If you’ve ever had a pair of nice boots, you know that taking care of them is essential to keeping them looking good. One of the most important steps in caring for boots is stripping them before polishing.
This process removes any old polish and dirt from the boots and prepares them for a new coat of polish.
Follow these simple steps to strip your boots before polishing them like new!
Remove the laces from the boots:
First of all, you need to remove the laces from the boots. You can do this by pulling them out or cutting them off, so they are out of the way. Once this is done, you can put the boots in a bucket or sink to be submerged in water.
Fill a bucket or sink with warm water:
Put some warm water into a bucket or sink and add just a few drops of dish soap. You don’t need to add a lot, but you do need some soapy water for this process to work.
The boots can soak in the soapy water while you go and do other things for about 15 minutes or until they feel soft and pliable.
When that time is up, grab your brush and scrub away any dirt on the surface of the boots using a circular motion.
Use a soft-bristled brush to scrub away any dirt or dried polish:
You can use a soft-bristled brush with firm bristles to scrub away any dirt from the surface of the boots. You can add more dish soap to your soapy water for tough spots and then scrub the boots again. Be sure to use a circular motion on any tough spots on the boots.
Rinse the boots with clean water and let them air dry:
When you have scrubbed away as much dirt as possible without harming the boot, take a brush to them again, but this time it will be to remove any soapy residue. If you have used dish soap, this is most likely what the leftover gunk is.
After brushing away this gunk, it’s time to rinse out your boots in clean water. Ensure they are rinsed through, and then let them air dry before moving on to the next step.
Apply a coat of polish to the boots and let them dry:
Once you have finished washing the boots, it’s time to have fun! Use any boot polish you’d like to apply a nice new coat of shine to your boots.
After putting on a good polish, put the laces back in and let everything dry overnight. In the morning, you’ll have a brand new pair of boots!
Conclusion
There are many steps involved in stripping boots before polishing, but this is a really simple way to keep your boots in great condition! If you follow these steps, you’ll have a shiny pair of new boots again in no time at all.
FAQ’s
Here are a few frequently asked questions about how to Strip Boots Before Polishing:
What kind of water should I use to strip the boots before polishing?
You can use a bucket or sink full of warm soapy water to strip the boots, but you should make sure that there’s enough water for the whole boot to be submerged.
How long should I let the boots soak in soapy water?
The boots should sit in soapy water for about 15 minutes before scrubbing away all the dirt.
What type of brush is best for scrubbing?
A brush with firm bristles and a circular head is best for scrubbing tough dirt from the surface of the boots.
How long do I need to let my newly patched boots dry?
Make sure the boots are dry before putting them on again. This could take at least a day, but you can speed up using a hairdryer.
How often should the boots be stripped before polishing?
You can strip the boots before polishing them every time they get dirty, but you should always do them after a new coat of polish has dried on.
What kind of polish should I use?
Boot polish is great for applying a new coat to the boots, but you can also use shoe cream or leather grease.
Can I strip my boots before polishing them in a machine?
Unfortunately, you can’t strip your boots before polishing them with a machine. It would be best to do it by hand since this is the safest way to preserve the boots.
