UKC

To cut a long story short, Hannah's shop got flooded and I've spent much of the day standing in 1-2 inch of sewage / flood water. Since I don't own wellies, I was wearing my big boots (Scarpa Cristallo).

The boots were not fully immersed at any point and no fluid actually got into the boot.

My question is (you've guessed it): how best to clean them?

Is it safe to soak them in a bowl of diluted disinfectant, or will that kill the Goretex lining? Any other method that should work?

In reply to Only a hill:

Bump.

In reply to Only a hill:

Walk for a hundred metres through some wet grass.

Leave to dry.

Sorted.

In reply to Rick Graham:

I'll second Rick on that recommendation.

In reply to Only a hill:
Bit of Milton and a soft brush should sort it, I don't think it will harm goretex.

In reply to Only a hill:

I have washed goretex approach shoes in the washing machine with disinfectant before, no harm done. Probably for boots I would stand them in a tray of dilute disinfectant and warm water for a while then rinse and reproof once dry.

Sorry to hear about the flooding Hannah.

In reply to Only a hill:

Hi, can't offer much advice on the shoes, but hope Hannah's shop (and everybody else affected by the flooding) is not too badly damaged.

Good luck

In reply to Only a hill:

Same way you'd deal with boots after walking through a farmyard - water and a brush. Unless you're planning on licking them then I wouldn't risk disinfectant.

In reply to Only a hill:
Sorry to hear about Hannah's shop flood.

Just a thought, but presumably her business is insured? If so wouldn't replacement of the boots form part of a legitimate claim? Might be worth a try.

Otherwise the long wet grass in a rainstorm walk sounds the best option.

In reply to Trangia:

Thanks. She is insured, but to be honest I rather like these boots and would prefer to keep them

In reply to Only a hill:

Take nthem to an airport and ask them to put them through the scanner a few times a dose of radiation should do

In reply to Only a hill:

I would just rinse them then let them dry.

Good luck sorting the shop out; must be a sickener.

In reply to Only a hill:
give them a good wash and don't bite your nails after tying your laces.