In short: hiking boots never go in the washing machine. Dry brush first, then hand clean with warm water + mild soap or Nikwax Footwear Cleaning Gel. Air dry 24-48 h with newspaper inside. Re-waterproof (Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather or Grangers Repel Plus) 1-2 times per season. Nubuck/suede cleans 100 % dry.
At a glance
Never machine wash -- deforms soles, breaks glue bonds, ruins Gore-Tex membrane.
Dry brush first -- let mud dry, then brush off easily.
Hand clean -- warm water + mild soap (liquid Marseille) or Nikwax Footwear Cleaning Gel. No bleach.
Air dry 24-48 h -- crumpled newspaper inside, away from any heat source.
DWR re-waterproofing -- Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather or Grangers Repel Plus, 1-2 times per season.
Material → protocol
| Material | Cleaning | Re-waterproofing |
|---|---|---|
| Full-grain leather (Meindl, Lowa, Hanwag) | Dry brush + damp cloth + mild soap or Nikwax Cleaning Gel | Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather (on damp leather) |
| Nubuck / suede (Quechua MH500, Salomon) | Dry brushing only (nubuck brush, soft brass bristles) | Nikwax Nubuck & Suede Proof spray |
| Textile + Gore-Tex (Salomon X Ultra, Merrell) | Warm water + mild soap or Nikwax Cleaning Gel | Nikwax Fabric & Leather Proof or Grangers Repel Plus |
| Synthetic, no membrane (summer shoes) | Warm water + mild soap, soft brush | Optional — light DWR spray if needed |
| Leather + textile mixed | Leather protocol (leather dictates) | Nikwax Fabric & Leather Proof |
Nubuck / suede: 100 % dry
Nubuck and suede (raised fibres) are very sensitive to water: one drop creates a permanent halo. No direct water — only dry brushing + dedicated nubuck spray.
Step-by-step
1. Pre-treatment
If still wet and muddy: let dry completely (24 h) before action. Dry mud brushes off easily, wet mud sets in. Once dry: vigorous brushing on the whole outside.
2. Disassembly
Remove laces (hand wash separately, flat drying 12-24 h). Remove insoles (hand wash with mild soap + baking soda, flat drying 24 h).
3. Outer cleaning
Leather / textile-Gore-Tex: sponge or microfibre cloth + warm water + mild liquid soap or Nikwax Footwear Cleaning Gel. Circular motions, no soaking. Nubuck/suede: 100 % dry. Rinse: clean damp sponge, several passes.
4. Drying
Air dry in a ventilated room (18-22 °C / 65-72 °F). Crumpled newspaper inside, replaced after a few hours if saturated. Forbidden: tumble dryer, radiator, direct sun, hot hairdryer. 24-48 h drying.
5. DWR re-waterproofing
Bead test: water on clean dry boot. Beads and slides → DWR active. Spreads/absorbs → re-waterproof. Leather: Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather on slightly damp leather (better penetration). Textile + Gore-Tex: Nikwax Fabric & Leather Proof or Grangers Repel Plus, gentle thermal activation (hairdryer at 30 cm / 12 in). Nubuck/suede: Nikwax Nubuck & Suede Proof, even spray at 15-20 cm / 6-8 in.
Frequency by usage
Occasional hiker (1-2/month)
Brush after each muddy hike. Full clean 2-3 times a year. Re-waterproof 1× per season.
Regular hiker (weekends)
Systematic brushing. Full clean after each rainy outing or every 2 months. Re-waterproof 2× a year.
Intensive trekker (GR, long-distance)
Daily brushing on trail. Full clean after each trek. Re-waterproof every 4-6 outings.
Alpinism / high mountain
Systematic stitching and membrane inspection. Cleaning after each expedition. Annual general check.
Common mistakes
- Machine washing hiking boots -- deforms soles, breaks glue, ruins membrane. NEVER.
- Drying on radiator or hot hairdryer direct -- shrinks leather and delaminates Gore-Tex. Air dry only.
- Wetting nubuck or suede -- permanent water stains. Dry brushing exclusively.
- Bleach or harsh detergent -- attacks glue and membrane. Mild soap or dedicated product only.
- Storing in a closed plastic bag -- internal mould in days. Breathable fabric bag or ventilated box.
- Re-waterproofing dirty boots -- wax locks in dirt. Always clean before waterproofing.
Read also: shoe cleaning guide (sneakers and trainers), wash a camping tent, wash a gym bag.