If you’re the type of person on your feet all day, then you know how important it is to keep your work boots dry. But what do you need to do if they get wet? In this blog post, we will discuss the best way to dry a pair of work boots. We’ll start with some basic facts about why it’s so important for work boots to be dry and then go over the different ways that people have found effective in drying their shoes out.
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How to Dry Work Boots?
It is important to note that the life of your work boots will be significantly reduced if you dry them out. To extend the life of your work boots, it is best to store them in a cool, dry place when they are not in use and then bring them into an office building or other indoor location for cleaning when necessary.
If you must take your wet work boots outside on a cold day, make sure to take care not let them freeze solid before returning indoors again! The best way forward is either bringing an insulated bag with you containing both wet and dry clothes so that if one gets soaked through with water/snow while outdoors, this can easily be changed out without having too much delay in getting back inside where it’s warm.
Dry work boots by using a hair dryer set on low heat.
Step 1: Soak the wet shoes in a bucket or pot of water for about an hour to help them air-dry faster.
Step 2: Set the hair dryer on low heat and blow hot air onto the shoe until it is no longer wet, but still damp (like when you first take them out of your package). Don’t overdo this step because too much drying can cause shrinkage and ruin your project! You should be able to do this easily in 10 minutes or less. If they are taking too long, put them outside in direct sunlight so that they will accelerate their own process quicker since there isn’t anything else being done.
Place the boots on a towel or cloth
Having a pair of dry boots is important for your safety and the safety of those around you. Wet boots can make you slip and fall, which could result in injury or even death.
To dry your boots, place them on a towel or cloth outside in direct sunlight. You can also place wet work boot insoles along with the rest of the shoes so that they will dry out as well.
Boots may take longer than other items to dry because they are such thick material soaked by water. It’s imperative that drains do not clog up before drying has completed, as this would allow any residual moisture from water-soaked shoes back inside and cause further problems with mold.
It is actually quite easy to dry work boots. All you need to do is get a towel or cloth, place the boots on it and make sure your heater is on. Then periodically flip different areas of the fabric (i.e., front-to-back, back-to-front) until every part of the boot has been exposed to warmth for some time.
This will ensure that water doesn’t drip back down into one area/section of your boot while also making sure they’re dried out properly (which can take up to three days). Be sure not to use any excess heat that isn’t necessary though because this could ruin the soles in your boots by drying them out too quickly.
Put newspaper inside the boots, with some folded up at the top to absorb moisture
To dry work boots, place newspaper or white cloth at the bottom inside of your shoes to absorb moisture. Next, take the newspaper and roll down both sides, tucking them underneath the foot. Fold up about three sheets of newspaper around top of shoe so it’s completely covered in absorbent materials. Last, cover with a paper bag or pantyhose to help retain heat and prevent infection.
Boots can typically be dried within 48 hours if they’re placed close enough to heat ducts—whether that’s an oven stovetop or radiator—or if you keep them in front of a heater vent that blows warm air directly at them day and night while you sleep.
This technique is meant to dry wet boots, not close the leather cells. An easier method for drying work boots is to put newspaper inside the boot, with some folded up at the top to absorb moisture.
Put this packing material in hot water for 5 minutes before inserting into wet boots. Stuff porous socks or other natural stuffing materials into boots where space permits, then tightly replace laces over waterproof paper and let dry naturally in a shaded location.
Put another towel over them and leave overnight
All you need is a towel and an overnight drying session.
The workboot or shoe needs to be dried inside-out to avoid shrinking the leather. If it has been soaked in water, the leather will dry like plastic bags after soaking up all that water, leaving both wrinkled and hard.
Soak the work boots at least twice for 10 minutes respectively each time with clean water; then fill them with clean, warm water until they are almost full; then put towels over them and leave overnight. Be sure to cover all of the boot above its sole so as not to let moisture escape from wet parts of you boot through visible cracks on its surface where there can still be quite large amounts of fertile ground for bacteria growth.
In the morning, take off all of the towels and use an old toothbrush to scrub away any remaining dirt or mud
The first step is to rinse the boot thoroughly, including the sole. The dirtier it is, the more soap (and elbow grease) you’ll need. We recommend using some warm water mixed with a little dishwashing liquid and a toothbrush for this one – just use a squirt or two of dish soap and a few drops of warm water in a bowl, dab your toothbrush into that solution, then scrub away at any caked-on sections. Go to town on any scuffs or stains too. Rinse off as much soapy residue as you can from the shoe before putting it back on.”
The easiest way to clean work boots is to find a bucket or container that will cover the whole boot. Pour in soap and water, then submerge the dirty boot into it. Soak your foot end of your boots with another bowl, hand-washing dishpan, sink, etc., by pumping water over the top of them like you would for washing dishes or clothes. Scrub vigorously all around all sides and inside with any old broom handle (best), scrub brush (2nd best – cheaper), washcloth (3rd best) thingy; make sure to use enough elbow grease!
Let boots dry completely before wearing again (usually two days)
The solution is to take heavy duty plastic bags, or ziplock bags; then wick out any excess moisture with paper towels. Be careful not to rub the leather because it will scratch and stain it. The ziplock bag should be open at one end (i.e., held open by a helper)
and over the area where you want to insert your foot so that the boot lies within the bag on its side, which allows for maximum contact with air, even if it isn’t totally enclosed in plastic like a dry-cleaned suit would be.
There are also boot drying racks designed specifically for outdoor boots, but before you buy one just check out whether your washing machine has stainless.
If your work boots are suede, you can skip step 4 and just let them air dry naturally in a well-ventilated area for one day
Your work boot soles are made of a durable rubber. In order to keep them from getting too wet, you should use a pair of dish towels or old pieces of terry cloth towel and lay them around your shoe. The other piece should go inside the rib garment at the toe area.
By using these two pieces as a sandwich, place both pairs flat on the floor, toes up for optimal airflow and wait multiple hours before washing out any excess moisture that has not been absorbed into your boot linings.
If they’re going to be particularly damp after several hours have passed without drying, but feel as though they will dry relatively quickly with time – try slowly rotating your bedroom’s ceiling fan.
- Put a paper towel in the boot and place it upright to absorb as much moisture as possible.
- Spray down the outside of the boot with a stain spray until evenly coated, then let it dry completely overnight. In the morning, scrape off any caked-on residue from heel counter, toe welts or around cutouts with a knife for suede boots, old credit card or something similar for leather boots.
- Brush off any residual dirt from soles and heels, if necessary by wiping with water on an old cloth and using a damp brush to revive luster under high gloss areas such as toe welts and if applicable just give rubber soles a once-over to remove debris.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How can I dry my boots fast?
First, make sure that they are clean.
Next, put them on the heater to dry. That’ll work for overnight but might wear away at the material if you’re doing it for too long. Another option is to use a blow-dryer (which may seem like an odd method) or place them in front of a fire or other heat source.
If your feet get overheated while wearing damp boots, this may be because blood vessels under your skin dilate to send more warm blood closer to the surface of your extremities which cools off more than what’s still inside your shoe which could result in frostbite and numbness.
How long do work boots take to dry?
The best way to dry work boots is with a boot dryer. They will usually take between 10 and 15 minutes to complete a cycle, but times may vary depending on the model or type of work boot being dried.
The consistent heat generated by a boot dryer will typically have wet boots suitably dried in about 20 minutes. Boots should be removed from your feet before using this appliance–if you leave them on, they might get overheated and seize up (which can create soreness). (more information, like why drying all day isn’t great)
It’s always recommended that both waterproofing and conditioning agents be reapplied after wearing work boots in damp conditions for any period of time–particularly after wading through water.
Can I put steel toe boots in the dryer?
No, don’t! Putting work boots in the dryer can ruin them in a matter of minutes.
Instead, you should wear two pairs of socks when wearing your steel toe work boots.
This will keep your feet warm and dry during the day while working outside with snow, water, mud etc. That way dirt won’t have the chance to penetrate through your socks all day long!
After work or after taking off your boots for any reason you also want to wash your feet before putting on food preparation surfaces around kitchen area for cooking, handling anything people might eat off of- so take care of this right away before it starts getting into food that may be eaten later.
How do you dry wet boots overnight?
Yes, if you turn the boots inside-out to dry, they will be fully dry by morning. You can also buy a boot drier or simply pour water out of the wet boots at night before bed. When I hang up wet work boots next to my desk instead of kicking them under my desk for hours on end?
This is because our feet sweat in our shoes when we’re standing still for too long and not enough air gets into the shoe. By leaving wet work boots outside overnight, your feet will have a much better chance at keeping cool and feeling much more comfortable in hot weather.
Can I use a hair dryer to dry my boots?
The best way to dry work boots is simply to hang them from a boot jack over the exhaust from a running hair dryer. This method creates an updraft airflow around your boots as the warm air rises and evaporates water particles from leather, making this one of the most effective ways to dry out wet or spilled-in shoes.”
“But what if I don’t want my entire house filled with airborne moisture, bacteria and germs?” you asked.
No worries! You can also accomplish the same result with an old towel sitting on an open window sill, directing hot air at it with your hairdryer so it blows crisp cold fresh wintery outside air into your home for just long enough.
Hair dryers are not powerful enough, and will take way too long. Of course you can use a hair dryer to try to warm up the boots if it’s really cold, but that may just make them more uncomfortable on your feet.
Instead of blowing hot air around inside the boot, just wear the boot with some socks this winter! There are also different ways of drying shoes out which might work for your boots–see ‘How To Dry Your Shoe Collection’ for tips on drying shoes off.
Can you dry boots in the clothes dryer?
Yes, but depending on the type of boot these can be harmful to the material. It is best to allow them to air-dry overnight in a shaded area. Though cloth is not conductive, it does have a good resistance that prevents electric current from leaking through. If you decide to dry them inside a dryer or outside, please use caution and avoid touching any metal parts for safety reasons.
How do you dry hiking boots?
- First, fill a large bucket with warm water and let the boots soak for about 30 minutes
- After soaking, remove excess water from the boots by wringing them out or using a towel to dry off as much as possible
- Next, place one boot at a time into an old pillowcase
- Now hang your wet boots upside down in an area that is well-ventilated and away from any heat sources such as radiators or fireplaces
- Leave your hiking boots to dry overnight
- In the morning, take your shoes out of the pillow case and check to make sure they are completely dry before wearing them again!
Conclusion:
Work boots need to be conditioned regularly, so they can’t just dry naturally. Here are some tips for how to dry work boots:
- Store the work boots with their lid open for a day or two
- This will help air them out and allow them to start drying out naturally
- Put your toes in each of the boot’s way lining up with the tongue before putting your foot into it
- Tuck the sap branches into each of that boot’s way lining up with its tongue, then replace the tucks with tuxedo shoe trees if you have one.
You May Also Like:
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- Can Work Boots Cause Lower Back Pain?
- Are Work Boots Bad for Your Feet?
- Are Work Boots Good for Hiking?
- Are Work Boots Waterproof?

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