How to Clean Muddy Timberland Boots

Timberland nubuck boots are one of the most recognizable shoes there are. They have been rocked by various rap and hip-hop artists as well as other celebrities during the last decencies, turning them into an icon in pop culture.

In addition to looking classy, they are also very rugged and make an excellent job of keeping your feet warm during cold winter months. Given their organic uppers, they are also reasonably water-resistant, helping you make your way through a snowy field or a muddy forest.

However, nubuck the weak spot of being stained fairly easily with mud.

But no worries! Nubuck is very easy to clean :) To do it efficiently, you'll have to invest in some supplies, but once you have all the stuff needed, it takes a few hours to perform a thorough cleaning of the exterior of the boots.

So without any further ado, let's get started!

Shoe cleaner (I used one from Crep Cure)

A Premium brush - it has more delicate bristles than a cheap plastic household brush

Water

A Microfiber cloth

Nubuck protector or mink oil

A Hard bristle brush - it doesn't have to be fancy, I used the brush attachment of my vacuum cleaner :P

I made a quick video about the cleaning process:

Start by removing the laces. We don't want them to get in the way while cleaning.

Mix some cleaner into the water. The ratio should be around 1:8.

Let the brush soak in the solution for 10 minutes. After that, you can squirt some cleaner directly on the brush before using it.

Use the premium brush to scrub away all the dirt. 

Start from the upper part of the boot and make your way down, finishing with the sole. That way, the dirty foam won't be staining the parts that you just finished cleaning.

Use a circular motion and apply medium pressure.

If needed, make another pass, to remove the last dirt. 

Clean all of the boot and don't leave any spots untreated, or there will be a subtle color difference once the boot has dried.

Leave the boots to air-dry completely. It should take around 12 hours.

Cleaning the boot has made the little nubuck hair become flat. To make it smooth and velvety again, use the hard bristle brush.

Finally, we can add a layer of nubuck protector spray, to make the boots last longer in harsh weather.

If you're using your boots in an industrial setting, you can use mink oil to make them extra tough. But be aware that that will change their appearance drastically, leaving an uneven darker finish on the leather.

Add the laces, and that's it! You have now a pair of spotless timberlands, ready to be shown off or taken out for a walk.

Thank you for reading my Instructable, and have a great day!