How to Clean Leather Boots: 6 Expert Tips

So you’ve invested in a great pair of leather boots, and you’ve been proudly wearing them for months—whether for work, as a durable everyday footwear, on camping trips, or just to flex while navigating the perils and puddles of city streets. Inevitably, the day will come when you need to know how to clean leather boots.

Yes, leather sometimes looks great when it’s broken in after it’s been hit with urban grime, forest soil, or stains, but you will still need to clean your leather or suede boots a few times per year—and sometimes, a quick wipe with a clean cloth isn’t enough to undo hard wear and tear.

In this article, we will guide you through the practical steps of cleaning boots of all kinds, from removing dirt and grime to conditioning and drying.

Our Boot Care Experts

We’ve interviewed cobblers and bootmakers to learn how to best care for boots. Stridewise.com has been creating articles and videos (a lot of them!) for over 6 years to find the coolest boots and keep looking great for ages!

What You’ll Need to Clean Leather Boots

Sure, you could clean leather shoes with a damp cloth and call it a day, but that won’t always cut it—to keep your boots in top shape, you may need to invest in a horsehair brush, leather cleaners, and leather conditioner.

Here’s a list of our must-have cleaning products to keep boots looking their best:

• A bowl of water
• Leather cleaner
• Two soft and clean cotton towels
• Leather conditioner 
• Horsehair brush (or a soft bristled brush)
• Optional: Dauber brush or soft bristled toothbrush for cleaning hard-to-get crevices
• Optional: Saddle Soap for tough stains

How to Clean Leather Boots: Step By Step

How you clean your boots depends a lot on the leather types. The steps below will work for most smooth and oiled leathers. If you have suede boots, check out our suede cleaning article.

1. Preparation: Remove laces

First, remove the laces (if applicable) and gently tap the shoes together by the heels to dislodge any visible dirt or debris.

Shake off any excess dirt that’s stuck to the laces before washing them. This is also a good time to assess whether your laces need to be replaced. If the laces were previously waxed but are no longer, or if there is fraying on the body, new laces may be necessary.

2. Cleaning: Remove dust & debris

Next, use a soft brush (horsehair is recommended) to remove any crusted clumps and any loose dirt or remaining debris. Be careful not to use hard bristles that could scratch the leather or scrub too firmly, as this can damage your boots. (Hard bristled brushes are for suede, roughout, and nubuck — not smooth leather.)

Use a soft-bristled toothbrush or a dauber brush to clean crevices and folds, especially under the tongue and where the leather uppers touch the soles. Don’t scrub too hard, and make sure you don’t fray any stitching.

Next, use a dry cloth or rag to wipe off any remaining dirt from the boots gently to prevent small sand grains from scratching the uppers during the cleaning process. Remove as much dirt as possible before cleaning to prevent it from seeping into the leather.

Recommended Horsehair Brush

3. Washing: Clean Your Boots with Leather Cleaner

Before wetting your boots, double-check for any remaining dirt or dust. After you’ve finished, grab the damp, soft cloth and gently wipe down your boots.

Next, use leather cleaners like Cobbler’s Choice Leather Cleaner. Leather cleaners are mild and work for most leathers. Powerful soaps like Saddle Soap are so effective at removing stains that they can also remove helpful oils from the leather, so don’t default to Saddle Soap for any old cleaning job like some guides suggest.

Recommended Leather Cleaner for Boots

4. Deep Cleaning: How to Clean Leather Boots with Saddle Soap (Optional)

To remove stubborn stains from leather boots use Saddle Soap. Originally, formulated for horse saddles, Saddle Soap is an ideal product for deep cleaning leather footwear, from leather work boots to worn leather boots. It’s also suitable for other leather goods such as luggage, boots, handbags, and belts.

We recommend it for tough stains and seriously dirty boots only—it’s powerful stuff. Saddle Soap will remove the leather’s natural oils and can easily strip the dye as well.

How to Use Saddle Soap?

To begin, grab a damp cloth and apply your chosen leather cleaning product. Then, clean the boots in a circular motion, allowing the cleaning solution to lather and penetrate any accumulated dirt and debris and focusing on any scuff marks.

While some may opt for a frugal alternative like vinegar and water, it is important to note that using a dedicated leather cleaning product will always be the most effective and safest way to clean leather shoes.

After applying the saddle soap solution to your leather boots, gently wipe off any excess soap residue with a damp rag to prevent it from drying on the surface of the leather. To do this, use a clean, wet cloth to wipe off the solution, and then follow up with a clean, dry cloth to remove any remaining moisture.

Be sure to let the boots dry completely before applying leather cream or conditioner to rehydrate the leather.

Recommended Saddle Soap for Boots

5. Drying: How to Dry Leather Boots

It’s essential to let your boots completely dry. Don’t use a blow dryer or leave your boots in the direct sun. It’s best to keep the laces off the boots and leave them in a well ventilated room, stuffed with newspapers, dry cloth, or (ideally) cedar shoe trees.

6. Leather Conditioning: Apply a Leather Conditioner

Once your boots are completely dry, it’s time to apply leather conditioner to keep your shoes looking and feeling their best and to prevent cracks, breaks, and splits.

Using a soft, clean cloth, and gently rub the conditioner into the leather using small circular motions, making sure to cover every inch of the boot’s surface. Allow the conditioner to soak in for a few minutes, then use a clean towel to wipe away any excess.

Next, grab your horsehair buffing brush and give the boots a quick buff to even out the conditioner. Finally, leave your boots to rest for about 20 minutes, allowing the conditioner to fully absorb and revitalize the leather before wearing or storing them.

Recommended Leather Conditioner for Boots

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How to Remove Salt Stains from Boots

Get rid of irritating salt stains with this tip from our buddy @Shelllvedge.

Process:

1. Soak and Cleanse:
   • Prepare a warm bath for your boots.
   • Use a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and dish soap to tackle salt and water stains.
   • Make sure the leather is completely immersed and thoroughly soaked.
2. Drying Phase:
   • Fill the boots with crumpled tissue paper to maintain shape.
   • Allow them to air dry for a full 12-24 hour period.
3. Targeted Cleaning:
   • Employ a small, soft-bristled brush for detailed cleaning of stubborn stains.
4. Nourish the Leather:
   • Apply a premium leather conditioner to restore essential oils.
   • This step helps protect the boots against future environmental damage.

Required Items:

• Hydrogen peroxide solution
• Liquid dish detergent
• Absorbent tissue paper
• Soft-bristled brush (small size)
• High-grade leather conditioner (recommendation: Pure Polish Products cleaner and conditioner)

Caution: This technique is considered a last resort. Some professional cobblers may caution against fully submerging certain leather boot types. For high-value or sensitive leather items, it’s advisable to consult a leather care professional before proceeding.

How to Clean Suede Boots

Here is what you need to clean your suede shoes. 

• Shoe tree / boot tree (or newspaper if you do not own shoe trees)
• Suede brush 
• Shoe brush
• A dry cloth
• Room temperature water 
• Saphir Omnidaim or Saphir Omninettoyant (same forumula different name)

Suede shoes and boots require a different approach to cleaning. First, put a shoe tree on your boots. Take your suede brush and scrub the boots thoroughly. Prepare our cleaning solution. For the products recommended, mix 2 parts water with one part Saphir Omnidaim/Omni’Nettoyant.

Next, dip your shoe brush into the suede cleaner solution and lather it onto the boots while scrubbing it in a circular motion. Saturate the entire boot with soap. Then take your cloth and remove as much moisture from the boot as you can. Lastly, let it air dry for until they are completely dry.

Recommended for Cleaning Suede

Wrapping Up, How to Clean Leather Boots

With these simple steps, you can keep your leather boots looking great for years to come. Regular cleaning and conditioning will not only maintain the appearance of your boots but also extend their lifespan.

Remember to be gentle with your boots, avoid using harsh cleaners like rubbing alcohol or abrasive materials, and always test any new products on a small, inconspicuous area before applying them to the entire surface of your boots. Yes, leather is a durable material, but the process of cleaning leather boots must be done with care in order to avoid damaging or staining the material.

Whether you like your shoes to look brand new or prefer that “worn leather work boots” aesthetic, you want to keep your favorite leather boots in good condition for years (or even decades) to come.

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