Spring Cleaning My Mud and Muck Covered Boots

Spring weather has really been doing a number on my poor field boots. I know with all the wet and mud I probably should just wear my paddock boots and chaps and protect my good tall boots, but I just like riding in them so much better. So I let them suffer.

After several weeks of severe mud, I finally got motivated enough to give my boots a really good cleaning. The timing was perfect, as Leather CPR had just sent me samples of their leather cleaner and shoe and boot shine products to try.

Here’s what my poor boots looked like after several weeks of tromping through snow and mud on top of regular riding:

Because they’d get wet, and then I’d walk through the arena effectively coating them with sand, they were a real mess. And sand just doesn’t clean off well with water.

I gave the Leather CPR cleaner a try first to see if I would get off the icky arena goo. As per the instructions, I applied it with a clean sponge, rubbed it in, and let it sit for several minutes. Then I wiped off the excess with a clean, dry cloth. Here was the result of the cleaning phase:

Much better, eh? I really liked how well this stuff cleaned the leather. It took the mud and sand right off and even conditioned the leather nicely. Quick, easy, and very effective.

Next I tried out my sample of the neutral shoe and boot polish (it also comes in black). Just had to wipe it on with a clean, soft sponge, and voila, shine! It wiped on easily and dried in just a few minutes. Here’s the difference between the shined boot and one that had just been cleaned.

Not too bad, huh? The Leather CPR boot and shoe shine didn’t do much to cover up the scuffs on the toes. For that reason, and because I’m a bit of a traditionalist, I’ll still do a full boot polish, buff and shine from time to time. But I really like this polish for the in-between, or for a quick added shine right before entering the show ring.

I feel so much better now that my lovely boots are looking – well … lovely – again.

If you are interested in trying out some of the Leather CPR shoe and boot shine on your own well-worn riding or work boots, you can sign up for your own free sample on their site.