If you are into snowboarding, you already know that you need to tidy up your snowboarding boots on a regular basis. This is simply because snowboard boots are meant for use in snow and during a typical snowboarding season, they will be exposed to a lot of moisture.
If you don’t clean them up regularly, the moisture will leave an odor in the boots and the boots will incur damage before soon. By cleaning them, you are able to extend the lifetime and durability of the boots.
Here are some quick and helpful tips for how to clean snowboard boots. With the help of these tips, you will be able tidy up your boots effectively.
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1. Clean up regularly
This is one of the most important aspects of keeping your snowboard boots clean. You may not need to a thorough cleaning too often but you must clean the exterior of the boots every once in a while during the winter season. At the end of the season do a thorough cleaning inside-out before you tuck in and store your boots during the summer.
2. Cleaning the exterior
The exterior of most snowboard boots comes constructed with either synthetic or rubber material. This is great because you can easily clean the exterior using a simple damp cloth. Typically, a sponge works perfectly well for the job. Get some warm water and use a sponge to work the warm water on the uppers as well as the soles of your boots.
Most snowboard boots incur salt and dirt on the uppers and soles during the winter season. And some stubborn stains may require you to use something harder, like a toothbrush. Thoroughly clean the uppers and soles using this method. Once the boots are clean, put them somewhere open to air-dry them. Let them dry up in their own time and don’t rush it.
3. Taking good care
At the end of the day, it all depends on how well you use and take care of your boots. If you use your boots with some care and maintain them well, they are going to stay clean for the most part. And if they need a thorough cleaning, it will be far easier for you to do it. One of the key aspects of good maintenance of snowboard boots is to air-dry them regularly.
Especially if you have been on a rigorous walk, run or snowboarding session, you must dry the boots before tucking them away in the rack. It is also worth noting that air-drying is the best way to dry the boots. If you try to dry them using other methods, such as by putting them on a heater, it may significantly damage the boots.
4. Avoid the moisture
Snowboarding is, after all, a snow sport meant to be indulged in the winter season. So you can’t avoid the moisture while wearing snowboard boots. However, there are ways to mitigate the impact of moisture on your boots. You can, for instance, air-dry your boots as often as possible and make it a habit to wear such socks as will keep your feet dry.
You must also replace your socks as soon as they are wet, and the insoles when they start smelling. And try to keep your boots, as often as possible, in an open and airy place when not in use. These small steps will go a long way towards warding off moisture-related damage to your boots.
5. Wear Breathable Socks
Make a habit of wearing breathable socks. This will go a long way towards keeping your boots clean. Breathable socks absorb sweat well while at the same time, letting you keep your feet airy. This means that while wearing these socks, your feel sweat less and stay dry more.
To keep things even more tidy, change your breathable socks as soon as they become damp or wet. This will make sure that your boots mostly come in contact with dry socks. And the more often you wear dry socks, the less likely your shoes are to incur any unpleasant odor.
6. Replacing the Insoles
The insoles of your boots take the most beating during the winter season. After all, they are directly in contact with the soles of your feet and bear the maximum pressure. This is why insoles tend to become sweaty and grimy before the season is over.
Over time, bacteria build up in the insoles and as you keep stepping on the insoles, it gets compressed into multiple layers. It is this bacterium that brings the unpleasant odor to your boots. So if you are unable to remove the odor from your boots, it is always a good idea to replace the insoles. This may remove the odor and also significantly improve the performance of your boots, therefore extending their durability.
7. Cleaning the insides
If the insides of your boots stink, there are many ways of getting rid of the odor. One of the easiest is to simply sprinkle some baking soda inside the boots and let it stay there for a few hours. If that doesn’t work, you may need to do a more thorough cleaning.
Remove the inserts from the boots. Add vinegar to warm water and a small amount of detergent. Now soak the inserts in this mixture and let them stay there for an hour. Also use this mixture to wipe clean the insides of the boots. This will effectively cleanse the insides of your boots and remove the odor.
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Ryan grew up with snow, so he has an endless passion for skiing and snowboarding and everything around these.