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How to Keep Your Shoes Clean After Hunting

Silhouette of the hunter on a background of a morning dawn

Going on a hunt can be a lot of different things, but it is always quite a mess. Especially on your shoes, as they are what you use to walk through the woods and muddy areas in search of your target.

While you could just shoot them with a water hose, that is definitely not the proper cleaning procedure for anything besides rubber boots. If you take proper care of your shoes, they will last longer and take better care of your feet throughout their lifespan.

So, what exactly is the right way to clean shoes? How can you make sure to get the maximum benefit and longevity from your shoes? Well, you are in luck. We are going to go into some proper tips for how to clean shoes.

First, You Have To Know The Material

The material that your shoes are made of can vary across a wide array of leathers, synthetics, and fabrics. Unfortunately, each different type has specific things that will be more effective for some that could potentially ruin the other types.

This is why it is important to know what your shoes are made of before you just start putting cleaners or soaps on them. You could potentially destroy a good pair of shoes by simply using the incorrect type of soap or detergent on them.

Every shoe should have a tag inside of it that will tell you the exact makeup of the shoe’s materials. Just check this list and be sure you are using things to clean them that will not destroy them.

Get The Easy Stuff Off

Once you know what sort of material you have and what soap or solution is best to clean them, the next step is to remove anything that can be wiped off with a brush or your hands. The more you can remove, the easier it will be for the cleaner to get what is left after.

Any sort of treaded shoes will also likely need to be cleaned inside of the treads, as they will likely be packed with dirt and other things. This can take a little time, but again, it will help later on when you start applying cleaner to the shoes.

Obviously, this is best done either outside or in a hard floored room of your house, as it will likely be a mess, depending on how dirty your shoes are. You don’t want to create too much of a mess while trying to clean a mess, right?

Laces Out, Cleaner On

Once you have the majority of the dirt off the shoes, you want to make sure the laces are removed and inspected if you haven’t done so already. If your laces are starting to look frayed or tearing in any way, it is probably best to go ahead and replace them. Replacing is easier than cleaning, plus it can be very difficult to relace shoes with frayed or broken laces.

Your cleaner may be something purchased online or at a shoe store, or you may have made your own mix with recipes you have found or been told about. Whatever the solution, just be sure it is safe for your specific shoe fabric and throw in a little elbow grease.

Start by cleaning any stains or dirt from the outside of the shoes, and then clean the insoles as well. You want to be sure you thoroughly clean the shoes while you are doing it. For some shoes, you can simply use a washing machine, but it is never the recommended way to clean them right.

Drying Is Important

The final step for cleaning your shoes is to make sure they are completely dried and free of soap or detergent before you wear them again. Moisture in the shoe can lead to bad smells and fungus that you do not want to have to deal with.

I have always heard that ‘the shoes don’t make the man’, but your shoes can say a lot about you to other people. Taking the time to make sure have clean shoes is an easy way to help keep yourself looking good every day.

Taking pride in your appearance is something that just comes naturally for most people. People really do like to feel like they look good. While the shoes won’t necessarily make or break your whole look, they are most definitely a big part of it. All it takes is a little effort to make a big impact when it comes to the look of your shoes.

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