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How to clean leather boots: The complete guide

A timeless fashion staple for all seasons, leather boots are as long-lasting as they are stylish. But that doesn’t mean regular maintenance and proper cleaning aren’t important.

High-quality leather boots are a solid investment for any footwear collection, as their ability to look fresh off the shelf after a clean is hard to beat. To achieve this, you must regularly give your leather boots some TLC and clean them properly.

Whether you prefer to go out on the town or for a long, relaxing walk, a healthy pair of leather boots should be at the top of your shoe wishlist. Follow our comprehensive guide, and your leather boots will return to their striking best in no time and will stay that way for the foreseeable.

Table of contents

Types of leather boots

Before we get stuck into the dos and don’ts of cleaning your leather boots, it’s important to know the difference between the leathers you may have, as this will determine just how they should be cleaned.

Real leather boots came into fashion in 17th-century Europe, and today, they are often considered investments due to their higher price tag, terrific durability and outfit versatility. Available at Gabor in various styles, such as ankle boots and Chelsea boots, real leather can be very straightforward to care for and maintain.

In contrast, the best way to look after suede boots is to wear them appropriately. Wearing suede in the rain can hurt the material’s lifespan, so we’d advise saving suede for dryer days. 

How to care for and maintain leather boots

Care and maintenance are very important for leather boots, not to mention very convenient for you! If you care for and maintain your leather boots regularly, you won’t have to go through the full cleaning process each time. 

Simply clearing off dirt and residue after every wear or two with a brush or cloth and some leather cleaner will do most of the work. A good preventative step to take with your leather boots is to apply a waterproof spray to them before an outing. This will protect your boots against any watermarks or absorption.

Keep your leather boots hydrated with a leather conditioner to prevent dryness and cracking in the material over time.

Best way to clean leather boots

Cleaning leather boots is a relatively simple step-by-step process that will have your favourite pair looking brand new. Before getting into the method, we need to ensure  you have the right equipment to get the job done.

You’ll need the following:

  • A brush
  • A clean cloth
  • Leather cleaner
  • Leather protector/conditioner
  • Shoe polish

Now you have everything you need to get your boots ready, follow these steps for a thorough and effective clean.

  1. Your shoes must be dry before cleaning – Cleaning wet leather boots won’t do you any good, as the dampness will prevent any real protection and may even do more harm than good. We recommend wiping off any significant pieces of mud at this stage, as it could be difficult to remove when dry.
  2. Remove your shoelaces – Once the shoes are dry, remove the shoelaces if possible. Getting laces out of the way will free up the spaces that might have been difficult to properly clean otherwise. 
  3. Brush off  dirt – Use a brush to scrub away any dirt on the shoe’s outer; we specify a brush as it will help you get stuck into those small grooves across the boot.
  4. Use a clean and damp cloth to clean excess dirt – Some muck may be difficult to remove with a dry brush, so you can get rid of those bits with warm water and a clean cloth. You could also use mild soap, but we recommend sticking with the former. Let your boots fully dry before the next step.
  5. Apply leather cleaner – Use a cloth or brush, depending on your leather cleaner’s instructions. Cover every part of your boot with the cleaner by moving in circles across it. Once again, allow your boots to dry afterwards fully.
  6. Apply a leather protector and conditioner – Protectors often come in a spray bottle, making application easy. Be sure to cover the boot by wiping across it much like you would with the cleaner. Delicately apply conditioner to prevent cracking over time.
  7. Keep polish ready – Scuffs and marks can be difficult to remove with traditional cleaning, so keep some polish handy to get to these. Only use on real leather.

Cleaning suede boots

Suede can be a bit trickier to clean than leather. Its poor relationship with water and rain means that a dry clean is in order for your suede boots. More care should be taken when cleaning suede boots; if any scuffs become apparent, you should look to clean them as soon as possible.

These steps will help keep your suede looking sharp.

  1. Keep them dry – As with leather, your suede shoes should be completely dry before cleaning.
  2. Fill the inside of your boots – Suede is a slighter, softer material than leather, so it can often be easier to clean them while stuffed with newspaper or kitchen roll so they feel more solid during cleaning.
  3. Brush away dirt with a suede-cleaning brush – Suede-specific cleaning brushes are readily available online and in stores; their harder bristles allow for more thorough cleaning on suede than a regular brush.
  4.  Use a clean towel to rub the boots – After the dirt is gone, use a towel to rub down the boots. This acts similarly to the wet cloth when cleaning leather shoes.

How to remove stains from leather boots

No matter how well you clean your boots, sometimes there are specific leather stains that might not budge. Fear not; we’ve outlined some difficult stains and how to clean them from your leather boots.

Water stains

You can blot water stains with a cloth until they dry. If the stains persist, gently wipe from the centre of the boot outwards with a slightly damp cloth.

Oil or grease stains

Lift as much excess oil or grease as possible with a dry towel or cloth. Follow this by dusting the stain with talcum powder and leaving it alone for around 20 minutes to let the powder absorb the oil or grease.

Brush away at the boot to remove the powder. You may need to repeat this process several times to fully remove the grease or oil.

Ink stains

Ink stains can be an absolute nightmare on leather boots and could require a professional touch, depending on the severity of the stain. However, if your ink mishap is fresh, you should be able to amend it yourself.

Use a soft, dry cloth to blot the stain. Avoid scrubbing, as this could make things worse. Once the cloth has soaked up as much ink as possible, gently rub the remainder with a dab of mild soap and a dry cloth using small circular motions to control the stain.

Ladies’ leather boots at Gabor

People can be put off buying leather boots if they don’t know how to care for them properly, but now you know how to maintain and clean them, why not browse Gabor’s gorgeous leather boots collection?

From stylish ankle boots to eye-catching knee-high boots, our selection of ladies’ leather boots has a look for any occasion. Find your new long-lasting pair of boots at Gabor today.

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