How to Clean Rain Boots: What Makers and Care Guides Say
Quick answer: knock off mud, wash with mild dish soap and cool water, scrub the treads, air dry stuffed with newspaper away from sun and heat, and avoid solvents. The white film is bloom and is harmless.
We compare the makers and care guides and show where they disagree.
How to Clean Rain Boots: Sources Compared
Rain boots are mostly natural or synthetic rubber, which asks for gentle soap, cool water and no solvents. We read BOGS, Apartment Therapy, Erasers.com, Outdoor and Country, CBC, Pottery Barn Kids, Cleanipedia and Philip Morris Direct. They agree on no machine, no direct sun and no heat. They differ on bloom, water temperature and storage position.
| Source | Cleaning method | Bloom (white film) | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOGS | Hose off natural rubber and neoprene, scrub gently in cold water, soap only if needed. | Wax polish or an Armor All-type spray on uppers can help prevent blooming. | Harsh solvents, direct sun, artificial heat, and polish on the outsole (can be slippery). |
| Apartment Therapy | Knock off mud, wash with dish soap and very warm water, dry in a ventilated spot away from sun. | Natural. Damp cloth for light bloom, Hunter Rubber Care Kit for long-standing bloom. | Sun while drying, artificial heat, storing wet in a closet. |
| Erasers.com | Rinse with cool water, mild dish soap in cool water on a soft cloth, soft brush for treads. | Natural and harmless. Buffer, boot shine or a small amount of olive oil on microfiber. Condition about monthly. | Solvents, leather polish and conditioner, hot water, heat, wire brushes, washing machines. |
| Outdoor and Country | Cool soapy water cloth, wipe downward. | Natural, “not a defect”. Hunter Rubber Care Kit if bloom remains. | “Never use solvents on your boots.” Excess heat, sun and storing damp. |
| CBC | Furniture polish or an all-purpose spray on a paper towel for dirt and watermarks. | Cloudy patches indicate aging rubber. Rubbing alcohol can remove the haze. | Abrasive pads, freezing rain, heat, forcing feet in, stepping on heels. |
| Pottery Barn Kids | Dish detergent and water outside, disinfectant wipes or vinegar and water inside. | Olive oil on a cloth, or dish detergent on a damp rag. | Solvents, scratching, heat and sunlight, folding the boots. |
| Cleanipedia | 1 litre warm water and 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid, soft brush on soles. | Wipe clean, buff with a drop or two of olive oil, or a commercial buffer. | Direct sun, machine washing, tumble drying, leftover detergent on soles. |
| Philip Morris Direct | Medium brush, damp cloth with washing-up liquid or baking soda in warm water. | “Blooming” is harmless. Boot conditioner spray on clean dry boots. | Harsh chemicals, very hot water, washing machines, radiators and hairdryers. |
Several of these sources sell boots, care kits or cleaning products, so their steps may point to their own range. We have not tested any of these methods.
Step by Step: Cleaning Rain Boots
The shared method, with who says what:
- Knock off mud. Apartment Therapy says to knock the boots together outdoors. Philip Morris Direct says to use a medium-bristle brush on dried mud.
- Rinse. Erasers.com says to rinse with cool water starting with the outsole. BOGS says a hose and cold water.
- Wash with mild soap. Cleanipedia gives 1 litre of warm water with 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid, rubbed in circles with a rag.
- Scrub treads. A soft brush or old toothbrush (Erasers.com, Cleanipedia). Rinse all detergent off so soles do not become slippery (Cleanipedia).
- Dry. Air dry, out of direct sun. See the drying section.
- Buff or condition. Only once clean and dry (BOGS, Erasers.com).
Cleanipedia suggests a baking soda paste (1 teaspoon with about half a cup of warm water) left 15 to 30 minutes for caked-on mud. Erasers.com says a rubber eraser lifts scuffs, but only on the rubber, not linings or trims.
The White Film: Removing Bloom
The dull white film on rubber boots is called bloom. Outdoor and Country and Erasers.com both call it natural and harmless. The sources suggest different fixes:
| Method | Who says it | Detail | Caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damp, soapy cloth | Outdoor and Country, Apartment Therapy | Often enough for light bloom. Wipe downward with cool soapy water. | None stated. |
| Rubber buffer and boot shine | Outdoor and Country, Erasers.com | Hunter kit: two sprays on the cloth, buff in circles, shine sponge for gloss. | Excessive use on Metallic and Pearlised finishes may affect the finish. |
| Olive oil | Erasers.com, Cleanipedia, Pottery Barn Kids | A small amount on a microfiber or dry cloth. | Home method, not a maker instruction. |
| Rubbing alcohol | CBC | Can remove the haze on cloudy patches. | Outdoor and Country and BOGS warn against solvents. |
| Wax polish or Armor All-type spray | BOGS | On the uppers once dry, helps prevent blooming and adds UV protection. | Never on the outsole. |
Erasers.com says to condition about once a month or after heavy use, and cites a 2022 ACS Omega study that natural rubber degrades under light, heat, oxygen and ozone. General advice: start with soap and water, and avoid solvents.
Insides and Odor
Insides and odor:
- Wear socks: Pottery Barn Kids says socks reduce moisture.
- Wipe the lining: Philip Morris Direct says mild dish soap and warm water for jersey or polyester linings, rinsed with plain water. Cleanipedia uses dishwashing liquid or non-bio laundry liquid in hot water.
- Vinegar: Apartment Therapy, Cleanipedia and Philip Morris Direct mist a 50:50 vinegar and water mix inside and let it dry. Philip Morris Direct says not to use it on leather-lined boots.
- Disinfectant: Pottery Barn Kids uses disinfectant wipes and a light spray.
- Remove insoles after wet days: Pottery Barn Kids says so.
For general odor ideas see our shoe sole guide and the hiking boots guide.
Drying and Storing Rain Boots
Every source says air dry and keep heat and sun away:
- Cleanipedia: stuff with crumpled newspaper, replace after a few hours, repeat if still damp. “Never dry wellies by putting them in direct sunlight.”
- Philip Morris Direct: pat dry gently, ventilated area, newspaper to keep shape.
- BOGS: a cool, dry, well-ventilated spot.
- Apartment Therapy: do not put boots in a closet while still wet. Silica packets or cedar balls if very wet.
- Erasers.com: soft cloth first, then room temperature. No radiators, hairdryers or vents.
Storage position differs. BOGS, Apartment Therapy, Erasers.com and Pottery Barn Kids say upright or hung. CBC says lying flat to prevent warping. Erasers.com says never store boots wet or folded.
Where the Sources Disagree
Water temperature. Apartment Therapy says very warm water. Erasers.com and BOGS say cool or cold water, and Philip Morris Direct warns against extremely hot water. General advice: cool or lukewarm is the safer reading.
Solvents versus rubbing alcohol. CBC says rubbing alcohol can remove bloom. Outdoor and Country says never use solvents on Hunter boots, and BOGS warns that solvents could damage and break down the rubber.
Polish. BOGS recommends a wax polish or Armor All-type spray on uppers. Erasers.com says no leather polish or leather conditioner. CBC suggests furniture polish. The sources are talking about different products.
Storage position. Upright or hung (BOGS, Apartment Therapy, Pottery Barn Kids) versus lying flat (CBC).
Home remedies. Olive oil, vinegar and toothpaste appear in guides from Cleanipedia and Pottery Barn Kids. Cleanipedia says to test on a hidden area first.
Questions About Rain Boots, Answered
“How do you clean rain boots?”
Knock off mud, rinse, wash with mild dish soap and cool or lukewarm water, scrub treads and air dry (Erasers.com, Cleanipedia).
“What is the white film on rain boots?”
Bloom. Outdoor and Country and Erasers.com call it natural and harmless.
“How do you remove bloom?”
Soapy cloth, buffer, olive oil. CBC suggests rubbing alcohol, but others warn against solvents.
“How do you get the smell out of rain boots?”
A 50:50 vinegar and water mist (Cleanipedia), then dry fully.
“Can you put rain boots in the washing machine?”
No. Erasers.com, Cleanipedia and Philip Morris Direct all say no.
“How do you dry rain boots?”
Air dry stuffed with newspaper, away from sun and heat (Cleanipedia).
“How do you remove scuffs?”
A rubber or pencil eraser, or non-gel toothpaste (Erasers.com, Cleanipedia).
“How long do rain boots last?”
Philip Morris Direct says 2 to 3 years with proper care. That is a retailer claim with no test data.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Solvents. BOGS and Outdoor and Country warn they can damage the rubber.
- Machine washing and tumble drying. Cleanipedia, Erasers.com and Philip Morris Direct warn.
- Direct sun and heat. Every source warns.
- Polish on the outsole. BOGS says it can make boots slippery.
- Leftover detergent on soles. Cleanipedia warns.
- Folding or storing wet. Erasers.com and Pottery Barn Kids warn.
- Abrasive pads and wire brushes. CBC and Erasers.com warn.
- Forcing feet in or stepping on heels. CBC says it causes cracks.
How we checked this
- Steps come from BOGS, Apartment Therapy, Erasers.com, Outdoor and Country, CBC, Pottery Barn Kids, Cleanipedia and Philip Morris Direct. We name who says each thing.
- The sources differ on bloom fixes, water temperature and storage position, so we show each side. Our own reading is labelled general advice.
- Several sources sell boots or care products. None gives test data. We have not tested any of these methods.
Rain Boot Care Helpers
A soft brush and cleaner kit, microfiber cloths and a gentle shoe cleaner cover the steps the sources describe. These are listed on Amazon.
Jason Markk Essential Shoe Cleaning Kit
A shoe cleaner with a brush and microfiber towel.
Check it on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you clean rain boots?
Knock off mud, wash with mild dish soap and cool water, scrub treads and air dry (Erasers.com, Cleanipedia).
What is the white film on rain boots?
Bloom, which Outdoor and Country calls natural and not a defect.
How do you remove bloom?
A soapy cloth, a rubber buffer or olive oil. Avoid solvents (BOGS, Outdoor and Country).
How do you remove odor?
A 50:50 vinegar and water mist, then dry fully (Cleanipedia).
Can you machine wash rain boots?
No. Cleanipedia, Erasers.com and Philip Morris Direct say no.
How do you dry rain boots?
Air dry stuffed with newspaper, away from sun and heat (Cleanipedia).
How should you store rain boots?
Upright or hung, dry and out of sun (BOGS, Apartment Therapy). CBC says lying flat.
How do you remove scuffs?
A rubber eraser, only on the rubber (Erasers.com).
The Short Version
Mild soap, cool water, no solvents, no machine, and air dry away from sun and heat.
Keep Reading
Sources
- BOGS: Boot care guide
- Apartment Therapy: How to clean Hunter boots
- Erasers.com: How to clean Hunter boots
- Outdoor and Country: How to remove the white coating on Hunter boots
- CBC: How to take care of your rain boots
- Pottery Barn Kids: How to clean rain boots
- Cleanipedia: How to clean wellington boots
- Philip Morris Direct: 5 easy steps for cleaning your wellies
