Timberland boots are not just any boots. They are THE boots! The boots are well designed for hard work, versatility and style.
The one thing that troubles most timberland boot owners is just how to wash the shoes and care for them correctly.
Timberland boots are a brand that has long lasted past 40 years and still going strong, which is why you need to take care of them.
The boots are waterproof and can handle strong winter temperatures.
Due to most people using them for work, they are destined to get dirty and stained, but luckily there is an easy way to clean them, and the answer is in your pantry.
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How To Clean Timberland Boots With Vinegar?
Timberland boots can safely be washed with white distilled vinegar and fresh water. You must always dilute the vinegar because it can cause damage to the shoes as vinegar is very potent. Make up some diluted vinegar and wash your shoes with a clean cloth dipped in the solution. Always air dry the shoes as putting the shoes in the dryer or close to a heater or fire will wreck the material.
Why Should I Use Vinegar To Wash My Timberlands?
Good question! There are a few reasons why vinegar is the preferred cleaner for timberlands, such as the fact vinegar diluted is harmless.
Did you know that vinegar is actually a natural cleaner that can be used on so many different materials?
It can work with leather, suede, artificial leather, and many others. People also like the fact vinegar is easy to buy and very cheap.
Expensive cleaners for shoes can sometimes be more damaging to the shoes than anything else.
Vinegar can last for ages in the pantry, so you won’t need to buy a new one every time you want to clean your shoes.
Vinegar is very easy to use and doesn’t have harsh chemicals, and won’t give off dangerous fumes.
Preparing Your Shoes For Cleaning
You are not going to get a good clean and a fail-proof process if you don’t prepare in the first place.
First, you need to brush off any debris and dust that is sitting on the surface of the boot.
You can use a dry cloth or a soft brush if you have one. Even though the bottom of your shoes touches the ground, they still need a good clean to remove built-up dirt and mud.
You need to take the shoelaces out of the shoes and soak them in some diluted vinegar, then good them a good wash with some soapy water and hang up to air dry.
Cleaning Technique One
First off, grab one cup of water and then add a tablespoon of white distilled vinegar into it and stir.
Now grab a soft cloth and dip it into the mixture and leave it to soak for a few minutes.
Give the cloth a squeeze, and then use it to rub over your timberlands gently. You need to be a little firm but still, ensure that you are rubbing gently, especially in the places that are more stained.
When you are done, you can leave the boots to dry in a shaded area. Once dried, give them a brush over with a soft-bristled brush.
Cleaning Technique Two
For this, you need a few baby wipes, four slices of bread, white vinegar, a clean cloth, and one tablespoon of talcum powder.
Wipe the shoes over with a brush or cloth to try and remove dirt and dust. Take your wipes and wipe over the surface of the boot.
Now you can use the bread to scrub over the stains. Once you have done that, sprinkle the talcum powder on the stains that are still remaining or on scuff marks that you can see.
The powder will need to sit for a few hours. If not, overnight is best. Once you have left that to sit, you can use the vinegar mixture with a clean cloth to wipe over the boots, then let them air dry for a few hours.
Tips For Cleaning The Boots
Ensure you never press too hard as you can damage the boots. Only use white vinegar as brown can stain, and apple cider vinegar will not work in the same way as the white.
If you have stubborn stains, you can use a toothbrush, given it has soft bristles. Try not to scrub too much, as this can damage the nap on the shoe material.
If The Vinegar Doesn’t Work Try Baking Soda
If you have leather boots and the vinegar trick doesn’t work, you can use baking soda.
The baking soda trick can only be used on leather boots. For this cleaning method, you need to wipe the shoes over to get rid of loose debris and dirt.
It is good to get off as much as you can because the more you leave on, the more the baking soda is going to react with it and create a bigger mess.
You can use an old toothbrush with soft bristles dipped in the baking soda and brush the timberlands in a circular motion softly.
Once you are satisfied with the results, you can rinse them under cool water. If there are a few stains or some baking soda marks still remaining, you can dip them in some diluted vinegar and wipe them clean with your cloth.
Once you are finished, the boots are best left out to dry in a shaded area. Now you have clean boots all done on a tight budget.
The best thing about using baking soda and vinegar is the fact that it works greats to revitalize your timberland boots.
Using A Proper Timberland Cleaning Kit
Now for some reason, if the vinegar trick didn’t work for you, then you can buy a timberland cleaning kit that can be purchased online and can help to keep your shoes in tip-top condition.
In the kit, you receive a dirt remover, a brush, a balm proofer, a manual, and an eraser. If you haven’t used the kit before, make sure that you follow the instructions.
First of all, like the above methods, you need to first clean off any dirt and debris that are still hanging onto the shoes.
If you can see stains and spots, use the eraser in the pack, which will help to remove them.
All you need to do is rub the eraser in a circular motion until the marks have gone. If you have oil stains, the eraser will not work for this or vinegar.
You need to fluff the area where the oil is located and apply cornstarch to soak up the oil overnight.
Now you can just wipe away the powder and see if the stain has gone. You can repeat the cornstarch part if the stains have only just faded.
Cleaning Your Timberland Insoles
The insoles of your shoes can get smelly, sweaty, and dirty. You can clean the insoles of the boots with warm water and vinegar.
Vinegar will help disinfect the soles and remove any lingering smells.
After washing, give them a good rinse, and when they are dry, put them back in the shoes and sprinkle the insoles with baking soda to remove any remaining odours.
Disinfect The Insoles Using Vinegar
You can just give the insoles a good wash if they are a bit smelly, but if they haven’t been washed before or you wear your boots often, you might want to consider using strong vinegar one part mixed with one part of warm water and stir.
Now you want to soak the insoles in the vinegar mixture for a good few hours if you can.
If you have tea tree oil or eucalyptus oil you can add a few drops to the solution and let them soak. Now you can remove the insoles and rinse them off with cool fresh water.
Give them a good rinse you want to make sure that you get rid of all the vinegar mixture. You will need to let the insoles air dry.
If you put them in the dryer, they can shrink, so ensure you air-dry overnight. You can use a towel or cloth to help soak out the excess water, then hang them on the clotheslines or over a chair.
You want to make sure that you clean your insoles regularly, especially if you use them for work and you are prone to sweaty feet.
Cleaning your insoles often will also ensure you don’t stink the family out when you take off your shoes.
You want to avoid any dirt building up inside or outside of the shoe. You might end up doing a big clean of all the insoles in your timberland shoes if you have more than one pair and give them all a good clean.
If you make a certain day to clean your Timberland boots and stick to them then you won’t forget to do it.
It is a good idea to always wear socks with your timberlands as they will soak up the dirt and the sweat so the insoles won’t struggle with as much if you have more than one pair rotate them frequently so you won’t have to be cleaning the same pair as often.
Quick Tips For Those In-Between Vinegar Deep Cleans
It is so important that you know how to clean your timberlands, and you carry that out when they are due, but it is just as important that you care for the shoes the right way in between the deep cleans.
When you are finished for the day give the shoes a wipe over or a brush to help get rid of the debris and dust that is sitting on the surface.
If you notice a stubborn stain, you can use an eraser to rub the stain away but ensure you do this gently without adding too much pressure.
If you notice any marks, clean them right away as stains can become impossible to remove once they have been given time to settle.
Conclusion
There are several ways to clean your timberlands, but vinegar has by far been the best and most recommended cleaning solution.
The good thing about vinegar is the fact that it not only cleans but disinfects as well. It works for both small stains and the more aggressive ones too.
Instead of waiting for the other methods to fail jump straight into cleaning your timberlands with vinegar, and you might just be surprised at how well it works.
Vinegar is safe to use and harmless to the skin.
If you have delicate, sensitive skin, it is best to wear gloves as a precaution. You want to aim to spot clean often but carry out the vinegar deep cleans every few weeks.
Say goodbye to stinking the family out when you remove your shoes or leaving so much dirt and mud behind you that is built up and falling off everywhere — time to enjoy clean, fresh shoes that everyone can enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions About How To Clean Timberland Boots With Vinegar
Can I Replace My Stained Insoles?
You certainly can. There is a huge variety of colors and types of timberland insoles to choose from. First, try cleaning with vinegar as this will most likely bring them up like new.
Do I Have To Condition My Timberlands After Washing?
Use a conditioner that is designed for these types of shoes. Ensure you follow the instructions on the label to avoid damaging the boots or making the sealant inefficient.