How do I clean a Merrell Leather hiking shoe?

Question

The model is Pulse 11. It's a leather low cut hiking shoe. How do I clean all the dirt on it?

Answer 1

If they are really dirty (like you hiked in woods in the rain) use a nylon scrub brush, old toothbrush or fingernail brush to scrape off any loose dried mud or leaves. Then take out the laces and the insole (if it is removeable) and put them in the kitchen sink. Rinse them under the faucet (or the sprayer), using the brush to loosen the crud.

Once they are clean, stuff them tightly with wadded up newspaper to keep their shape and put them somewhere to dry away from sun or direct source of heat (you will damage the leather if you dry with heat.) If they are slow to dry, change the newspaper the next day.

I don't recommend using any type of "leather cleaners." The chemicals in some of these can soften the glues and melt the fabrics used to construct the boots -- the same is true of silicone type waterproof sprays and creams.

Your boots are designed to hold up to getting wet so it won't hurt to wash them this way.