Performing Routine Cleaning
Pick a good spot for cleaning. Choose someplace you don’t mind getting a little wet and dirty. Try your garage, the back or front porch, or a room in your house that has linoleum or tile flooring. If you stay inside, you may want to lay down some newspapers. Leather cleaner can get pungent. If you're working in side, turn a fan on or open a window.
Remove any laces. Before you begin cleaning, untie the laces of your boots and remove them from the shoes. They could get in the way or keep you from reaching all the nooks and crevices of the boots. Roll the laces up and set them aside so that they don't get lost or tangled. If your shoes have zippers, consider opening the zippers. Sometimes, dust gets into the bit of leather behind the zipper. You want to clean that too.
Brush off any dirt with a soft brush. Use a soft-bristled brush to avoid scratching the leather. Gently brush the entire surface of the boots. This should remove most dust, dirt, and even some light stains. Don't worry about cleaning dried up mud or stains; you'll need more than a soft-bristled brush to get rid of those. Pay extra attention to brown or tan shoes. Dust and dirt won't be as visible on those, so you might want to spend a little more time on those. If your shoes had laces, be sure to get the tongue part that sits behind the laces. If they had zippers, hit the strip of leather behind the zippers.
Use leather cleaner for all leather except suede. Most leather boots can be cleaned with typical leather cleaners. You can buy leather cleaner at shoe stores, hardware and tack shops, or online. If your boots are made by a particular designer or brand, they may make their own cleaners. While typical leather cleaner should also work, you can choose to go with the retailer’s recommendation.
Use a special brush to clean suede shoes. Suede shoes can’t get wet and should not be cleaned with normal leather cleaners. Go online or to a shoe store to find a suede shoe brush. Rub the brush over the boots to clean them. Use a back-and-forth and an up-and-down motion when cleaning the boots. You can also use a gentle, circular motion. Be gentle with suede shoes. If you are too rough or scrub too hard, the suede may wear off and leave behind bald patches.
Dampen a cloth or brush to clean with leather soaps. Some leather cleaners, including saddle soap, come in soap form. To use this type of cleaner, rub a damp cloth over the soap. Then make a light lather by rubbing the sides of the cloth together. Use a soft cloth such as a cut-up cotton t-shirt. You can also use a very soft-bristled brush. The cloth should be damp, not wet. If it’s dripping with water, you need to squeeze out some excess liquid. If you have sensitive skin, consider putting on a pair of plastic gloves. This way, the lather won't get on your hands.
Pour liquid leather cleaners onto a damp cloth. You can also find liquid leather cleaners. Pour a small amount (no more than a small circle) of liquid onto a dampened cloth. Rub the sides of the cloth together to make a light lather. Liquid cleaners sometimes leave a bit of residue on leather, so you may want to try soap cleaners first. Again, if you've got sensitive skin, it might be a good idea to wear plastic gloves for this. A little bit goes a long way. If you use too much, you'll end up with lots of difficult-to-clean residue.
Rub the cleaner into the leather. Use your lathered cloth to clean the leather by moving across the entire surface of the boots in small circular motions. This should remove any remaining dirt and grime from your boots. Be sure to lift any tongues or flaps on your boots to get into little crevices. If your boots are knee-highs, clean the entire top part of the boots as well. This includes the leather lining that extends into the cuff of the boot. If your shoes have zippers, be sure to wipe down the strip of leather that sits behind the zipper.
Wipe the shoes down with a dry cloth. Leather cleaner is designed to soak into the leather. You don’t need to rinse it off. Simply use a dry cloth to wipe down the shoes, removing any lather and dirt. Don't use the same cloth that you used to clean the boots with; use another soft cloth. Cotton t-shirts work great here.
Getting out Stains or Scuffs
Repeat cleanings with leather soap on tough stains. If you don’t get stains out the first time you clean your boots, try cleaning them again. Be sure to condition each time you clean, however, as too much cleaning could dry out the leather. Condition the boots with a leather conditioner or moisturizer made specifically for shoes. You can find these products online or in shoe repair shops. Like with cleaners, don't use leather conditioners on suede; use a specialized suede protection spray instead.
Remove stains with dish soap and water. Dampen a cloth and use a bit of dish soap to make a lather. Rub the stain with the cloth. Wipe the spot with a different damp cloth, then dry it with a dry cloth. Be careful using dish soap on expensive boots. While it shouldn’t damage your leather, it’s not as safe as leather cleaners. If you’re worried, perform a spot test by using your dampened cloth and dish soap on a hidden part of the boot. Wipe and dry the spot and wait a few minutes to see if the soap affected the leather.
Use petroleum jelly for scuffs and scratches. Make sure your boots have been cleaned. Then, dip a dry, soft cloth into a jar of petroleum jelly. Rub the jelly onto the spot that’s scratched or scuffed up. Use a different dry cloth to buff it off by rubbing the spot in small circular motions. Do not use petroleum jelly on suede boots. This will leave behind a permanent stain.
Remove salt stains with a vinegar solution. Mix 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of white vinegar with 1 cup (240 mL) of water. Dip a cloth into the diluted vinegar and wipe the cloth over the salt stains. Use a dry cloth to wipe the remaining solution and residue from the boots. Make sure that the cloths that you are using are clean and free of stains.
Use cornstarch to get out grease stains. Make sure your boots are completely dry. Cover the stain completely with a healthy amount of cornstarch. Leave it on there for at least a half hour and up to overnight to allow it to absorb the grease or oil. Wipe the cornstarch off with a dampened cloth and a very small amount of dish soap. This works on both leather and suede shoes. Repeat this method a few times. It may not work after the first or even second attempt. Do not soak your shoes with water. Keep the cloth only lightly damp.
Try removing ink stains with rubbing alcohol. Pour a little bit of rubbing alcohol onto a cotton ball. Use your dampened cotton ball to rub at the ink stain, moving in small circular motions. The stain should begin to disappear. Perform a spot test to check the effect of the alcohol underneath the tongue or in a hidden spot on the shoe. Dab the alcohol on and leave it for 10 minutes. Condition the spot with leather conditioner after you’ve rubbed it with alcohol to restore moisture.
Visit a cobbler for really stubborn stains. If no amount of cleaning is getting out stains on your boots, visit a shoe store or cobbler. They’ll either be able to help you or tell you that the stains are permanent. Trying to remove these kinds of stains on your own could damage the boots. This may be your only option for ink, wine, or deep-set water stains in the leather.
Conditioning the Leather
Apply leather conditioner to clean boots with a dry cloth. Conditioning leather keeps it from cracking and getting dried out. Once you’ve cleaned your leather boots, pour some liquid leather conditioner onto a dry, soft cloth. Rub the conditioner into the leather using small circular motions. Let the conditioner dry and soak in. Conditioners also come in wax and gels. Use whichever type you prefer. Your boots must be completely clean each time you condition.
Use shoe polish for smooth-finished shoes. Smooth-finished shoes will look a little shiny. These shoes can be polished to give them a mirror-like appearance. Use a soft cloth you don’t mind throwing away to rub the polish onto the surface of the leather in small circular motions. Shoe polishes come in a variety of colors, and you should use the color that matches your boots. Go online if you need to find a uniquely colored shoe polish. For a non-commercial polish, pour a small circle of olive oil onto a dry, soft cloth and rub that onto the surface of the boots.
Don’t condition suede shoes. Just as they can’t be cleaned with normal leather cleaners, suede shoes also can’t handle normal conditioners and polishes. Instead, purchase a suede protector spray. This should be evenly sprayed on the surface of the boots after you’ve brushed them down. Let the spray air dry on the shoes.
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