We wear them every day for many hours, we use them heavily in various conditions, not necessarily favorable. We are talking about work boots, which we must handle well in order for them to fulfill their function. Below we have included the necessary instructions and tips. Thanks to them you will learn how to clean and maintain work shoes, when to replace them, how to get rid of bad odor and what you absolutely must not do with them, because it risks damaging them. Check out our guide!
Work shoes - how to take care of them?
The Labor Code provides for two cases when the employer is obliged to provide the employee with work clothes along with work shoes. The first, when the employee's own attire may become heavily soiled, and the second - due to sanitary, technological and occupational health and safety requirements.
The elements of work attire are determined individually for each position and duties performed. While with clothes there is not much of a problem when it comes to their care and maintenance, work boots can already raise some doubts. And there is certainly something to clean, because if you are already given shoes to change, it means that conditions are conducive to dirt. It is also not without significance that we have such shoes on our feet for at least eight hours a day. So if we want them to serve us as long as possible in unchanged condition, we need to take proper care of them.
Cleaning and maintenance of work boots
The basic thing is to remove dirt and grime on a regular basis, after the day is over, so that it becomes our habit. Simply reach for a damp cloth or sponge and wipe the entire surface, keeping in mind the smallest nooks and crannies - and the soles and tips of the shoes! A small brush will also come in handy. Do not skip this step, because the shoes have residues of mortar, lime or chemical on them. Otherwise, the material, seams and joints will be weakened.
Sometimes the conditions in which the work is done are really unfavorable - rain, snow and hail make it easy to get wet. Then it is necessary to use a shoe waterproofing agent that will create a protective layer on them. And if it does get wet, do not put the shoes on a hot radiator, but put them in a dry and warm place, filling them with gray paper or newspapers that will absorb the moisture. Here a note: drying can take up to 24 hours.
A special paste will also be useful for shoe maintenance. Importantly, the pasting of shoes applies not only to those made of leather, but also to other materials. When doing so, let's use
this with specialized products, adapted to a specific type of footwear. Of course, before applying any shoe maintenance products, we must first clean them well.
How to get rid of bad odor from shoes?
Work boots are heavily used and with each passing week an unpleasant odor can appear. There is nothing strange about this - for many hours of intensive work, foot perspiration increases. So let's take care of shoe accessories, more specifically, shoe insoles bought separately.
That's not all, as a shoe deodorizer will also come in handy for a quick refresh. Just spray it on the inside of your work shoes to neutralize the bad smell, and you're done.
What shouldn't you do with your shoes?
Maintenance of footwear is very important, but it must be approached with a head. Under no circumstances is it recommended to wash work boots in a washing machine. Doing so exposes them to mechanical damage and disintegration. As is drying them directly on the heater, as described above.
We still need to pay attention to the storage of shoes themselves - do not throw them anywhere, because in this way we reduce their lifespan. Even more so if we have seasonal shoes, that is, some for the colder months and others for the warmer months. Then, after the season, we don't hide them casually, but put them in a box. It is also good to stuff them with paper beforehand, so as to avoid deformation.
How often do I need to replace my work boots with new ones?
Work boots are customized individually, depending on the nature of the work and the duties performed. We set the rules for replacing them internally with our supervisor. Every few months, on the other hand, we definitely need to replace the aforementioned shoe insoles.
And if you have laced work shoes, then remember to replace the laces with new ones regularly. Laced ends are difficult to tie together and thus we run the risk of the shoe slipping off when least expected, during work.
Replacing work boots with new ones is also necessary when we notice peeling of the sole, mechanical damage and tears in the material. In such a condition, they do not serve their function, and even pose a danger.
In conclusion, footwear, as part of our work attire, is very vulnerable not only to getting wet and dirty, but also to deformation or sweating on the inside. However, if we get the right accessories for shoes, then they will serve us for a long time.
