How To Waterproof Leather Boots At Home

Getting your boots to be soaked in water can be very annoying. Not only is it annoying, but it can be harmful to your feet as well. If you work outdoors or in any wet environment, wearing a waterproof boot is a must. Wet feet can quickly develop blisters. Not only do they get wet, but you can also set cold feet. To keep your feet dry and fresh, you should wear a waterproof boot. Many people wear waterproof boots during work or hiking.

The shoes make the experience a lot better. Reviews show that wearing waterproof boots increases work efficiency by a considerable margin.

Waterproof boots are recommended if you work in a restaurant or a construction site. They help remove any potential slippery accident. Even in travel and hiking, these boots can reduce many potential hazards. In this article, we will tell you how to waterproof boots.

Should I Waterproof My Leather Boots?

You don’t have to waterproof every single of your boots. But waterproofing your leather boots might not be such a bad idea. Leather isn’t precisely a waterproof material.

A bit of water won’t do it any harm, but if it gets soaked, the water will leak into the material, which will cause the leather to be soggy while wet, and then after it dries, it will probably be stiff and rigid.

Stepping in a puddle or heavy rain has the potential to ruin your leather boots. If you want your leather boots to last longer and stay comfortable, waterproofing the leather boots is an excellent idea. Waterproofing your leather boots isn’t much of a hassle.

It is quick and easy. So, yes! It would be best if you waterproof your leather boots. We will tell you how to waterproof the boot today, right here in this article.

Preparation For Waterproofing?

Before waterproofing your boots, there are some simple tasks you must do. Regardless of which method of waterproofing you may be using. 

First, you will have to clean your boots. Before cleaning, remove the laces and remove all the dirt and dust using a soft brush. Remove and clean all types of peeling staff, dust, dirt, and sand.

For deeper cleaning, you can use running water or maybe a boot cleaner. Many people make the mistake of not cleaning their boots before waterproofing. 

This mistake can cost you your entire boots! Also while cleaning makes sure not to damage the boot with water. There is no need to soak it, just a bit of wiping will be enough.

Best Waterproofing Treatment For Leather Boots

Before starting the waterproofing process, make sure boots are correctly clean and have no dirt on them. Otherwise, the treatment will not be fruitful.

Also, choose a suitable product to waterproof your leather boots. Multiple types of processes are available for waterproofing leather boots. The method of each treatment is entirely different. Here we detailed the function of other therapies.

Waterproof Spray

The most reliable and easy treatment process is spraying the leather boots. Several waterproof sprays are available in the market to waterproof leather boots, suede, and synthetic materials. Make sure to hold the shoes six inches away from the mist.

Spray gently on the upper and inner parts of the leather boots. Follow the manual accurately and apply it twice if a second coat is essential.

Wax the boots

Another suitable process for waterproofing boots is waxing. It is the most effective process to waterproof leather and suede boots. Before the start, the process warms them nicely with a hairdryer.

Apply the wax with a clean cloth. Excess wax needs to be removed to get extra shine. This manual process is weather-friendly and safe. However, spraying is more convenient for waterproofing working and regular boots.

Cream

Using cream is another mind-blowing option for waterproof leather boots.  Different brands of cream are available in the market for waterproof leather boots. You can apply the cream with a clean cloth or given applicator.

Rub the cream gently on the leather boots. Although, creams are not suitable to use in the inner part of the boots. If you have to use the boot in a toxic environment, try to rub the cream with a clean cloth. It will give you a more impressive result.

Point to be noted that some of the waterproofing processes darken the leather color. So before use, the product checks the labels and product features written on the product. No matter which method you take, apply the repellent, wax, or cream on every corner of the boot.

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Best Product For Waterproofing Boots

Whether it is regular boots or heavy-duty hiking boots, a powerful repellent is necessary to waterproof them. Waterproofing sprays are the most convenient and flexible way to protect shoes, boots, and flip-flops from rain, stain, and accidental weather.

Silicone protective layer prevents snow and dirt. After reviewing thousands of customer reviews, we picked and detailed the five best products for waterproofing your boots. Have a look!

1. Apple Brand Garde Rain & Stain Water Repellent

There is no better product than “Apple brand water repellent” for cleaning leather boots. Up-to-mark quality and protective features are the main attraction of this product. This product is the most reliable when it comes to protecting your leather boots from unwanted water grease, sweat, and liquids.

This lab-tested product dries quickly so that you can easily use it. At the purse forum, it is the most desirable and exciting product. It will not change the color of your boots as it is a transparent water Repellent.

Since the beginning, Apple grade offers the best water Repellent to remove stains from boots. This lab-tested product is reviewed and recommended by the most famous names in fashion. Its light touch will keep your shoes fresh and polished.

Besides leather boots, you can also use them in bags, wallets, belts, furniture, and heels. It even protects the shoes from coffee and wine stains. But, make sure to use it in a ventilated area, as it smells strong.

2. Bickmore Gard-More Water & Stain Repellent 5.5oz

If you want me to give a reliable name of repellent that you can use regularly, then the answer will be Bickmore Gard-More repellent. Silicone-free formula and offering a protection layer is the best feature of this product.

Manufacturers especially made the product to get full-proof protection from dirt, water, and liquid stain. You can easily use it in all-colored leather boots, bags, jackets, luggage, wallets, and hats. Every splash of Bickmore Gard-More repellent will make your boot’s materials breathable and renewed.

In the USA, Bickmore Gard-More repellent is the most used and reviewed product. People love to use it in water boots as well as bags and wallets. The most amazing part is you can use it again and again whenever your shoes get dirty.

Its stain repelling properties are capable of offering protection without leaving any stains. It takes only 15 minutes to dry after application. Overall, you can’t understand the value of it until you use it.

3. KIWI Boot Waterproofer | Water Repellent for Hunting

Almost every customer wants a permanent product to make the working boots stain-free and dustproof. Well, KIWI Boot Water-proofer is the best way to make your regular boots shiny and reusable.

Its unique formula protects your leather boots from accidental stains, dirt, and liquids. Alongside the leather, it makes all types of product fabric breathable and stain-free.

Also, Kiwi boot waterproof is entirely safe to apply on every material. Makers made this to offer a heavy-duty silicone coating to get complete water protection. Even the repellent is quite suitable for winter hiking and hunting.

To see the best result, use it repeatedly and keep a 4 hours gap between the two applications. The silicone formula makes a robust water barrier on your product material.  Also, it moisturizes the leather boots with the can and nozzle.

Without any side effects, it offered a clean spray. It is even more suitable for dark-colored and black leather shoes.

4. Nikwax Nubuck and Suede Proof Waterproofing

If you are searching for a product for suede and nubuck shoes, Nikwax repellent is the best for you. The repellent is available in both sponge-on bottles and non-aerosol spray. In the USA, Nikwax is known for offering long-lasting coating.

Once applied, it stays waterproof for months on end. Also, it has no color and doesn’t affect the real natural color of your leather boots. You only need 1 minute to apply the spray and immediate cleanup is necessary.

The most amazing part is that it doesn’t smell bad, which is what most repellents do. It is made without any chemicals, PFCs, VOCs, optical brighteners, and additional scents. To see the best result keep a 24 hours’ time gap between applications.

Though the product is not FDA approved but safe for textured leather shoes, coats, wallets, bags, and gloves. It is even ideal to use for GORE-TEX. Nikwax repellent protects your boots from dirt, water as well as rejuvenates DWR.

Moreover, Nikwak repellent is made to refresh all non-waterproof footwear, including boots, flip-flops in fact perfumed the skin parts of footwear, such as liners and footbeds.

5. Force field Unisex-Adult Waterproof and Stain Resistant Protectant Spray for Shoes

The final product that we will review today is Force field Unisex-Adult protection spray. This repellent dries so fast that you can’t even imagine. Within 23 minutes, you can see your expected result. Besides water and dirt protection, it protects the boots from UV rays.

Each application stays years so that you don’t have to apply it repeatedly. Its invisible coating shields protect your footwear from impairment and prevent fading and yellowing. Hydrophobic formulas are included to maintain the breathability of the shoes.

Makers made the repellent to offer maximum comfort, support from water. Besides this, the outside of the boots is also applicable for the inside part of the boots. All products of force-field are specially designed to clean, guard, repair, and refresh all your footwear.

An excellent choice for regular boots to wear in a dirty and stormy environment. This high-quality product not only waterproofs your leather boots but also promotes adore-free footwear and flexibility. Garden fresh smell and water-repellency is the peak feature of this premium repellent.

How Often Should You Waterproof Boots?

Most of the leather boots are made with waterproof features. But the layer is not enough to protect the shoes for a longer time. For example, if you wear the shoes only at the nearest place to your home, they will stay longer.

But if you use boots for hiking and hunting, they might not give your desired protection unless you use a waterproof repellent. To keep the shoes protected from rains and accidental water splash, you need to use something powerful on the leather boots.

So, how often should you use the waterproof repellent? It depends on the capacity of your leather boots. If the shoes’ waterproofing feature is sufficient, you don’t need to waterproof them often.

But if they are not waterproof enough, then do apply another layer of waterproofing. Standard leather boots need one to two-time waterproofing every month.

Will WD 40 Waterproof Boots?

WD 40 is very much effective for waterproof boots. These are perfect for keeping your shoes protected from winter snow and heavy rain. It will create an invisible barrier so that the materials of the boot cannot absorb water.

Also, you can use WD 40 to make your boots stain-free. It can easily prevent ugly salt stains in the winter season whenever your shoes have colors too. Apply WD-40 onto the stains and wipe them with a clean duster.

Final Recap

One of the best and quickest ways to protect your leather boots from water and stain is to apply a powerful repellent. Waterproofing repellent ensures that the water cannot go into the shoes and drifts slickly off the surface.

Although, it’s critical to make you’re hiking boots waterproof. Because hiking boots were getting wet often and waterproofing won’t last long.

So you might be wondering, is it worth your investment? Yes, of course! Because waterproofing leather boots come into necessity and the result is worth every single penny of your investment.

So, if you also want a pair of shiny waterproof leather boots, try one of our reviewed products. Hopefully, this article will help you to find your suitable one.