Depending on your job, the chances are your shoes will end up caked in mud, dirt, dust, and grime by the end of your shift.
Though they might not be the most stylish type of footwear, a sturdy pair of work boots will keep your feet warm, dry, comfortable, and protected all day long.
Work boots don’t come cheap. However, a little TLC goes a long way to ensure you receive maximum value for your money.
Here experts at Stainless Steel Manufacturing & Equipment (SSME), offer a few top tips on how to make your work boots last as long as possible.
6 tips to prolong the life expectancy of your footwear
1.Invest in a decent pair of boots – of course, it depends on your budget, but if you can afford to spend a little more on work boots, your feet will thank you for it. Cheaper boots typically fall apart sooner, meaning you’ll need to buy multiple pairs throughout the year. Whereas a more expensive pair will be comfier, safer, and longer-lasting. For ultimate protection, look out for steel toe cap boots.
2.Break them in before you wear them – if you take your boots straight out of the box and work eight hours or more in them, your feet will inevitably be sore. Instead, you need to break new boots in at least a few days (ideally a week) before you work in them. Try wearing them around the house to start with until your feet adjust to them. Using a leather conditioner can also help to soften them up, allowing them to stretch to your foot shape better.
3.Waterproof them – do you work in all weathers? If so, the last thing you want is soaking wet feet. The best way to keep your feet dry and to protect your boots against water damage is to get hold of some waterproofing spray or wax. This will create a barrier between the elements and the material of your work boots, preventing moisture.
4.When they get wet, leave them to dry – whether you’ve been working in the pouring rain or your feet have been sweating, you must allow your boots time to dry out before you put them on again. There’s the age-old trick of stuffing them with scrunched up newspaper to absorb the moisture – which, in return, eliminates that awful damp smell and helps them to maintain their shape for longer.
5.Give them a thorough clean – both inside and out! As you’d expect, the more often you clean your mucky boots, the longer they’ll last. To keep lingering smells inside each boot at bay, use a low pH shampoo and water before leaving to dry naturally. As for the outer soles and uppers, consider using a brush to remove any stubborn dirt and debris or invest in a boot washing station.
6.Have a backup pair – it’s always a good idea to have a spare pair of boots in your locker, just in case your trusty work boots haven’t dried out properly. Plus, alternating between the two will make them last longer and save you the hassle of buying new ones so soon.
Want to know the best thing you can do to get the most out of your work boots?
Keep up the boot maintenance.
Make sure that you’re cleaning your muddy boots as often as possible to prevent dirt and bacteria from harbouring in the soles and contaminating other areas. If employers haven’t already, they should consider investing in boot washers so staff and visitors can sanitise their footwear on entry and exit with ease.
To find out more about boot washing stations, get in touch with the team at SSME today. They supply manual and automatic models that are made from high-quality stainless steel, and can be tailored to suit almost any industrial environment.
