mantain football boots

[Hasnath]

After a couple of awful Nike boots, i've finally found a pair of Adidas football boots that feel 'just right'.
Anyway I want this pair to last so anyone got any tips for keeping them in good nick.

[grizzla]

always clean the mud off after every game, let them dry fully then apply a coat of polish, let that dry then shine em up etc.. what i used to do and my dad did it as a kid when they had to look after things

[Hasnath]

Cheers Grizzla, what should I polish them with? I read somewhere vaseline is good but is there anything a bit more specific?

[grizzla]

hmm, well i only ever had black football boots so i used black polish although u can get clear polish for use on al colours. The boots i have now are white and gold but rarely use em and doubt they are real leather anyway. Bee's wax is a good alternative as this protects them, smells nice and is useable on all colours

[bigblue]

Clean the mud off after a game, then let them dry naturally with paper inside them.

If they're a particularly good fit, use shoe trees to maintain their shape.

Don't worry too much about dubbin/wax/polish etc unless they're leather. If they are, give 'em a good polish and use leather conditioner from time to time.

If they have removable studs, from time to time take the studs out, put a bit of vaseline on the threads, and re-fit. I've seen loads of boots (and golf shoes etc) wasted because a worn stud can't be removed because a thread has rusted.

Make sure you clean round the seam where the upper is attatched to the sole, an old toothbrush gets the mud out properly, and stops any rot/mould that sometimes occurs when dirt is left on a surface too long.

Oh aye, and don't pull the tongue up too high, and don't have the laces so tight that the sides are too close together, you'll pull the upper out of shape.

Brought to you by a former boot specialist at a posh sports shop