Lockdown Quarantine Things To Do: Riding Gear Cleaning Tips - Boots

Riding boots are one of the most neglected items of gear that one tends to forget to keep clean. After all, the boots are the first to get dirty while riding and when off the bike, the only piece of gear that is in contact with the ground. Now motorcycling boots can primarily be classified into two categories -- waterproof and non-waterproof. For this story, we shall be cleaning one pair of track boots, one pair of waterproof adventure touring boots and a pair of leather commuter sneakers.

Also Read: Riding Gear Cleaning Tips - Helmet Care

To clean the track boots, you simply require a clean cloth (preferably of the microfiber type), some lukewarm water and a soft toothbrush.

Dab the cloth in the water and start gently cleaning your boots. Track boots are primarily made of leather and the material doesn’t go very well with excess water. Hence, give the exterior a good wet wipedown. Immediately thereafter, wipe off any moisture from the surface.

Get latest updates on
the automobile community

Login Now

Repeat the same procedure for the interior. Make sure that your in-soles are intact. When drying out the boot, make sure that the boot is thoroughly opened and the interiors are allowed to breathe. One usually tends to sweat through his feet in our tropical climate, with the possibility of germs and foul smell lingering on inside the boot. It is also a wise practice to air the boot once a month if not after every ride.

Also Read: Riding Gear Cleaning Tips - Jacket Care

Moving on to the commuter sneakers, you want to make sure to remove the laces of the boot before proceeding. It is not a compulsion but it will allow you to open up your boot thoroughly for cleaning.

If it is made of leather, then follow the same procedure as the track boots. If your riding sneakers are made from mesh or sneaker-type material (mostly anything other than leather), then it is advisable to immerse them in plain water for 30 minutes and then airing them.

Also Read: Gear Review: Ixon Falcon: One-piece Leather Suit

Lastly, the waterproof boots. These are the simplest to clean. You just need to find a bucket large enough to accommodate them (or one shoe per bucket would also do) and completely immerse the boot for 10 minutes. This should allow the exterior grime on them to loosen up as well as the water cleaning up the interiors quite well. Remember, since these are waterproof, there are no perforations for the boots to breathe while riding and you do tend to sweat profusely while wearing them.

Use the cloth to rub off the dirt and grime from the outer surface while the toothbrush can be used to clean out the tight spots. Similar procedure to air out the boots but these will take longer to dry up than others.

If you have a specialised leather cleaner (like this Motul M3 Perfect Leather), just dab a bit on the end of a microfiber cloth and give your boots a coat of the solution. These are aimed to retain the suppleness of leather by providing the material with the necessary oils to extend its life. You could also try simple boot polish that you use for formal shoes. Just make sure the polish is of the same colour as your boots, you don’t want to be rubbing black polish on tan or white leather.

Store the boots in a cool, dry place. If you have spare laundry bags, you could use them to place your boots in them to keep the dust away. These were the simple yet effective methods to clean your boots. Next weekend, we show you how to clean your riding gloves.