Salt stains, scuffs, everyday wear and tear ... ouf, the grievances of winter! Combat winter wardrobe damage with these easy and affordable winter care and maintenance solutions.
Before winter
Before winter
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Treat clean, dry dress-boots with a silicone waterproofing spray to prevent stains. If your new boots have a leather bottom and you want to wear them in winter months, consider having a shoe maker attach a thin rubber sole to protect your boots from moisture.
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Condition tough leather boots from severe weather conditions by rubbing mink oil or Vaseline into the leather with a soft cloth.
Snowy days
Snowy days
- Clean and then dry wet or soiled boots with a damp cloth at the end of every day.
- Wipe away winter stains with a soft cloth and Vaseline or leather conditioner. Let the product penetrate the material and then polish.
- To avoid the leather from drying out or cracking, place boots in a warm spot away from direct heat sources, such as radiators and fire-places.
Salty Solutions
Salty Solutions
- The secret weapon to getting rid of calcium marks on leather boots (or shoes!) is to scrub the stain with a sponge soaked with the simple combo of water and white vinegar (one-part vinegar to 4 parts hot water).
- If your boots are suede, follow the same water + vinegar process as with their leather counterparts. However, with suede boots, after the sponging is done, let them dry, then revive the texture with a suede brush, easily found in any shoe store.
- If the stains are particularly nasty and left over from last year, scrub them with pure vinegar.
Smart Storage
Smart Storage
- At the end of the season, clean, polish and apply a mink based protector so your winter-worthy boots and shoes will be ready for when you need them.
- Stuff winter boots with newspapers to keep their shape and absorb any dampness.
- Store delicate/expensive leather suedes items in a dust bag or old pillowcase.