Proper care is essential to keeping your Merry People boots in great condition for years to come.
Following simple rubber boot maintenance tips can prevent cracks, fading, and damage from moisture or sunlight, ensuring your boots remain comfortable, waterproof, and ready for every adventure.
From regular cleaning and drying to treating the rubber with silicone-based products, maintaining your boots is easier than you might think. By taking a few minutes to care for your boots after each use, you can extend their lifespan, protect their natural rubber and neoprene materials, and keep them looking and performing like new.
| Step | What to Do | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Store Properly | Keep boots indoors in a cool, shaded, well-ventilated area. Avoid direct sunlight. | Prevents cracking, fading, and premature wear of natural rubber |
| 2. Remove Excess Water | Pat down the inside of wet boots with a towel. | Prevents moisture buildup, which can lead to odors or mold |
| 3. Dry Boots Correctly | Stuff boots with newspaper or use a low-heat method. | Ensures boots dry thoroughly without damaging the rubber or neoprene lining |
| 4. Clean Regularly | Wipe the exterior with warm water and mild detergent. For neoprene lining, use a gentle cloth or baby wipes. | Removes mud, dirt, and debris that can dry out rubber and cause cracks |
| 5. Treat the Rubber | Apply a silicone-based spray or oil to the exterior. | Moisturizes rubber, protects against moisture, and prolongs lifespan |
| 6. Use Carefully | Avoid slippery surfaces and excessive wear. Add ice grips or traction spray when necessary. | Maintains boot safety and prevents damage from inappropriate use |
Storage
Merry People boots are made with natural rubber, which is a softer material that can fade and crack with continuous sun exposure. To protect your boots and prolong their life, we recommend you store them indoors so they’re not exposed to direct sunlight all of the time.
Wet Boots
Water inside your boots? Use a hand towel to pat down and absorb as much as you can. Then, stuff the boots with newspaper, and place the boots upside down in a warm place. After twenty-four hours, remove the newspaper and repeat this process if needed until dry.
Cleaning Your Boots
Dried mud and dirt on boots can cause the natural rubber to dry out, which may lead to cracks or discoloration. You can clean your Merry People boots quickly and easily using household items.
Start by removing any excess dirt, then wipe them down with a cloth using warm water and a mild detergent. This method will work on the outer neoprene lining on the Bobbi boots too.
For lighter neoprene, use a textured cloth and gentle soap on any marks. We find that dishwashing liquid or hand soap works well, or even a baby wipe if you are on the go or camping.
Treating Boots
While we often polish or condition our other footwear, it’s easy to forget about your boots. Treating your Merry People boots is simple to do, we suggest using a silicone-based product, like a silicone spray or oil which you can find at outdoor, auto, or hardware stores.
Silicone lubricant is used to protect from moisture. It’s often used on diving gear and auto equipment which makes it perfect for boots. A regular spray or wipe with a silicone-based product will add moisture to the rubber, and protect from the elements; it’s a bit like sunscreen for your boots.
Careful Use
Our boots are designed to be a fashionable lifestyle boot; they are not designed to be a work or safety boot and do not have any safety or non-slip accreditations.
As such, the rubber tread may be slippery on particular surfaces, for example, polished concrete, ice, and wet wood, so please take care. If you require extra grip on your boots, we recommend a product called ‘traction spray,’ which is available at most local hardware stores.
We get a lot of customers wearing our Bobbi boots in the snow as our boots have been tested for sub-zero temperatures. If you are heading to the alpine regions this winter, we recommend using ice grips for extra traction.
If something does happen to your boots that you think might be our manufacturing fault, we want to hear about it. Please contact us at support@merrypeople.com
