Wearing work boots on the job is a great way to add extra protection and comfort, but they can get pretty dirty. When you’re done with your shift or day of work, it’s important to wash them so that they stay in good shape and don’t start smelling foul.
When you are working on a job site, the last thing you want to do is spend your free time washing your work boots. It can be done though! Here are some tricks for how to wash work boots after they have been caked with dirt and grime.
When you’ve spent all day wearing heavy construction equipment, it’s no wonder that it feels like someone has used your feet as bowling balls by the end of the day. The good news is that there are some easy ways to get rid of those nasty calluses at home without having to go through surgery or spending hundreds of dollars at a salon.
Table of Contents
Tips of How to Wash Work boots:
Clean the outside of the boots with a damp cloth
Look for products that are designed to remove persistent dirt. You can find these products at the shoe store. Use a light detergent on your work boots, scrubbing with an old toothbrush if necessary.”
Kick your shoes off every now and then so they air out, but clean them less often than you would dress shoes or even casual shoes. The substances inside of work boots stays there – respiratory masks are usually stored in the same pair of boots as worn devices.”
Fill a bucket or sink with warm water and dish soap
What you need?
A bucket or sink with warm water and dish soap. A rag, stocking, whisk broom or brush.
Steps
Scrub the work boots if necessary with dish soap and cold water to remove dirt. Rub them down vigorously for about five minutes before starting to rinse them off with warm water. Take into account that they will be soaking in the solution while you scrub so make sure there is enough room in the bucket or sink to accommodate it all at once along with your hand if using a brush of some sort while scrubbing 5). Do not use anything abrasive on boots, don’t use hot water unless it’s specifically designed for cleaning leather items!
Place your work boots in the soapy water, turning them over to make sure they’re completely submerged
Work boots should be cleaned and dried with a towel after each use. Comfortable footwear is important because we often spend the day on our feet, walking back and forth from work to home. Having wet, cold feet can add discomfort to an otherwise bad day.
Through walking dirt in, you could potentially pave over that which you have just scrubbed off during your cleaning efforts! It’s also beneficial from a health perspective because when we clean our feet thoroughly then keep them dry, they provide a natural barrier against infections for both us and those around us.
Let them soak for 20 minutes
The best way to clean a pair of work boots is to generously spray them with a hose, saturate the boot from top-to-bottom. Allow them to sit for about half-hour and rinse thoroughly. The more often you wash your work boots, the less likely they will break down or discolor.
In addition, using warm water will help loosen tough stains on these types of shoes that might be hard to remove otherwise. Wearing shampoo on your feet can help keep them odor free as well so consider this before going on your next outdoor excursion!
Rinse off any dirt and grime from the exterior of your boot by scrubbing it gently with a soft brush
The exterior of your boots are made to take a beating, so it’s important to give them the attention they deserve by way of cleaning. To clean your work boots, you have two options:
-Apply a non-detergent soap cloth with water and scrub away dirt and grimes. Rinse off any remaining dirt or grime afterwards before allowing it to dry in front of an ambient heater or fan setting.
OR
-Rinse off any dirt and grime from the exterior of your boot by scrubbing it gently with warm water without detergent; rinse off any remaining dirt or grime afterwards before allowing it to dry in front of an ambient heater or fan setting.
Allow your boots to air dry completely before wearing or storing them away again!
Allow your boots to air dry completely before storing them away again. Hard, crusted mud can virtually glue your boots together and prevent the boot from drying. Pull them off wet and let the water drain out, then set on a towel or shoe rack that will allow ventilation while still letting the leather dry without getting more wet than necessary.
Flip over every hour or so and repeat with fresh cool water for 24 hours. Clean any surface dirt off the soles of the boot before this process begins by wiping down with a rag soaked in warm soap solution or mineral oil if desired, for best results use leather specific products to clean after you’ve washed it with soap soap solution or mineral oil).
Clean the outside of your boots with a damp cloth
You don’t want to throw them in the washing machine and dryer. They’ll come out worst for wear, and you’ll risk ruining the boots themselves, as well as the rest of your clothes.
To wash work boots, rather than heading straight for the washer and then onto a warm (hot) dryer cycle (don’t do this), dip your boots into cool or cold water with a little laundry detergent on it while you give them a good scrubbing with a dish brush to break up any stubborn dirt; let them soak while working away at any stains and allow plenty of time for moisture to be drawn out of the leather.
Use a brush to scrub off any dirt on the bottom and inside of your shoes
For regular work boots, it’s best not to wash them. Dirt can build up much easier on the rubber type sole that provides better traction in certain conditions. For all other shoes that are clean, use a cloth or brush if you have one. But for work boots, dust with a dry cloth and wipe off any excess dirt with your fingers before getting back to your footware cleaning routine.
There are people who will dry clean their work boots anyway even though they may spend more because it helps preserve the boot frame-but if you are spending money on “show” outfits then just put some time into washing at home after purchase or dipping your feet in water and soap before wearing your new shoes-they should be perfect!
Spray the inside with water and use dish soap to clean
We recommend wearing latex or vinyl gloves and just smelling the boots to tell if they’re dirty. If the smell test indicates that it stinks, then you can apply dish soap in a spray bottle with some water, but for safety’s sake it’s best to use gloves if possible.
Spray on the inside of your work boots in an area not easily seen in with lots of suds, rinse out with clean water, and dry up if necessary–this is really all you need when washing work boots!
If you are cleaning muddy or stained work boots make sure to leave time for drying before putting them on again. It takes time for mud to dissolve in water so do give them plenty of time for this part!
Let them dry overnight or sit in front of an open window for about an hour
They need to be cleaned with a dry brush & a water/toothpaste mixture, a vacuumed drying with paper towels followed by the “blanket” drying process.
How do you clean your work boots? You have three main options: Boot Shine Sponges, dishwashing detergent and vinegar mix, or crude-oil soap and elbow grease. In all three cases, you’re trying to remove dirt from the boot before attempting to apply product on the leather.
If you want to make sure they are really clean, use a toothbrush to get into all those hard-to-reach places
This one is a tough call–they do come into contact with a lot of dirt and solids. I would recommend just giving them a good shake and wearing them for the day to let the sweat and grime absorb and keep it all inside where you won’t see it as easily. Never use solvents or any harsh cleaning agents–those will break down anything that’s left on those boots, even after they’ve been worn in quite well! The bottom line here is your health as well as safety…I personally like to invest in something like Timberland Pro Series Forest Green Insulated Gore-Tex XCR Boots , but I don’t know if that’s what you’re looking for?
FAQs:
How do you get the smell out of steel toe boots?
Before washing your work boots, make sure that they are thoroughly sprayed or brushed off. If you have been using a waterproofing product that contains silicone, then remove this from the boot before you wash them. Then add a handful of baking soda to 1 gallon of warm water and mix well).
Submerge the work boots in the solution for at least 20 minutes. For rubber boots, it is recommended to use a detergent compatible with natural rubber soaps so as not to cause any issues with traction type properties of the sole. Afterwards, rinse thoroughly and dry off right away by either air drying outside if possible or putting them on a rack indoors until they are totally dried out.)
How do I stop my work boots from smelling?
Wipe down your boots’ soles before and after each use, so the sweat doesn’t have a chance to pool. Dunk your boots in a bucket of warm water with a squirt of dish soap. If you want an even more powerful solution, fill the bucket with a cup or two of vinegar or baking soda and a quart of hot water.
Let them soak overnight, then slosh them around in the sink to scrub off any rust from last season’s metal clips, stains from last winter’s salt blaster, and whatever else that might be running downhill behind your feet. Rinse off all that grunge with some cold water then let them dry upside down for 24 hours before wearing again.
Can you wash steel toe boots in the washer?
If you wash them, then you must dry them immediately. The material that protects the steel toes is vulcanized rubber with just a VERY small amount of natural rubber – if it’s not dried quickly they will turn brittle and crack.
Remember too that the washer also has moving, tumbling parts so it can knock around an unsecure boot so much as to come off the wire rack or kick loose from any bungee attachments. Tossing in laundry soap with bleach? It’s pretty easy for boots to slip down into the back area of the machine where they’ll miss getting hit by water jets.
Why do my work boots stink?
Water does a number on leather boots and shoes. When leather is dry, its outside fibers are hard and waterproof. But once wet, that same material becomes soft and easily molded to whatever was in contact with it at the time when it got wet.
So when your shoes get wet from stepping in puddles, they take on all sorts of stench good stuff from whatever good or bad dirt they happened to step through or brush up against while getting soaked through.
Why do my boots smell like cat pee?
It’s been found that many people have a sensitivity to the sulfur from cat urine, and this sensitivity manifests as a strong, unpleasant smell. In fact, one of the most common causes for a human to develop an allergic reaction is from exposure to concentrated cat urine (e.g., if you’re tasked with changing your cats litter) or even live animals like cats who spend time in close proximity to humans.
There are commercially available products that will combat the odor associated with any kind of pet pee; I would recommend giving those a try first before anything else because every woman has different sensitivities and no way for me (or anyone) online to know what your body can handle!
Can you put boots in the washer?
Yes. But I would recommend using a laundry bag so it doesn’t tangle with other things in the washing machine.
You can place boots in the wash, but you’ll need to create a laundry bag for them that’s big enough. You can do this by taking one of your hangers and tying the end of any long piece of cord around it to form a loop, then pulling one end through the other end before securing it tightly around itself with some sturdy object like two small screwdrivers or locking pliers. Make sure there are no knots – you want all your clothes to be able to tumble without forming these tangles.
Can you wash leather shoes?
Yes. Always use a special cleaner designed specifically for shoes.
Yes! You just have to be sure that you’re using a shoe cleaner made with the appropriate cleaners and conditioners so they don’t get destroyed by water and soap.
Cleaning your leather shoes is very important because it allows dirt, oil, and bacteria from your feet to not stay present on them where they could potentially cause an unpleasant smell or even damage the finish of the leather material.
Can you machine wash leather work boots?
Yes, you can machine wash leather work boots. The best way to make sure that you are storing it properly is by removing the insoles first. You can then wash the boot with warm water and detergent, but do not submerge them in water as this will cause damage to internal parts of the shoe. Let them air-dry thoroughly before reinserting the insoles. Allow enough time for each part to dry completely before dressing or wearing your footwear again.”
How do you get urine smell out of boots?
Urine can be tough to get out of anything, but the following should help you with your boot problem.
If the boots are waterproof, turn it upside down and wash them in hot soapy water or put them in a plastic bag with 1 – 2 cups of laundry detergent, tape it up close for 10 minutes, then wash them.
But if not, one last resort is to buy something called “ahh odorz” which should remove the smell permanently. I don’t recommend this because these products contain chemicals that aren’t advised on leather materials. This product may darken your boots even more over time!
Why do football boots smell so bad?
Many people are less sensitive to the stench of rubber. Less sensitive people are more likely to indulge in foot fetishism, or have other peculiarly discerning tastes in which they prefer the smell of rubber over leather. If you are sensitive, it should not be a problem if you put on two pairs made from different materials instead.
One for playing and one for practice/warm-ups.
If it’s because of perspiration then try washing them every day with soap and water. If that doesn’t work then bury them halfway into moist sand, leaving one part exposed so the air can circulate inside up until one week later when their ready.
How do you wash winter boots in the washing machine?
Most of the time it is safe to wash your winter boots in the washing machine. To do this, first do a quick stash check. Shake out or vacuum any loose items that may have fallen into the boots during storage then tie off the laces so they don’t tangle in the machine too much.
Now take your pair of winter boots to a shoe-hanging rack and lay them on their side with soles pointing up so you can easily see inside before starting anything else. Once you have removed all shavings or debris, step back at least three feet from your footwear for safety reasons–doing otherwise could lead to bodily harm, especially if things start coming apart mid-cycle—and fill up your washing machine.
What happens if you put leather shoes in the washing machine?
Leather takes a lot of effort and care to keep looking good, so it’s crucial you wash them by hand with leather soap only! Leather doesn’t stand up to the high-powered suds from most detergents or any of those heavy-duty cleaners that may be lurking in your laundry room cabinets. In fact, there are plenty of people who say washing your leather shoe before actually wearing is a great way to extend its life.
How often should you condition boots?
You have a few options for care. The first option would be to apply a leather conditioner every month or two. It’s important that the only way to do this is with an un-shined, un-polished leather. A better option would be to just use some water and soap whenever needed.
The easiest approach, however, would probably just be getting boot polish about once per year. This can help clean dirt and grime off the boots while also restoring color and sheen if they are soiled or faded by wear or weather conditions.”
Is Vaseline good for leather boots?
The nature of the interactions between Vaseline and leather is not clear (leather does not like to absorb or release water). So it could work well, it could make your boots less soft, decrease their durability. Some people find that applying water to dampen conditioner for shoes helps soften the leather too. So try adding some before applying Vaseline and then see how that works for you (maybe add more or add another layer if needed). What makes most people think that Vaseline would work is because it essentially stops moisture loss in cold climates.
Conclusion:
If you’re a work boot wearer, the time has come to clean your boots. You may be wondering how to wash them and what products will do the trick for cleaning these tough soles without damaging them or making your feet smell like mildew when they dry in wet shoes all day long.
That last thing we want is our customers coming back with complaints about their smelly/mildewy feet after wearing our well-made footwear! Here are some tricks that can help make washing those dirty work boots easier and more effective: First, use warm water instead of cold water because it helps dissolve dirt much faster than cool or hot water does (and don’t forget to add soap!).

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