I don’t know what the deal with my boots is, and they are several years old but still have plenty of tread and the leather is still intact, but just lately the outside has begun to stink. The inside is, you know, work boot smelly but nothing excessive. They are redwings, and I’ve always kept them well oiled and snoseal applies often. But now I’ve been working more the last few years with oil and gear live and such dripping on them, so they have gotten this almost soft and sticky like finish to them. And it smells bad. Not like gear lube and not chemically, just a weird funk. So last night I went after them with the saddle soap. And more saddle soap. And simple green. And more simple green. And then let the hose run inside them for a while. And while the inside now smells great, the outside leather still stinks. So tonight I hoard them down with brake cleaner as a desperate attempt. Still stinky. Any ideas? My guess is the grease somehow is clogging the pores and bacteria has set up shop in the leather.
I hate to buy new boots while these are still going strong in the durability and comfort department.
Help!
After dripping gear oil on them, hosing them out with water, and spraying them with brake cleaner, I suspect you're going to have to buy new boots pretty soon anyway.
stuart in mn said:
After dripping gear oil on them, hosing them out with water, and spraying them with brake cleaner, I suspect you're going to have to buy new boots pretty soon anyway.
I agree!... but as I said, it’s a last ditch attempt. But the water and gear lube has been a long time occupancy, and brake cleaner is always in the air anyhow when I’m working. I’m just actually trying to dry the leather out a bit, as it’s so oily now. Surprisingly these boots have held up to oil and such incredibly well. Most other work boots would only last me six months. Doc martens and the “oil resistant” soles were gone in no time!
Do you have a heater, preferably propane? Or a dehumidifier and a room you can seal off temporarily?
Maybe if you could really dry them out you could work it out.
Another possibility would be burying them in charcoal for a weekend. Charcoal inside newspaper always worked for the inside of my boots, might work on the outside.
RevRico said:
Do you have a heater, preferably propane? Or a dehumidifier and a room you can seal off temporarily?
Maybe if you could really dry them out you could work it out.
Another possibility would be burying them in charcoal for a weekend. Charcoal inside newspaper always worked for the inside of my boots, might work on the outside.
Good ideas! I could stuff them in the fire pit for a while and see if that will absorb some of the smell! And if not, I could just burn them right there
I would ask redwings. They are a pretty major player in the work boots world so they may know something you don't. Personally I stick with the Justin's that have the vibram sole.
They are leather so they will rot if abused. Sounds like that's what happening and I don't think you can stop the decomposition process.
Nugi
Reader
9/3/19 7:21 a.m.
Punk rocker with way too many abused boots here. You maybe won't completely kill the smell at this point, but you can reduce it I bet. Get the boots reasonably dried out by a heater (dry but not brittle), then hit em with some beeswax/pitch based product. It will seal in the funk, leaving the leather pliable. Since boots are already oily use a product that has mostly beeswax, you may have to melt it a bit to get it pliable and soak in. Chill with the soap, as it seems to break down my funky leather and strip out some of the good oils to leave lighter ones behind.
I will second asking redwing on how to proceed. They may help you out better with the knowledge of their tanning process. They also might be able to point you towards a more oil resistant leather, which we would be interested in hearing about.
Is the oil on the boots turning?
joey48442 said:
I don’t know what the deal with my boots is, and they are several years old but still have plenty of tread and the leather is still intact, but just lately the outside has begun to stink.
have you recently started sitting on them?
AngryCorvair said:
joey48442 said:
I don’t know what the deal with my boots is, and they are several years old but still have plenty of tread and the leather is still intact, but just lately the outside has begun to stink.
have you recently started sitting on them?
You have no idea how apt that statement is!
bearmtnmartin said:
They are leather so they will rot if abused. Sounds like that's what happening and I don't think you can stop the decomposition process.
Yeah I imagine you ate right. It’s just weird as I’ve taken really good care of them I thought, using the oil/lotion from redwings, and snoseal on top of that to protect them. But a lot of automotive grease in the last two years I guess added up!
In reply to Nugi :
Thanks! Typically I use a beeswax product, snoseal to keep them protected. It’s only been lately the funk has arrived.
Do you keep horses or cattle?
1988RedT2 said:
Do you keep horses or cattle?
Nope... I repair the machines that do the flushes when you get a transmission flush, or coolant, power steering, brake fluid or driveline flush.
So if I'm hearing you correctly what you’re saying is, the leather outside is frightful?
Woody said:
So if I'm hearing you correctly what you’re saying is, the leather outside is frightful?
Yeah, but the fire in between my toes is not so delightful
