# How to Clean Hiking Boots Without Ruining the Membrane

> Hiking boots by material: leather, suede, textile, Gore-Tex. Nikwax Footwear Gel + Waterproofing Wax workflow. Never machine wash.

**Published :** 2026-05-12

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**Résumé :** **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 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

> **Warning:**
> - **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)](/en/blog/wash-shoes-guide/index.md), [wash a camping tent](/en/blog/wash-camping-tent-guide/index.md), [wash a gym bag](/en/blog/wash-gym-bag-guide/index.md).