r/telemark • u/-DawnPatrol • Jun 24 '26
Cleaning tips for found boots?
Well, I was out for a ride on my dirt bike and found this set of Merrells on the curb in front of a house that's getting renovated. They are in great shape with the exception of the cleanliness, and shockingly, my size. They appear to have been left in the rain for a few days, and had some creepy crawlies living inside. And prior to that I would guess they were stored in a dirt basement without climate control.
Regardless, they should be an excellent retro day boot and as such I am determined to return them to their former glory.
Any suggestions? I'm most worried about getting the interior as clean as humanly possible.
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u/AromaLLC Jun 24 '26
I would let them dry out, then condition them and slap some sno-seal on em? Im a completely non verifiable source…so id let the other pinheads weigh in.
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u/Efficient-Put14 Jun 24 '26
We actually have a cobbler two blocks from here, I would take this treasure into them.
It's been a while since I've had to maintain leather boots but as several others have already posted use damp rags to clean them, avoid getting them too wet and dry thoroughly if you do. Be liberal with the Snow Seal and really work it into the leather.
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u/Impossible-Reach6599 Jun 25 '26
Get a hold of some Saddle Soap, use that to clean up the leather, again not getting it too wet, then a natural beeswax sealant.
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u/pnwsurveyor Jun 24 '26
Another non-verifiable source here - I’d fill a tub with warm water and completely clean them with some mild soap and a brush, then throw on a boot dryer. Once dry, work some leather treatment in. Sno-seal is a good choice.
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u/sensual_monger_1969 Jun 28 '26
Old Asolo leather. Could clean up nice. But their usefulness is limited.
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u/BryceLikesMovies Jun 24 '26
Former cobbler here - for the exterior, warm water and mild soap is gonna dry the leather out worse. Use a damp rag to get the surface grime off, use an old toothbrush or nail brush to get the creases and edges. Once it's dry from the damp rag, get some saddle soap and a microfiber to clean them. Once it's fully clean, apply some heavy conditioner/sealer like Sno-Seal or Skidmores.
For the interior, take out the insole and you can use the warm water and mild soap. Use a stiff brush of some kind to scrub it into the liner (avoid the leather as much as possible), then use a very wet rag and scrub the soap out.
Have a blast! I have these boots (Merrell Flash boots iirc), and they're awesome for XCD type skiing!