One of the biggest headaches that cowboy boot lovers face is caring for cowboy boots in the rainy season.
With 100% leather material, cowboy boots will be very easily damaged if getting wet for a long time. One of the most noticeable signs is that they will lose their shape and become dry, broken, or wrinkled.
What you need to do will not just stop drying them as soon as possible. What should you do?
Today’s article will be the most detailed summary of how to treat wet cowboy boots properly. We will guide you step by step.
Let’s check it out!
Key takeaways
- The first thing, let’s clean mud, dirt, and soil off cowboy boots.
- Dry them as soon as possible. Inside out!
- Don’t forget to condition cowboy boots, because the leather conditioner will recover natural waxes or oils of cowboy boots that have been washed away by the water.
- Make sure cowboy boots don’t get wet on the inside, that ensures they don’t get moldy, rot, etc., and have no unpleasant odors.
- Keep cowboy boots in shape and store them in a cool and dry place!
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Treat Wet Cowboy Boots: 4 Things You Should Do
In general, the most worrying thing when cowboy boots get wet is that the natural properties of cowboy boots will be washed away by the water.
Cowboy boots are usually made up of 100% leather, so their structure is a combination of natural oils and waxes which makes them soft, smooth, and durable.
Unfortunately, over time, these properties will fade, thereby making cowboy boots easily damaged or lose their original beauty. And the rate of loss will be even faster if cowboy boots get wet because the water will wash away the oils and waxes.
Although it is said to have a certain level of water resistance, leather will also need to strengthen that ability over time. Since they are not 100% waterproof, a small amount of water can still seep into the boots and cause damage.
Therefore, when your cowboy boots get wet, drying them is not enough. How you take care of them afterward is very important.
#1: Clean your cowboy boots first
When your cowboy boots are wet, the first thing to do when you get home is to use a towel to dry them and sweep away wet stains.
If you haven’t cleaned your cowboy boots for a while. You can apply leather cleaner (or saddle soap) to the damp towel and clean your boots more thoroughly.
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| Click image for more info on Tecovas
The goal of cleaning cowboy boots first is to help them dry quickly. Any stains once they are dry will usually stick deeply into the boots.
In addition, if cowboy boots have wet mud, the moisture from the mud will last longer and cause more damage to them. After removing these mud stains, you may see water marks on the surface, which are very bad and difficult to remove.
So, it’s better to clean these stains as soon as possible.
#2: Start drying your cowboy boots
In general, there are many ways to dry cowboy boots, but don’t forget to dry them inside and out immediately after you get home.
The best tool for drying cowboy boots is a boot dryer. It is very convenient if you have a lot of boots at home.
Put the boot dryers in the boots, and they’ll make sure cowboy boots stay dry inside and out. Some big boot dryers can also dry multiple boots at once, which is the ideal method for those who don’t have much time.
In addition, there are more economical and DIY methods to dry cowboy boots, like using a fan, wind, and sunlight, but these methods are difficult to dry the inside of the boots. In this case, you should use boot trees or paper to tuck inside the boots.
Boot trees or paper can absorb moisture and leave a pleasant scent inside your boots. You should know that moisture is the main cause of mold, rot, and unpleasant odors.
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If you want to use the heat from the hair dryer, that’s fine. But be careful as too much heat can burn your cowboy boots!
In addition, you should also be careful not to put cowboy boots in the dryer, as that will squeeze out all the necessary moisture in your boots and cause them to quickly dry and crack.
We have a pretty thorough article on how to dry cowboy boots and tips here! You should check it out!
#3: Condition cowboy boots
These are the steps that many people often miss out on. As analyzed above, water will wash away natural oils and waxes over time. And to recover from that, you need to condition the boots.
Our goal is to restore moisture for cowboy boots, thereby keeping them soft, durable, wrinkle-free, and in good shape.
All you need to do is apply conditioner to a damp towel or horsehair brush and buff it evenly over the surface of cowboy boots. That’s it, don’t be lazy!
#4: Make sure you keep them in good shape after drying them
It’s easy to see that cowboy boots wrinkle and lose shape when they get wet, so after drying them, keeping your cowboy boots in shape is necessary.
Using a boot sharper to help cowboy boots stand upright is a good practice, or you can use a boot stand or boot rack. As long as your boots are upright and have a certain amount of tension!
This is also one of the reasons why I like to use boot dryers and boot trees. This is because these two items also ensure cowboy boots stay in shape when drying the boots.
In addition, you should also keep cowboy boots in a cool and dry place, and avoid humid environments or direct sunlight.
Those are the 4 most important steps you need to remember to treat wet cowboy boots!
Before you leave
In general, keep in mind that in addition to drying cowboy boots as soon as possible, keeping them clean, moisturizing, and keeping the shape of the boots is also essential.
Water, although seemingly harmless, is the silent enemy of cowboy boots.
In order for boots to retain their original beauty and quality for as long as possible, you must know the basic methods of treating them, especially during the rainy or snowy season.
Good luck!
Howdy y’all, and welcome to From The Guest Room, your ultimate guide to all things Western! I’m Jay Gatz, a lifelong cowboy boot enthusiast with over 5 years of experience in the Western style world. I’m excited to share my knowledge with you and help you discover the perfect cowboy boots and western gear to elevate your style. Let’s explore the rich history and timeless appeal of Western fashion together!