Investing in a decent, reliable pair of wellingtons can make or break your day. If you want to get the most out of any footwear though, you need to take care of them. We have some tips on this that we’d like to share with you. With what you’ll learn, it’ll be possible to keep your boots in shape for years to come so you get the most from them.

Keep everything clean

Firstly, you must keep them clean. Wellies are designed for heading deep into the muck. Yet, you should fight the temptation to simply kick them off when you return home. Muck, mud, and dirt left to dry on your boots will pull the moisture out of the rubber. This is going to prematurely age them, increasing the chances of splits or cracks.

A quick wipe down, or more preferably a spray clean from a hose, will help you get the build-up off. The effort will go a long way towards stopping the rubber from drying out.

Next, we’ll talk about the molecular side of things. Rubber reacts with oxygen in the air as time passes. The oxidation modifies it at the molecular level. So, it becomes more brittle as the bonds break down. Similar to rust forming on metals, a wet environment will greatly speed things up here.

Following a fast spray to clear the dirt off, give your wellingtons a light towelling. Then let them dry naturally. Avoid placing them by the fire. Don’t put them near radiators or in direct sunlight either. Extreme heat will do a fair amount of damage. Long exposure will pull moisture out of the rubber and increase the oxidation process.

If you find yourself needing to dry out wet wellies rapidly, a boot dryer can help. It’ll gently dry the interiors without resulting in undue stress to the rubber outer.

Storage

Think about storage for your boots as well. An outbuilding or garden shed may appear to be a convenient place to keep them. However, damp air will increase oxidation rates. UV radiation from the sun can also pass through glass. As such, a bright conservatory or porch can age the rubber more swiftly too. If you can, put the boots in a moderately dry, dark cupboard. This is the ideal storage spot.

Watch what you step in

You’ll need to watch your step here as well. Several common materials can prove especially harmful to rubber, alongside leather. Examples of these include manure. It’s acidic and can eat its way through your wellingtons over time. Salt from seawater, pavements/gritted roads and such will pull moisture out of the rubber rapidly. You also need to watch out for industrial chemicals. These include fertilisers, oils, cleaning solvents, and paints.

These substances shouldn’t put you off from doing what you need to. But you should be mindful of anything that can damage your footwear. If there is exposure, give them some extra care afterwards. A good clean is the least you should do.

Love

Last but not least, remember to give the wellies some love. Topping up the moisture in them isn’t hard. You can use some natural oils to do it. Or, there are specialised rubber care sprays available. In addition to restoring moisture, some of these can offer more UV protection. They help repel dirt and mud too.

How regularly you need to treat the boots depends on how rough you are on them. For the average user, twice a year is a good idea. However, if you expose your footwear to common hazards regularly, you should use a more regular regime. The same goes if you live in them day in and day out.

Buy reliable wellingtons

At JS Hubbuck Ltd we supply the perfect footwear for various needs. This includes different agricultural jobs as well as hobbies like rambling and shooting. They are sure to keep your feet protected as long as you keep them in shape.

So, if you want to buy quality wellingtons or any of our other items, please let us know. We’d be happy to provide suggestions if you need any advice from a team that has been working in agriculture for decades.