How To Care For Your Dublin Country Boots This Winter

We spoke to Dublin Brand Ambassador, Ally Kelly, and asked for her top tips when it comes to caring for her Dublin boots.

“When the weather starts to become increasingly wet and cold, that’s when you need your boots to be working at their best. My top tips for keeping your Dublin boots in their best condition will keep those feet of yours dry and warm, and most importantly make your boots last a long time! Many happy customers say they have kept their Dublin boots for many years, and what do these customers have in common? They’ve taken good care of their boots.

When your boots are clean, waterproofed and conditioned they will thank you for it. Dublin has a vast range of boot care products specifically designed to protecting the leather and keeping the wet out. One of my personal favourites is the Fast Dry Proof, as it works well on both my yard boots, which I do a lot of walking in, and my horse riding boots. Once I’ve cleaned them thoroughly I liberally spray the boots with this product and it seals the goodness in, whilst keeping the cold and wet out. 

Boot bags are also a good way of keeping your boots tidy and in a dry environment. If boots are not stored somewhere dry and protected, this can cause them to get dusty, mouldy and become a tasty treat for rodents! (Yuck! No one wants that!)

Mud on your walking, yard or horse riding boots may seem just a bit messy looking, but did you know the mud after time can rot away at your leather and create holes. Urine can also rot the leather, therefore it is important to keep your riding boots purely for just riding. I recommend you ensure you have a separate pair of boots for yard jobs, obviously ensuring you keep those yard boots clean and proofed as often as time allows.

Wipe your walking or horse riding boots with a damp cloth after each use to remove dust, dirt or any liquids they may have been exposed to whilst being worn. Use Dublin Pre Wash Spray to loosen any stuck in mud. If they have zips, we recommend brushing out the zips with a fine brush with bristles, similar to a toothbrush. This ensures the zips stay in the best condition and are less likely to get caught on dirt and hair when zipping them up.

Once you’ve cleaned your boots with a damp cloth, make sure you leave your boots to dry naturally away from direct heat before applying any conditioner.

To prevent cracking in leather, use a sponge or cloth and apply a leather conditioner to soften and moisturise your boots. After a few minutes the leather will have absorbed what it can, and you can wipe any remaining conditioner off. We recommend you use the Dublin Leather Cream, which cleans and conditions all types of smooth, natural and imitation leathers, patent and synthetic materials. It nourishes and beautifies leather garments and accessories, refreshes the look, gives added gloss, and assists in waterproofing. You can then use the Dublin Proof & Conditioner Suede or Leather Spray to soften and moisturise your boots. After a few minutes the leather will have absorbed what it can, and you can wipe any remaining conditioner off.

Use a weatherproofing spray to help protect against future dirt and water stains. Our favourite is the Dublin Fast Dry Proof Spray which helps to protect against future dirt, water stains and helps restore a water repellent finish to all footwear.

Use the Dublin Deo Spray to freshen up the inside of your boots. It can also be used to freshing up riding hats thanks to its antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Always test conditioners, polish and waterproofers on a small inconspicuous area before you cover the whole walking, yard or horse riding boot. Always follow the instructions printed on the label.

Enjoy your boots! They work hard to keep you protected, so in turn protect them! 

Ally Kelly - @allyapproved212 on Instagram