If you own a pair of Bearpaw boots, then you know that they are made to be durable and long-lasting. But even the best products need some TLC now and then. So if you’re looking for a way to clean your Bearpaws without buying any extra cleaning supplies, keep reading! We’ll show you how to clean Bearpaw boots without cleaner with just a few simple steps.
Bearpaw boots are a long-lasting product but need to be cleaned occasionally. Many people think you need to use a special cleaner when cleaning your boots, but that’s not the case.
Things You’ll Need
- White vinegar
- Distilled water
- Cotton balls or cotton cloths
- Rubbing alcohol
- Baking soda
- Toothbrush or nail brush
- Liquid dish soap
- Waterproofing spray
- Suede-cleaning brush
A Stepwise Guide on How to Clean Bearpaw Boots Without Cleaner
Step 1: Determine How Dirty the Boots Are
Bearpaw boots are made from suede or leather. How dirty your boots get depends on how often you wear them and where you go while wearing them. If they’re covered in mud, you will need to give them a good scrubbing with dish soap and water before proceeding with this guide. However, if they’re just lightly soiled or stained, proceed to step two.
Step 2: Prepare the Cleaning Solution
Mix one part vinegar and distilled water in a bowl (or spray bottle). Never use tap water when cleaning suede; it has minerals that leave stains behind when used alone. If your Bearpaw boots are particularly dirty or smelly, add one tablespoon of baking soda to the cleaning solution. You can also add a few drops of liquid dish soap to help break up dirt and old shoe scent.
Step 3: Apply the Solution
Use a cotton ball or cloth dipped in your vinegar solution to rub onto suede boots. Never rub too hard as this will damage the materials beneath the surface. How much time you need to let the vinegar solution soak into your Bearpaw boots depends on how dirty they are. Allow three minutes for lightly soiled boots, five minutes for moderately dirty ones, and 15 minutes or more for those worn through mud puddles.
Step 4: Rinse With Distilled Water
After allowing your Bearpaw boots enough time to soak up vinegar, use distilled water to rinse off the vinegar solution. How much water you use will depend on how dirty your boots are. More heavily soiled boots might require copious amounts of distilled water, while lightly stained ones may only need a few splashes. Be sure to get rid of all traces of vinegar or soap by rinsing thoroughly.
Step 5: Apply Rubbing Alcohol
Use cotton swabs dipped in rubbing alcohol to remove any remaining dirt on your Bearpaw boots. If you have trouble getting into smaller spaces, wrap some cotton around a toothpick and use that instead. How long you leave the rubbing alcohol on depends again on how dirty your boots are—three minutes for lightly soiled, five minutes for moderately soiled, fifteen minutes for those trampled through mud puddles, and beyond.
Step 6: Wash Off the Alcohol with Distilled Water
If you’re using a toothbrush or nail brush, dip it in distilled water after applying rubbing alcohol to remove residue. How much distilled water you use depends on how dirty your boots are. More heavily soiled boots may require copious amounts of distilled water, while lightly stained ones may only need a few splashes. Likewise, how long you wash off the alcohol will depend on how much dirt is left after the five-minute process above.
Step 7: Use Soap and Water
Use liquid dish soap diluted by half with filtered or distilled water to give your Bearpaw boots an overall deep clean. How long you need to leave the soap depends on how dirty your boots are. Two minutes for lightly soiled, five minutes for moderately soiled, 15 minutes if the mud has turned the suede pitch black with dirt.
Step 8: Rinse Again With Distilled Water
Rinse off all traces of dish soap with distilled water by submerging your Bearpaw boots in a tub or using a spray bottle to coat them with water evenly. How much time you let your shoes soak depends on how dirty they are—two minutes for lightly soiled, five minutes for moderately soiled, fifteen minutes if they’ve been wholly smothered in mud.
Step 9: Apply Waterproofer
Use a waterproofing spray to protect your Bearpaw boots from the elements, rather than oils or creams. How long you need to let it dry depends on how much time you have, but typically 10 minutes will get the job done quickly.
How often you reapply waterproofer depends on how long you wear your boots in wet weather—every month for people who wear them daily, every three months for people who wear them several days each week. You should also receive an application brush with your purchase of waterproof to; use this application evenly throughout your boots.
Step 10: Buff With Clean Rag
Buff away excess moisture and dirt with a clean rag when all else fails when cleaning suede Bearpaw boots. How long you need to buff depends on how dirty they are, but typically two minutes will suffice for lightly soiled boots or three minutes for moderately dirty ones.
How often you should do this depends on how long you wear your Bearpaw boots in wet weather—once a week if you wear them daily, once every two weeks if worn several times per week, and once every six weeks if only used occasionally. These steps will help in how to clean Bearpaw boots without cleaner.
You Can Check It Out to Dry Wading Boots
Additional Tips
- Take a few paper towels and fold them in half before placing them under the muddiest part of the boot. Change the paper towel if it becomes too saturated with dirt or water. If using this method, place one folded paper towel at each of the most muddied parts on top of each other until they form one new, clean paper towel. Continue this way until no more water can be absorbed.
- For boots that are not very dirty, there is no need to clean them while wearing them. Instead, place the bear paw boot on newspaper or an old towel and wipe away dirt or stains with a damp cloth until they are gone.
- If the outsides of the bear paw boots become soiled with mud while cleaning inside them, take another paper towel and fold it in half. Use this folded towel to scrub your outside boots clean. Repeat this step as many times as needed until the outside of your boot is dirt-free.
- Cleaning bear paw boots frequently can help keep them looking new for extended periods. This will also help reduce water absorption when you finally get caught in a downpour without an umbrella!
- If you have used the paper towel method, take another paper towel and use it to wipe away any excess moisture from your boots.
- Allow your bear paw boots to air dry for several hours before wearing them again. This will prevent water inside your boot from becoming cold enough to cause discomfort while walking around.
- Make sure all traces of cleaner are gone before wearing your clean bear paw boots! Otherwise, you might end up with irritated skin or leather that is not damaged beyond repair.
Which Is Better: a Brush or a Sponge for Cleaning Bearpaw Boots?
There’s a common misconception that you need specific tools to clean all shoes and boots. However, this is not the case. Many think that brushes or sponges are necessary for the proper upkeep of Bearpaw boots, but this isn’t true at all.
While a stiffer brush can be used for brushing away tough dirt particles, a simple handkerchief or washcloth will do just fine on more delicate surfaces. You don’t have to purchase any special cleaners to keep your favorite pair of Bearpaws looking great.
Even though there are several spots on these boots where things get caught up in them (the seam lines being one), it is best to avoid using water while cleaning them for this exact reason.
Bearpaw boots are water-resistant and not waterproof. If you get these shoes wet, they’re likely to stay damp for a while and become prone to rotting in the meantime. So it makes sense that using an actual washing machine or hose on them would be impossible without ruining them altogether.
If your original Bearpaws were outside of their return period when they got so dirty you felt you had to clean them up, don’t despair! There’s nothing wrong with passing on these boots regarding resale value. However, How-To Geek is here with some handy tips about how even used pairs can look new, should anyone end up trying on a pair that just fell on the ground beside you.
Conclusion
We all want to have clean, dry boots for the winter. This is a guide on how to get Bearpaw boots looking better in just 5 minutes! If you’ve tried everything and your Bearpaws still don’t look like they did when you bought them, this might be the answer to your problems.
But, it’s time to take matters into our own hands – it’s time for an at-home boot cleaning session with nothing but water! After reading this article, I hope you have learned how to clean Bearpaw boots without cleaner.
