We Asked a Shoe Expert How to Keep Your Boots in Perfect Condition

And just like that, it’s boot weather again. After you decide what will be your hero boot of the season, the next step is to keep them looking as good as they did the day you pulled them out of the box. The first port of call, is to weatherproof them—we know how tempting it is to put it on your to-do list and come back to it later, but that’s exactly the day you’ll encounter an unexpected thunderstorm. Do. Not. Risk. It.

We asked Skye Meller, head designer at Senso, how to keep your boots in mint condition, wear after wear. Keep scrolling to discover her top tips.

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"Always use a non-silicone spray or rain/stain repellent as prevention, but if you do accidently stomp in a few puddles, gently wipe excess dirt or grime with a dry cloth then go over the spot again with a damp cloth. Always ensure you dry leather boots away from direct sunlight or heat (you don’t want your buttery-soft boots to turn dry and wrinkly). To bring them back to life, use a cream polish in the same colour and buff to shine. Stay away from silicone spray and liquid polish! (These aren’t your school shoes!)."

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(Image credit: Imaxtree)

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"Shiny patent leather is the easiest to keep looking fresh. If your boots get marked, use a damp cloth with some soap to remove marks and then polish with a silicone leather cleaner—and watch the high-gloss come back to life."

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(Image credit: Imaxtree)

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"Suede is trickier to clean than other leathers. Use a rubber eraser to remove dirt and smudges and then use a suede brush to lightly go over the area in the same direction (very important—if you go in different directions, the suede can appear as different colours). Lastly, don’t ever use polish on suede."

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(Image credit: Style Du Monde)

Do you have your own cleaning tips you'd like to share? Let us know in the comments below!

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Amanda Bardas