Cloth snow boots pick up salt and grime from being worn in winter weather, but you can keep them looking fresh the same way you keep clothes fresh. Lightly soiled boots can be wiped off with a damp cloth between cleanings, but deep cleaning should be performed at least once a year. While snow boots are usually constructed from sturdy fabric, check the label in your cloth snow boots before you clean them in case the fabric is delicate enough to be damaged by a cleaning agent.

Things You'll Need:

Soft cloth or shoe brush

Stain removing spray

Washing machine

2 bath towels

1 cap-full or scoop of delicate laundry detergent

1 cup distilled white vinegar

2 foot-long sections of 3 inch diameter PVC pipe

Instructions to Clean Cloth Snow Boots :

Dust off loose dirt from the boot's surface using either the soft cloth or shoe brush. If the cloth is stained, spray on a generous layer of stain removing spray. Let the stain remover soak in for fifteen minutes to half an hour.

Place the boots in the washing machine with two bath towels.The bath towels will help keep the boots from getting tossed around enough to cause damage in the washing machine.

Fill the washing machine with cold water. Pour the detergent directly under the filling water. Let the machine agitate for about five minutes, to mix the detergent thoroughly into the water. Turn the machine off and let the boots soak overnight.

Turn the machine on after the boots have soaked and let the wash cycle finish running. Add 1 cup distilled white vinegar to the rinse water. Let the rinse cycle run for about five minutes to mix the vinegar and water. Turn off the machine and let the vinegar soak into the boots for 1/2 hour. Turn the machine back on and let it finish its cycle.

Slide the PVC pipes into the boots to hold the legs open. Place the boots in front of a fan to help dry them out faster. Turn the boots every two hours so the fan blows on different parts of the boots until the boots are completely dry. Remove the pipes after the boots are completely dry.


Tips & Warnings

Vinegar can cause discoloration of fabrics made from cotton, rayon, acetate, triacetate or silk fibers. If your boots are made from any of those fibers, according to the care label, do not add vinegar to the rinse water.
Avoid putting cloth snow boots in the dryer in an attempt to get them dry sooner because the soles can come unglued in the dryer's heat.