Is there a right or wrong way to dry your wet boots? What could go wrong in the drying process? When left with a dripping wet boot, the next thing that lingers on your mind is drying them the right way to be worn, all snug and cozy. This moisture or wetness issue could be due to a brisk walk on muddy terrains, over sweating, or washing.
Since the boots are a costly affair, you wouldn’t want them to get ruined due to one innocent mistake that may happen during the drying process. In order to ensure that you do not indulge in this drying blunder, here is a blog that would describe each and every technique to help you out!
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Mistakes to Avoid
Applying Direct Heat:
When planning to dry out your wet boots, the key is to avoid overexposure to heat. It means your boots should be kept away from direct exposure to woodstoves, heaters, blow dryers, as well as campfires.
Direct contact with high heat will harm different parts of the boot instead of drying. Excessive heat would spread to your boot’s outsoles & even liquefy the glue attaching the boot together. In case there is no other option than direct heat, make sure you keep a minimum distance of 2-3 meters between the boot and the source of heat.
Poor Maintenance:
Apart from the direct heat exposure process, poor maintenance is another factor that might lead to the damaging of the boot. When drying, make sure you maintain your boots in the right way. It includes washing, cleaning, as well as conditioning your boots in the right way.
Make sure you use soft and chemical-free shampoo and conditioners to keep your boots clean and abrasion-free post the drying process.
Prepare Your Boots for the Drying Process
- Clean Them: Before initiating the drying process, any traces of the mud needs to be removed. Leaving mud or similar dirt on your boots during the drying process could potentially leave permanent stains on their surface.
- Take off Laces: Now, this would seem like a tedious job, but taking off the laces would ensure that your boots dry off efficiently. It will ensure that the air reaches different parts of your shoes for successful drying.
- Remove insoles: If your shoes feature removable insoles, make sure you take them out before initiating the drying process. You can dry the boots and the insoles separately. Removing the insoles will help dry off the parts hidden underneath the insoles. Most good-quality boots feature removable insoles.
Drying Boots Overnight
In case you have enough time at hand, you can dry your boots overnight in a safe manner with the resources available at your home. Here are some processes outlined for you.
Use Kitchen Roll or Newspaper:
Most households have newspapers or kitchen rolls lying around, and it can definitely be used to dry off the wet boots. If you have newspapers lying around, roll them or crunch them up in small balls and stuff the boots. Keep in mind the fact that the balls shouldn’t be too tight.
A loose roll will help absorb water the right way. Additionally, you can tear holes into the newspaper or toilet roll before scrunching. The stuffing shouldn’t be too tight and always ensure that it has proper space for soaking in water.
After a few hours, if the boot is still wet, replace it with new stuffing until it dries up completely.
Use Rice Stuffed in Sock or Cat Litter:
In order to use these materials for the drying purpose, you would need the right sized bucket that is bigger than your boots. Place the boots into the bucket and pour the kitty litter or rice onto the boots.
Cover the shoes completely from top to bottom and secure them with the help of a lid while leaving them overnight. Replace this rice depending on whether the moisture content present in the shoes.
Use a Fan:
This age-old method is perfect and safest for drying your boots overnight. Make sure the fan is a non-heated one. You can place it under the fan or tie it with the exterior rim of a table fan. You can also place the towel below your boots to soak in the water droplets keeping them as dry as possible.
Using Hot Rocks to Dry the Boots
When out camping, keeping your feet dry is crucial to combat freezing or any other issues that might arise due to moisture and cold. In this process, your shoes must be as dry as possible. In a place with minimal grandeur and comfort, you might not get anything to dry out the boots.
However, you can benefit from the campfire that you have been hanging around with your friends. In order to dry your boots with the help of hot rocks, you need to first remove the insoles & press them firmly to drain out the excess water from the absorbent material.
Place your socks and soles by the campfire but maintain a safe distance. Pick up stones that are small enough and would easily fit & fill the insides of the boots. Place these stones close enough to the campfire and allow them to heat up.
Make sure you don’t use the river rocks as they explode when being heated up. Next, place the heated stones within a dry sock or even a bandana (if available). Next, place this collection of hot stones into the boots to heat up the boot from within and help with the drying process.
Reheat or replace the stones as needed until the boots are completely dry.
You can also dry your Shoes and boots in washing machine dryer Click Here to know the proper way.
The bottom line
In case you are stuck in a situation with moisture-laden or wet boots, you should definitely dry them up as soon as possible. Failing to do so would lead to issues such as blisters, discomfort, or even frostbite in case the temperature in your area drops below the freezing point.
Drying the footwear by keeping it close to a fireplace would seem like an amazing idea. However, the sad truth is that it could lead to cracking of the leather or melting of the synthetics in the boot. The key is to remove the moisture gradually and as organically as possible to avoid any damage.
So, these are some of the ways to dry out your boots quickly and safely. In case we missed out on adding some tips or techniques, do let us know in the comments below!
Also Read:
How Can I Waterproof Leather Work Boots
William has hands-on experiences with construction sites, and the hazards employees face while working. He has been a dedicated worker since 1995 and is currently looked up to by many of his subordinates for the work he has done throughout his tenure. He has passed several certifications regarding safety at the workplace, including OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Silica in Construction Certificate, and the National Association of Safety Professionals Certification.
He has ample experience in woodwork and welding and understands the importance of a tough work boot in dangerous occupational environments. His achievements, experience, and knowledge allow him to be an expert in the field of work boots. He selects and tries all the products that he reviews and presents to his readers. As per him, the safety of the boot is beyond the beauty of it. He carefully scrutinizes each aspect of work boots, including flex, laces, length, breathability, strength, and more.
