To avoid replacing them sooner than expected, even the best hiking shoes need regular care. Let's explore together how to clean your hiking shoes properly and keep them in the best possible condition.
While there's a common belief that mud and dirt act as a protective layer for hiking shoes, the opposite is true — they slowly but surely cause damage. To get the most out of your shoes for as long as possible, it's important to carry out a simple but regular clean most of the time, with the occasional deeper clean. Let's go over the basic rules for looking after and cleaning your shoes in the best possible way.
Regular cleaning
After every hike, before putting your shoes away, make sure they're free of any dirt — on the upper and on the outer soles. Even the smallest amount of dust or residue can damage them through abrasion and cause premature ageing. To avoid getting to that point, a simple surface brush in a few steps is all it takes:
- knock your two shoes together to remove the loosest residue
- check the outsoles, removing any small stones or clumps of mud if present
- use a brush and scrub the uppers on the surface, including the tongue
- if you've been walking in mud, rinse with clean water, scrubbing with a brush and a bit of elbow grease
- leave to dry in a dry place away from direct heat or light sources
- store in a dry, breathable place, away from dust
Deep cleaning
If you need to store your shoes for longer than usual, if you've walked through seawater, or if your shoes are heavily caked in mud, a deeper clean is necessary. All it takes is a minimum of kit and a few minutes. In just a few steps, your shoes will look like new:
- as with a simple post-hiking clean, knock your two shoes together
- loosen the laces and tongue to reach every corner, then remove the insole
- leave the insole to dry; if needed, wash it beforehand
- using a soft brush, rinse your shoes with clean water and scrub until all traces of dirt are gone (if they're really dirty, you can add a small amount of mild soap to lukewarm water). Clean both the inside and outside of your shoes, making sure to reach every corner
- leave your shoes to dry completely in a dry place, away from direct heat or light sources
- finish with a nourishing protection treatment if your shoes are leather
- once or twice a year, finish with a water-repellent product, known as a "waterproofing treatment" — leave to air-dry, then store in a dry, breathable place away from dust
You now have all the tools to clean and extend the lifespan of your hiking shoes. To find out more about hiking footwear, follow our complete guide.
