How often to clean muddy leather boots, how and with what?

[jkitten]

So this might rank as the daftest question ever posed on this forum, but I'm genuinely stuck. I wear waterproof Ariat paddock boots or Windemeres to ride and muck in around the yard, so obviously they are filthy once I get home. Do I clean them after every time, or is that bad for the leather/waterproofing? When I clean them is it best to do so while the muck is still wet, or should it be allowed to dry and then clean? What products are best?

I never used to give this as a second thought as a child, but now I have to pay for my own boots and don't have the excuse of outgrowing them, I want them to last!

 

[M&M&G]

I always rinse off mud when still wet, then leave to dry completely before applying dubbin or similar. This does mean having a rotation of boots if you wear every day but it does help them to last longer.

 

[stangs]

I wipe with a wet wipe (very carefully to not rub the mud in), then polish and add a waterproofing cream (don’t know what the correct terminology is), and that seems to be keeping the leather in good shape.

You don’t need to clean every time you use them, but even just getting most of the mud off quickly will help maintain the leather. Soles get done once a fortnight - again, just quick wet wipe helps keep them flexible (or so, I’ve been led to believe by the hiking community).

 

[TealH0rse]

I wipe down leather boots (when I remember to) with a wet cloth in summer to get dust/sand off - this is mostly so I don't end up with sand everywhere. In winter, hose down before I leave the yard and give them a wipe over with a cloth/sponge/very soft brush (designed for shoes) while the mud is wet. You won't have time to do much else, better to keep it simple so you stick to it daily. If you let mud dry, there's no chance in getting it all off without a 'proper' clean.

I tend to give them a more thorough clean with leather soap, conditioning and polishing once a fortnight or at least every month. Winter boots get a very thorough clean, condition and waterproofing before they go into storage for the summer (also the case with wellies).

Apparently saddle soap isn't great for leather, so it might be worth investing in some non-horsey leather cleaners. I personally have never had an issue using NAF soap on any leather.

 

[sbloom]

Remove mud as often as possible, for shiny leather boots (eg dressage boots) then Parade Gloss is usually recommended, and a conditioner for the inner calf "window". For more casual almost waxy leather I'd use one of the specialist waterproofing and conditioning waxes (Ariat have their own) or something like Oz's conditioner (@cremedemonthe ). Saddle soap is pretty rubbish for both cleansing and conditioning, and should never be used as a "one step" to do both, Rinse off, or use as a conditioner after cleaning, while realising it's just a humectant (attracts moisture) and doesn't feed leather (though it probably feeds mould as glycerine is sugary!).

 

[annam233]

My “at home” boots are pretty horrid if i’m being honest with you. I tend to rinse wet mud off with water and hope they stay somewhat clean. If i’m going hacking then I dry sand off with a soft face brush otherwise they are fairly dirty. My competition boots which I only use for eventing, winter competing and training off the yard are kept clean by using boot soap and balm, they still look brand new after 8 months although we’re incredibly expensive.