dirty on the uppers of the boot. For tougher dirt and stains you may need to use a footwear brush
- Rinse sponge and use to clean off dirt on the soles of the boots
- Allow your snow boots to air dry. Do not tumble dry or force them to dry faster by putting them near a heat source as this may damage the glue that holds the soles on
- You might wish to stuff your snow boots with newspaper to draw out any moisture (be careful if the boots are a light colour that the print doesn’t transfer)
- If required you may wish to re-proof your snow boots by spraying the boots with a waterproofing spray. Spray evenly and again allow to dry naturally.
Keeping the Inside of your Boots Fresh
A build up of sweat can make your snow boots smell, below are a few tips to help keep them fresh.
- Remove your snow boots as soon as you can. If you’ve just walked the dog, as soon as you get back in take them off! Don’t let your feet sweat in them any longer than you have to.
- Wear breathable socks. If your socks happen to get wet, change them as soon as you can.
- At the end of the day when you have finished wearing your snow boots leave them to air dry before their next use. Do not try and speed this process up by putting them over a heater as it may damage the boots. Sometimes this can also make the boots smell worse!
- If they already smell and you need to remove that odour, try sprinkling some talcum powder or baking soda into the boots and leave overnight. This will soak up any moisture and help to deodorise.
- Insoles can harbor bacteria and will become compressed over time. Replace your insoles to give your old snow boots a new lease of life.
