How to Take Care of Winter Boots

These are my new Bos. & Co winter boots. Fancy, right? In years past, I would have let boots like this remain on the store shelf. I had been under the impression that boots like this were purely for show, that they wouldn’t be practical for a harsh Canadian winter. I was wrong. These boots are made for walking and that’s just what they’ve been doing every day for the past week. I’m walking them through snow and slush and they look great because I now know how to take care of leather and suede winter boots.

It took a visit to Armstrong & Richardson, a family-run shoe store in Ottawa to convince me that boots like this just aren’t for show.

How to Take Care of Winter Boots

The first thing you need to keep in mind, is that caring for your boots is much like caring for your face. You don’t slap on make-up without first washing your face gently, moisturizing and then applying sunscreen, right? Making sure your boots last is much the same process.

1) First, you need to clean your boots gently using a leather cleaner. Use a soft cloth to lift dirt from boots. The key word here is gently. Just as you would with your face, take it easy or you risk harming the leather.

2) Apply polish or boot wax. Apply using a dauber brush. Let wax dry and then buff gently with a soft cloth. Repeat this process.

3) Gently go over boots with a finishing brush.

4) Finally, spray your boots with a protector. Don’t forget to protect your leather purses and coats with protector as well. Spray your boots frequently in harsh winter conditions to keep them in the best condition possible.

5) The best way to deal with salt stains is to wipe boots off with a damp cloth while they’re still wet. If you let the salt dry it will burn the leather. If you don’t get to it before it dries, use a Salt Stain remover and then go back to Step 1.

6) Nubuck or Suede boots, need to be cleaned differently. The best way to do that is with a cleaning block, gently rubbing in circular motions to remove the dirt or using a Suede & Nubuck Cleaner.

Remember when shopping for your boots to keep in mind what they’re for. No one boot will cover all occasions. My Bos. & Co boots are great for cold weather walking but not the best option for dressier occasions. A dress boot is not going to keep you warm so if standing at the bus stop is your future, you may want to look at something lined with merino wool or sheep’s wool. Finally, one of the best tips I picked up while at Armstrong & Richardson was to change your socks before you go out. Most people perspire in their socks and then throw on their boots. The dampness is what leads to cold feet. Change into fresh, dry socks, preferably something made of merino wool just before you head out. Your feet will be thankful you did.

Tana wants you to Weather the Winter in style too. Enter to win a bi-weekly prize of $1000 or a Grand Prize of $2000. A win like that will get you boots for every occasion. Enter the Weather the Winter with Tana Contest here.

 

Thanks to Tana for sharing with Life in Pleasanville how to take care of winter boots. Our feet are a whole lot more stylish now. I am taking part in the Tana Shoe Care Blog campaign. While I have received compensation as part of my affiliation with this program, the opinions shared are my own.