Cleaning your work boots is a must to increase their life. While you work rigorously, your boots pick up all the dirt, dust and oil and that’s why at some point their cleansing becomes essential.
But what is the correct way to clean your boots? Let me tell you one thing, cleaning boots inside and out takes some care so that they don’t get damaged. But, do you need to use a brush on work boots?
Yes, brushes play an important role in cleaning of your work boots. Whether your boots are covered in mud, sawdust or any other debris, the very first step in restoring them includes brushing off the unwanted particles. There are a variety of brushes serving specific purposes.
If you are working on any non-suede leather, a simple horsehair or brush with stiff bristle will work. Brushes that are used on boots don’t need to be fancy and expensive. You can find cheaper options in a shoe repair shop or online.
Let’s have a look at some of the varieties of brushes that can be used at work boots and their uses. Read till the end to know the best brushes available in the market.
Which brush material is best for my boots?
There are different types of flat brushes made from different materials which are great at dislodging dirt and irritants from the surface of boots.
Horsehair Bristles
These bristles are known for their softness. The bristles are also exceptionally flexible which makes them perfect for removing the dirt stuck in the grooves of your boots. Horsehair bristles are most commonly used material when it comes to brushes for boots.
Crepe Rubber
It is a latex material which is sticky and soft and is ideal for materials like suede and nubuck. It is known for restoring boot’s shine by clinging to nap on the sensitive suede.
If you want to remove light stains then it’s best to brush with the naps but for heavy duty cleaning it is generally advisable to brush both and against the nap.
Brass Wires
Brass wires are meant for stains that are very deep and are not removed by crepe rubber. These are sturdy and are great in removing tough stains without damaging your shoes. However, these brushes are not suited for smooth leathers and can leave scratches on them.
Coco Bristles
These brushes are similar to brass wires and are too heavy duty for your smooth leathers. Although, coco bristles are useful in scraping away difficult dirt that sticks to your rugged boots. The short stiff bristles are specifically tailored to scrub away the most stubborn stains.
What is a dauber when it comes to brushes for boots?
Since we are talking about brushes for boots, we cannot forget about dauber which if we simply, is an applicator. This article is used for polishing.
While your boot brush is used to scrape away dirt and irritants as a part of the cleaning process, dauber is something that is ideally used to buff polish in with circular motions.
It has a tailored round shape and comes with bristles which are sturdier than a polishing cloth. Additionally, the handle of brush is smaller in comparison to a dauber and that’s why using the latter will allow you to clean the areas of the boots properly which are harder to clean.
How to clean a shoe polish brush?
While brushes tend to keep your work boots clean, it’s only a matter of time before your polish brush gets dirty too. Follow these three steps to get your boot brush back in their original position.
Use a proper technique to clean your brush.
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- When the residual polish accumulates on the bristles, simply buff the bristles across a clean towel or cloth.
- Rotate the brush in the opposite direction and see that the residual polish wipes off right away.
- In order to remove loose hair from your brush, use a brush cleaning comb.
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Always keep your brush in good condition
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- For best results, buff the bristles regularly
- Buff them each time you polish your shoes.
- Avoid accumulation of residual polish.
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Always purchase good quality boot brushes.
Best boot brushes in market
1. Kiwi 100% Horsehair Shine Brush
- Kiwi
- 194-000
- Brushes
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Key Features
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- Soft, natural, horsehair bristles
- Sturdy wooden handle
- Quick and easy cleaning
- Wooden frame
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2. GOLD STANDARD Double Sided Shoe Cleaning Brush
Key Features
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- Double-sided shoe brushes: Medium-soft and Hard-stiff bristles in the same item
- Travel size, easy to carry and handle
- It measures 3.75 inches x 1.5 inches in handle length
- Short Bristles are 0.5 inches, and Long bristles are 1.0 inches
- Works on stubborn stains
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3. Ralyn Professional Shine Brush
- Specially designed for the shoe care professional.
- Extra long hair adds extra life to brush.
- L8-W2.5-H2.25
- C100
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Key Features
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- Specifically designed for professional use
- Measures 8 x 2.5 x 2.2 inches in dimension
- Weighs about 9.6 ounce
- Light and dark bristle color option
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Final Thoughts
Boot brushes are an asset for your boots. Without them, cleaning becomes kind of incomplete. Whether you have to buff your boots or remove any unwanted particles from the boot surface, these brushes are always there to rescue. Therefore, it is important to keep good care of them.
While it may be easy to choose the brush for your hair or teeth, I would suggest you make a good choice while purchasing a brush for your boots. So, when are you getting yours?
