How To Clean Ostrich Boots : The Ultimate 3 Steps Guide [2024]

Written By Mahia

Are you planning to discard your dirty ostrich boots?

No-no! Hold on! Terminate this idea right away.

Because ostrich boots are a work of art, filth shouldn’t be the main reason for discarding them.

how-to-clean-ostrich-boots

That’s why I spent a long time researching and discovering the simplest yet most successful methods for cleaning a dirty pair of ostrich boots.

Stay with me till the end, if you want to know the effective ways to remove stains off ostrich boots, along with cleaning.

How To Clean Ostrich Boots?

Ostrich boots are produced from ostrich skin, and boots made from rare animal skin are called exotic boots.

Exotic leather is quite different from regular leather, and thus needs a bit of special maintenance.

Cleaning is a big part of maintenance. If you think cleaning only makes your boots spotless, then you are wrong. Cleaning plays a significant role in keeping the boots healthy and long-lasting.

Ostrich boots may differ from regular leather boots, but their cleaning process is very basic and too easy. But all you need to do is follow a proper cleaning method.

Here are the steps to clean ostrich boots:

The rule of thumb to maintain ostrich boots is cleaning, conditioning and polishing.

Just follow these three steps, and you will achieve a dirt-free and spotless pair of ostrich boots.

Follow our guide on How To Clean Timberland Boots With Household Items.

Step 1: Clean the boots

Carry the entire cleaning process of your ostrich boots in a well-ventilated place.

Put a newspaper on the working counter to avoid any kind of a mess.

Buy a horsehair brush to get professional results, or you can also use a toothbrush. But make sure to get an old toothbrush as its bristles are soft.

With the help of a horsehair brush or toothbrush, gently brush your ostrich boots in small strokes. Thoroughly brush the boots so that dirt particles loosen.

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After that, dampen a clean cloth in water and wipe away any extra dirt and debris.

While removing the dirt, pay special attention to the shaft and sole of the boots.

When you are done cleaning, leave them in an airy place to dry.

Check out our separate post on Are Military Boots Good for Work.

Step 2: Condition the boots

Conditioning your ostrich boots is not something you should do on a daily basis. Instead, you should condition them every two to three months.

However, if you use the boots regularly, you may need to condition them more often.

Purchase a good brand conditioner that is appropriate for ostrich leather.

Perform a patch test before applying the conditioner to the entire boots. Apply a small amount of conditioner to an unnoticeable area of the boots to see whether the leather discolors.

If the conditioner does not stain the leather, proceed to the next step.

Apply a dime-sized amount of conditioner to the outside of the boots and massage it with your fingertips.

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Work the conditioner into your boots gently so that all of the conditioner’s goodness is absorbed.

Give your boots ample time to dry.

Wrap up the conditioning process by buffing the boots with a horsehair brush.

Follow our other guide to know Are 5.11 Tactical Boots Any Good.

Step 3: Polish the boots

Once you’ve conditioned your boots, you’ll need to polish them. Because polishing the boots restores their lustrous appearance.

Purchase a wax-based shoe polish in a hue that matches the color of your ostrich boots.

Apply a little quantity of cream to the boots and rub it evenly.

Allow the polish to dry for 20 minutes or until the boots are completely dry.

Finish the polishing by buffing the boots with a brush.

And that’s it! Now, you have a clean and polished pair of ostrich boots.

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How To Get Oil Stains Out Of Ostrich Boots?

Are there oil spots on your ostrich boots?

No worries! I have the solution to your problem.

Cleaning ostrich boots are pretty easy, but removing stains from them is quite tricky and needs a lot of effort.

But don’t you worry, I have come up with a fantastic hack that worked great on my ostrich boots to remove the oil stain.

Here are the steps to remove oil stain from ostrich boots:

  • Brush the dirt particles out of the boots.
  • Apply a layer of cornstarch to the stain and leave it to dry for 30 minutes.
  • Dust off the starch with a brush after 30 minutes. You will see the oil stain is almost gone, thanks to corn starch’s ability to absorb oil without causing damage to the material.
  • Wipe the boots clean with a moist rag to remove any corn starch residue.
  • If the stains persist, repeat the process.

How To Get Water Stains Out Of Ostrich Boots?

Water stains ostrich boots because they are not waterproof, and in fact, prolonged contact with water can permanently damage the boots.

If your ostrich boots got water stains or are wet, kick start drying the boots now. Because the longer you wait, the more permanent the watermarks will become.

Here are the steps to remove water stains and fix wet ostrich boots:

  • When a pair of dirty boots become wet, the dirt and grime create a mess.

So you must clean the boots first with a clean and dry cloth.

  • If the insoles have got wet, take them out. Wash the insoles and leave them to dry.
  • The best way to remove the moisture from the boots is to stuff them with newspaper. Pack the inside of the boots with newspaper balls and let them sit in an airy place.

If the paper balls get too wet, replace them with new ones.

  • When the boots get wet, they shrink slightly. That’s why, when the boots dry up, wear and walk on them to get their original shape back.

How To Restore Ostrich Boots?

You can’t expect your ostrich boots to be brand new and dazzling all the time. The boots lose their natural color, get wrinkled and become dull due to repeated use.

Fortunately, you can restore the ostrich boots’ original color to some extent. But most importantly, restoring the boots makes them look healthy.

Here is how you can restore ostrich boots:

Buy a good-quality restorative cream that best suits your ostrich boots.

Apply a small amount of cream on the outside of the boots and spread it in a small circular motion using a brush. Message well on the areas where your boots are wrinkled and have scratches.

Once you are satisfied with the result, leave the boots in a place with enough air circulation.

After the boots are dried, buff them with a horsehair shoe brush.

There you go! You’ve successfully restored the bright color of the ostrich boots and made them nourished too.

Read more on How To Clean HOKA Shoes.

How To Take Care Of Ostrich Boots?

Ostrich boots are pricey, and you don’t want them to fall apart after only a few wears. As a result, you must take care of the boots to ensure a long lifespan.

Here are some guidelines for caring for ostrich boots:

  • After every use, brush the ostrich boots so that there is no build-up of dirt.
  • Do not wear the boots every day; instead, give a one or two days break for drying the trapped moisture inside the boots.
  • Never dry the boots with heating tools or under direct sunlight, as this can burn the leather. Instead, dry them in natural air.
  • When cleaning ostrich boots, avoid using detergents since the chemicals in the detergents might cause the boots to crack.
  • Stuff the boots with newspaper or a shoe tree to maintain their shape.
  • Deep clean your boots once or twice a month. Deep cleaning entails cleaning, conditioning, and polishing, which are the most important processes in extending the life of your boots.

Sum Up

See, cleaning ostrich boots is not as hard as you were thinking. Just clean, condition, and polish the ostrich boots, and they will stick by your side for years.

Now that you know the easy methods of cleaning the ostrich boots, get on to the action and polish the beauty of your ostrich boots.

Also, don’t forget to let me know in the comment box how this article has helped you clean your ostrich boots.

Have a wonderful day.

About The Author
Since childhood, Mahia is a shoe freak. And this is what lead her to do more research and gather knowledge about shoes.Mahia has always wanted to share her skill and knowledge about footwear with a mass audience, which ended her up in this amazing workplace.When Mahia is not writing, you can almost always find her in the kitchen experimenting with different recipes to upgrade her catering menu.

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