Like any other shoes, timberlands need to be cleaned and cared for on regular basis. The stores are full of shoe cleaning kits you can use to remove dirt from your fashionable boots effortlessly. But if you don’t want to spend money on expensive market solutions, there are some household items you can use as reliable alternatives. If you are dying to know how to clean timberlands with household items, here are some of the most effective methods you can try out.
Soapy solution
When sophisticated market cleaners are not on hand, dish soap comes to help. In spite of not being specialized in cleaning timberlands, household detergents can do a great job of ridding these shoes of stains. Mix warm water and dish detergent in a spray bottle and shake until foam takes shape. Spray some solution on the bottom of the shoes and scrub the dirt off with a toothbrush that is not in use anymore. If the grime is too stubborn, go for a scrubbing brush with harsh bristles to make the boots’ outsole as clean as new.
Mud build-ups in the grooves of the sole also need to be removed as they make the boots even heavier, making your feet tired after some hours of walking. If the brush doesn’t help, use a sharp object, like knife or pencil, to remove the mud. If the mud is old and dry, use warm water to soften it, then scrape it off with the sharp tool.
Now that you are done with the bottom of the shoe, move on to the fabric. Spray soapy water on the surface of your timberlands and gently scrub the stains with a clean cloth or a toothbrush. Scrub in one direction to prevent ugly streaks. Once all dirt and stains have come off, let the boots air-dry. Avoid the direct contact of shoes with a heat source, be it sun or blow dryer. Whether it’s suede, leather or nubuck timberlands, neither of them tolerates heat, as it can discolor and deshape the fabric.
Baby wipes and bread
To the surprise of many of you, baby wipes and bread make a great tandem in making timberlands spotlessly clean. Begin by wiping the shoes down with baby wipes to remove surface dust and loose stains. Don’t apply brute force on tough and set-in stains, because baby wipes are not meant to deal with them. You will only harm your timberlands by rubbing them aggressively.
Once the surface dirt is fought back, leave the wipes aside and take a slice of bread. Homequicks recommends using this ingredient, as it is a soft scrubber and allows remove stains from your boots without damaging them. If you notice scuff marks on your shoes, rub the scuffed area with a pencil eraser gently and repeatedly.
Cornmeal
You may think that grease spots are impossible to remove from timberlands without specialized degreasers. Fortunately, it is not so. You can tackle oil stain on your boots using household items, such as cornmeal. First of all, place a paper towel on the shoe to absorb as much oil as possible. Then spread a generous amount of cornmeal on the greasy spot and press with your hand to speed up the absorption.
Let it sit for half an hour to soak up all oil. Lastly, brush the cornmeal off or vaccuum it. If you don’t have cornmeal handy, feel free to sprinkle baking soda on the timberlands. If neither cornmeal nor baking soda helps, don’t worry. A market degreaser will help remove the oily stain fully.
Vinegar
Vinegar is recommended by eHow, as it’s a great product for removing stains from timberlands. At the same time, it plays the role of deodorizer, neutralizing unpleasant smell that comes after many uses. Dampen a cotton rag in vinegar and gently wipe the stained areas down. Make sure vinegar is not dripping off the rag, as you don’t want to oversaturate the suede or leather with this acid ingredient. After scrubbing the stains off, let the shoes naturally dry. The sharp vinegar smell will disappear as soon as the substance evaporates.
How to deodorize timberlands?
After you have cleaned the timberland boots on the surface, it’s time to deal with the bacteria inside them. Sweat contains microorganisms that start to smell if you leave them thrive. To fight off the odor, you are good to use one of the household items with a strong deodorizing effect.
If you have baking soda handy, sprinkle it generously inside the shoes and let it sit overnight. Remove the shoelaces beforehand to make soda spreading easier. The next day, vacuum the soda or turn the shoes upside down and shake to force the powder out.
You are also good to follow the recommendation of those from Ohsospotless to use citrus fruit. Peel any citrus fruit, add the peels into the shoes and allow them 24 hours to absorb all bad odors. The citrus fruit not only neutralizes the existing smell, but also adds a pleasant fragrance to your boots.
Teabags can remove odor from the boots as well. Place two teabags in each boot and let them sit until next morning. Besides the above-mentioned items, you can also put the boots in the freezer to get all smell-causing bacteria killed. Make sure, though, to clean the shoes, including their bottom, before placing them into the freezer.
To sum up
How to clean timberlands with household items? If you want to avoid supermarket cleaning products, there are many alternatives that are readily found in any home and are highly effective at sanitizing your stylish boots. Soap and water, vinegar, baby wipes and bread, cornmeal, all of them can help you rid your beloved shoes of dust, dirt and grease and make them look as new. No matter what product you use, avoid scrubbing with vigor as it may damage the delicate fabric. Beside outside care, don’t forget about inside care. Use lemon peels, teabags or baking soda to eliminate the odor coming out of the boots at the end of the day.
