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Camping Equipment and all Clothing Tents, sleeping bags, stoves etc. Riding clothing, boots, helmets, what to wear when not riding, etc.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland




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  #1  
Old 20 Feb 2008
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cleaning boots
how do you guys clean your boots? i been wearing my motocross boots on a few trips now in sun/rain etc and they're starting to smell BADLY! they are now to be kept in the garage or so i'm told anyhow! anyone tried them in machine? but i'm worried about damaging the machine!
any ideas??:confused1:
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  #2  
Old 20 Feb 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kevinhancock750 View Post
how do you guys clean your boots?
I don't understand the question.

When they fall to pieces it's time to buy some new ones. If you're having an odour problem stick some cotton wool up your hooter.
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  #3  
Old 21 Feb 2008
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To my knowledge everyone who's boots stink so bad they're walking by themselves have to do the decent thing and bin them. There is no cure, Satan has them in his clutches.
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Old 21 Feb 2008
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4 months old!
they're only 4 months old! i was in morocco october sweating in them! back to britain where they've been soaked and been off road where they've been soaked with smelly water! now they smell a bit and i dont want to change them as they're in goog knick but the interior fabric/spongey bit smells.
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  #5  
Old 21 Feb 2008
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Try e-mailing the makers and see what they have to say. The smell is usually from bacteria living in there, I'd try to kill that off before I put my feet back anywhere near them.
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  #6  
Old 21 Feb 2008
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I wash my MX boots inside by just putting some detergent inside and filling them up with water.

Leave them a while, jet-wash the outside. Shake the water out (like washing a bottle) fill them up again a few times to rinse them.
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Old 21 Feb 2008
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Use baking soda regularly to ward off the smell, and talkum powder to keep your feet dry when you ride.
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Old 21 Feb 2008
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Here on the farm I find that if I get enough cow shit on them , the lingering foot type odour goes away completely .
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Old 21 Feb 2008
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Originally Posted by Mr. Ron View Post
talkum powder to keep your feet dry when you ride.
I'm afraid that doesn't quite work when you're fording a waist deep river
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Old 21 Feb 2008
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It is bacteria’s that makes them smell.

Put a couple of Micropure (or similar) in each boot and fill them with water for a few hours. If they leak to much you have to do it several times.
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Old 21 Feb 2008
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BYT mentioned already - every now and then, put detergent and water in them, shake them around and empty the dirty water. Do it a few times just like he said.

I use dish soap 'cause that is what I usually have, laundry detergent is probably better.
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Old 21 Feb 2008
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Or freeze them..
Might sounds like a crazy idea and always check with the better half first lol.. but chuck smelly boots and gloves in a freezer inside a plastic bag of course.. and leave for at least 48 hours..

Detergent etc will kill and remove the skin cells and sweat secretions that are the food for the bacteria that eat them and cause the smell, but can damage some types of boots.

Freezing them will destroy the bacteria if frozen for sufficiently, but be careful to remove any plastic armamanets/buckles etc you can and don't try flexing them till they have warmed up again or you will get brittle fractures.

A mate has to do this regularly with his kidds cubbley toys as she is majorly alergic to dust mites and asthmatic.

If your boots are ultra smelly, then a possibley a swill out as above and then total dry out and then a freezing might help. I don't recommend trying to freeze them unless you dried them out as water expansion will damage the boots.

Hope that helps..
John
PS works on smelly gloves a treat..
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Old 24 Feb 2008
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thanks
thanks for your replies.
i was thinking of swilling them out with a soap/detergent but sometimes there are some great easy tips on here that you just dont think about! obviously i'm not the only one with smelly boots looking at the number of views this thread has had! but the only one brave enough to admit it!!!!
YOU WIMPS thanks guys
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Old 24 Feb 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kevinhancock750 View Post
thanks for your replies.
i was thinking of swilling them out with a soap/detergent but sometimes there are some great easy tips on here that you just dont think about!
Same as when your clothes get smelly on the road, no matter that you wash them regularly... make up a weak bleach solution and fill yer boots with that. That'll kill them pesky bacteria.

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  #15  
Old 24 Feb 2008
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After washing them inside get a pair of old tights from the missus, tie a knot half way down each leg and fill them with kitty litter. Dangle the legs into the boots and leave overnight. It dries and deoderises the boots a treat.
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