'Mouldy' boots - how to refresh?

[TeaBee]

A pair of leather boots has taken on a musty smell while not in use.
Does anyone have any tips to remove the pong?

Cheers.

 

[brambles]

Other than using a good leather cleaner/restorer on the outside - get a box of baking soda, empty a good amount into each boot, leave for a day or so , then clean out.

 

[Twodogs]

Remove all insoles and laces give them a good air dry for a couple of days then polish ..

 

[ozzy1977]

Foot spray used to make my rock climbing boots almost bearable to be near

 

[Chris the Cat]

Give them a good wash out with warm ( not hot) water or get the garden hose in them ( or Warm then blast with the hose).
Stuff with newspaper after they have drained and leave them to dry indoors ( not too near any direct heat. Change the newspaper once or twice then just leave until dry.
Oil them up when dry and off you go!

Best.

da C.

 

[t1234]

Fill them up with cat litter wood pellets and leave them for a few days

(unused )

 

[Goatboy]

Some good suggestions so far. Another is to fill them with a strong saline solution (warm salty water), leave them for a few days, then thoroughly rinse them. Allow to dry naturally (don't put them anywhere near a radiator or fire, remove the footbeds and don't stuff with newspaper). Once dry treat them with a good wax, I prefer Sno seal if you can get it. And they should be as good as new.

 

[TeaBee]

Thanks for all the tips - I don't know where to begin!
I hadn't realised that so many of you had experience of this type of problem.
Cheers
Trev

 

[British Red]

Its sweat and bacteria that smell. What you are reading are various techniques to solve this.

Definitely remove and clean insoles and laces

Sniff the inside of the boot. Is the smell bad inside?

Yes? You need to remove it. Washing helps, then slow drying. If still smelly try the baking powder.

Clean the outside with nikwax, snoseal or similar.