How to Clean Military Boots

Military boots are essential to military uniforms, providing much-needed protection and support during training and on duty. Since they are regulation, this also means that they get exposed to the toughest of terrains and weather conditions, which subjects them to excessive dirt and mud. Regardless of the material of your military boots, they need to be properly cleaned to prolong their life.

Different military combat boots require varying cleaning methods to maintain the integrity of the material. Keep reading for your easy military boot cleaning guide.

Before you even start trying to clean your boots, you’ll need to make sure they are dry. This applies even if you have mud on your boots because scrubbing mud while wet may cause it to seep into the material and make it harder to clean. Make sure you also remove laces and any footbeds, then pull the boot’s tongue up as much as possible to allow for proper ventilation.

Don’t rush this step! Leave them in a safe place to dry at room temperature, as heat can cause the leather to dry out or crack.

Your next step in how to clean your leather military boots is to take a dry soft-bristled brush and remove as much dirt as possible. Be cautious of the pressure you apply because it can affect the leather's integrity. If your boots are caked with mud, you can use a warm, damp cloth – not wet – to wipe your boots prior to brushing. 

Now that you’ve successfully gotten off all of that dirt and mud, you’re ready to make those boots shine. You have options for this military boot cleaning step: you could use shoe polish or a mixture that’s one-part vinegar and two-part linseed oil. Apply a thick layer of your chosen solution all over your boots with a soft cloth, rubbing it in using small circular motions. Repeat as necessary until your boots have a nice shine. Once you’re all finished and satisfied with your boots’ appearance, let them dry at room temperature. 

Suede military style boots can be especially difficult to learn how to clean because they can be easily damaged if not properly cared for. Your military boot cleaning for suede will be similar to leather, with just a few tweaks. 

Much like with leather, you will want those boots to dry before you clean them. Again, take your time with this step.

Gently remove any dirt with a soft-bristled brush, soft cloth, or even an old toothbrush. Ensure not to apply too much pressure to avoid accidentally damaging the fabric. Mud is going to be a little trickier. As with leather, you’ll want to let the mud dry before cleaning your suede military boots to avoid spreading or causing any stains. Take your soft-bristled brush and start to scrub the suede, limiting the scrubbing to one direction. 

For tough mud stains, mix ½ teaspoon of dishwashing liquid with one cup of warm water and lightly dampen a soft cloth. Do not use any oil-based solutions – they’ll stain the suede. Use the dishwashing detergent solution to remove the stains using small, circular motions. When you’re finished, wipe them with warm water, and let them air dry again!

Learning how to clean military boots with scuff marks is not going to be as tricky as it sounds. If you have a suede eraser or stone, gently rub it back and forth to remove any marks. If you don’t have a suede eraser, don’t worry – you can still get those stubborn scuffs off! An art gum eraser, household cleaning eraser, or even a pencil eraser will work just fine. Use your tool of choice to rub the scuffs off, taking care to apply gentle pressure and use a back-and-forth motion.

With so many advances in fabrics, military boots can now be crafted using various materials that may not have been possible decades prior – including synthetic fibers. This part of military boot cleaning is not as difficult as leather or suede. While water usually does the trick with light dirt or dust, mud stains require a little more effort. 

As you may be able to guess after learning how to clean leather and suede military boots, you will want to start with completely dry boots first. When they’re dry, knock the heels of your boots together with a bit of force to remove dirt and debris. If you have any remaining dirt, you can use a solution of water and vinegar to wipe it off with a cloth or an old toothbrush.

Cleaning your bootlaces is quite possibly the simplest part of military boot cleaning. While they can go into the washing machine, you should hand wash them instead. In a bowl, mix a solution of warm to hot water with a small amount of dishwashing liquid or laundry detergent. Let your laces soak in the solution for around 15 minutes, gently agitate, rinse with clean water, and hang to dry.

Though the boot’s interior may seem less important, learning how to clean this part of your military boots for your foot health and comfort is necessary. Remove your insoles; you can let them air dry or hand wash them using a gentle soap. To clean the interior of your boot, use a soft cloth and a solution of warm water and dishwashing liquid to clean all around the inside. Next, wipe with water to remove any excess soap, and let air dry. 

Taking care of your boots by cleaning them regularly is an essential step in staying compliant and keeping your boots (and you) looking sharp. Explore high-quality, affordable boots and military surplus today at Army Surplus World!