How to Clean Your Walking Boots

Muddy walks are often the best kind, but your boots won’t thank you if they go back in the cupboard covered in half the Peak District! Every so often, they need a bit of attention to keep them going.

Below, we’ll walk you through the steps to clean and care for your walking boots properly — with a few extra tips and tricks along the way.

A Step-by-Step Guide on Cleaning Your Walking Boots 

Walking boots are made from all sorts of materials (leather, suede, synthetic, or a mix) and that can slightly change how you clean them.

The advice generally stays the same across the board, but for the purposes of this cleaning step-by-step, we’re going to focus mainly on synthetic uppers with a waterproof membrane. Something like these:

We’ll also give some advice for suede and leather walking boots later on in the guide.

Step 1: Preparing Your Boots

Before you bring out the bucket, it’s worth doing a quick bit of prep first.

It doesn’t take long, and it makes your job easier down the line.

Here’s what to do:

• Tap your boots together outside to knock off any loose mud or debris. That way you won’t end up cleaning your floor too!

• Grab a stiff cleaning brush and give the uppers and soles a once-over, brushing away any visible dirt.

• Use the pointy end of your footwear brush (or something similar) to get right into the tread on the soles.

• Remove the laces and any insoles. You can wash these separately or just set them aside if they’re still in good nick.

Step 2: Cleaning Your Boots

Now it’s all about the cleaning, so make sure you’ve got the following bits on hand:

• Some old newspapers or a towel

• A clean, dry cloth or sponge

• Your footwear cleaner*

We'd suggest picking up an all-one-kit like this one from Grangers. It comes with the footwear cleaner, reproofing spray, odour eliminator spray, and a footwear brush to help you with step 1.

Shop Grangers Footwear Care Kit

 

*if you don’t have any footwear cleaner, you can use something like washing up liquid, but we tend to advise going for the specialist stuff like from Grangers. Especially if your boots are made with any tech like Gore-Tex or Trespass’ Tres-Tex.

 

What to do (if you’re using a footwear spray like the Grangers):

1. Lay down some newspaper (or an old towel) to protect your floor, and pop your boots on top.

2. Spray your footwear cleaner directly onto the boot — uppers, soles, eyelets, crevices, the lot. Make sure you keep the spray bottle about 10-15cm away from the boot.

3. Use your cloth to wash off the cleaner, making sure there’s no soapy residue left. 

 

What to do (if you’re using a bottle cleaner or dish soap):

1. Lay down some newspaper (or an old towel) to protect your floor, and pop your boots on top.

2. Fill a bucket with lukewarm water and your cleaner of choice. 

3. Dip a fresh cloth into the soapy water and clean each boot all over — uppers, soles, eyelets, crevices, the lot. 

4. Once clean, use a second fresh cloth to wipe off any soapy residue.

A few top tips:

• Resist the urge to just let them soak in the bucket or run them under a tap. Too much water can be detrimental to your boots, softening the upper and causing them to lose their shape. So it pays to take your time and use the cloth method.

• You can also clean inside your boot at this point too, again just being careful not to saturate them too much. 

• Taking off the laces and getting rid of the worst of the mud in Step 1 should make this bit much easier, but if they’re really muddy, you might need to go over them a couple of times — another reason to invest in a decent footwear cleaner that’s made for the job.

 

Keen to see how it's done? The below video from Grangers shows how to use their footwear cleaner to clean your boots.

 

Step 3: Reproofing (if applicable)

If you have waterproof walking boots, this is the point where you’ll reproof them. 

The Footwear Repel Plus from Grangers (in the all-in-one kit we mentioned) works on all sorts of materials, including suede, nubuck, leather, and fabric. Or if you’ve got leather walking boots, you could also go for something like their Waterproofing Nourishing Beeswax Wax, which is made specifically for leather.

 

How to apply:

• Spray directly onto your freshly cleaned, damp boots, making sure to cover them evenly

• Use a clean cloth to wipe off any excess

• Let them dry fully (see Step 4)

• Add a second coat once dry, if needed

Step 4: Letting Them Dry

Once your boots are cleaned and reproofed, it’s time to let them dry before you use them again.

A few best practices are:

• Allowing them to dry naturally in a cool, well-ventilated area

• Keep them away from fireplaces, radiators, or airing cupboards. Too much direct heat can cause the material to crack or become misshapen

• To help dry the insides, you can stuff them with some more old newspaper

And most importantly, make sure they are fully dry all over and inside before you put them away or put them back on.

FAQs 

What if my boots smell?

This can be common, especially if your boots get a lot of use.

Grangers have an odourising spray that can help remove these smells, and it’s part of their all-in-one kit. A spray works well for getting down into the toe area too, which is often where smells start to build up.

The insoles may also be the culprit, so you should give these a good wash or replace them if they’re looking towards the end of their days.

 

How often should I clean my walking boots?

It’s good to get into the habit of doing spot cleans after every walk. 

You don’t need to do a full clean like this every time, but a quick brush to get rid of surface mud can save you more work later. If the uppers are looking dirty, a once-over with a cloth and a bit of footwear cleaner doesn’t hurt either.

 

How do I store my boots when not in use?

Just like when drying them, a cool, well-ventilated spot is your best bet.

A boot rack works well — just steer clear of damp garages or hot airing cupboards.

How do I clean leather and suede walking boots?

For leather walking boots, use a soft brush and a specialist leather cleaner. The material is a bit more delicate than synthetic, so a gentle touch is recommended.

The same approach is needed with suede boots, and investing in a specific suede brush and cleaner is the way to go. You’ll want to also make sure you use minimal water, as suede doesn’t like too much of it!

Material	Cleaning Notes
Synthetic	Safe with more water, responds well to cleaner
Leather	Needs gentler cleaning, use leather-specific products
Suede	Very sensitive to water, use suede brush and spray

 

Can I put my walking boots in the washing machine?

Unfortunately, no shortcuts with this one. You need to clean your walking boots by hand, as the washing machine can damage the materials. 

If you’ve got any other questions about how to clean your walking boots, feel free to drop them in the comments at the end. 

Need any tools for the job?

We’ve put together a full collection of cleaning and care products to help you pick up everything you need in one place — from footwear brushes and odour sprays to specialist reproofers and all-in-one kits.

 

Wrapping Up

So, that’s it! Four simple steps to get a nice, clean pair of walking boots that will be ready for their next adventure.

Now your boots are sorted, what’s next? If you’re planning your next outing, check out our favourite walks, jackets, or campsite picks over on the Avenue 85 blog.

 

About the Author

Tom, proud resident of Chapel-En-Le-Frith (aka the ‘Capital of the High Peak,’ as he loves to remind everyone), is a dad of two who spends his weekends ferrying the kids between football and dance class, occasionally sneaking in a peaceful walk around Fernilee Reservoir. When the family escapes to their coastal hideaway in Anglesey, he trades in the football boots for paddleboards and fishing rods, though his true passion lies in building the ultimate sandcastle. On the Avenue 85 blog, Tom shares his outdoor tips (and the occasional dad joke) with a down-to-earth approach that’ll make you feel like part of the family.