If you’re like most people, you probably just throw your ski boots in the closet after each trip, leave them in the car, by the entrance or in the basement. You might even ignore taking care of your ski boot liners and now you are here.
Not only can ski boot liners get dirty and smelly, but they can also be full of snow and debris. This eventually makes your boots wet and cold when you try to put them on if you are doing back-to-back days at the slopes.
Don’t worry, we’re here to teach you how to clean ski boot liners.
Why Should You Clean Your Ski Boot Liners
There are a few reasons why you should clean your ski boot liners. First, if they’re not clean, they can cause your feet to stink. Have you ever taken your boots off after a long day of skiing and noticed that sweaty smell? It’s probably time to wash those ski boot liners.
Second, if they’re not clean, the liners can start to wear out more quickly. Sure, they will take a long time to break down but you are doing them no good if you don’t maintain them occasionally.
To clean your ski boot liners, you can use a spray in disinfectant or wash them with one of the two methods below. Let’s touch on how often you should be cleaning your boot liners and then we will go into the methods of how we like to clean them.
How Often Should You Clean Your Ski Boot Liners
Snow may look clean but there is still dirt and grime that gets into it. When this gets in your boot liners with the sweat of your feet, eventually those boot liners will need a cleaning. Over time, all of this can build up in your boot liners, making them smelly and potentially causing skin irritation.
To keep your boots in good condition, it’s important to clean them regularly. How often you need to clean them will depend on how often you ski and how dirty the snow is where you ski. A good rule of thumb is to clean them at least twice a month if you ski frequently.
Cleaning Your Ski Boot Liners (2 Options)
There are really two main options for cleaning ski boot liners. You may have guessed it. Handwashing and machine washing. While we don’t have a major preference, generally we just stick to the handwash so the liners aren’t tossed around too much.
Here’s how you handwash your ski boot liners –
1. Handwashing Your Ski Boot Liners
Handwashing your ski boot liners is a great way to get rid of any dirt or bacteria that may have built up over time without being too rough on the liners.
What You’ll Need
- Your favorite dish soap or laundry detergent
- A 5-gallon bucket or bathtub
- A soft scrub brush
- Clean water for rinsing
- Towels to pat dry
- Boot dryer (optional)
How to Clean Your Ski Boot Liners by Hand
Cleaning ski boot liners by hand is quick, easy and anyone can do it.
Just follow these steps.
- Pull out your ski boot liners from the boots.
- Use your bucket or bathtub and mix 1 part soap with 10 parts warm water so it covers your boot liners.
- Soak your liners for 10 minutes and intermittently agitate them by hand to get the soapy water into the liners.
- Gently brush the ski boot liners.
- Empty out your soapy water and replace it with warm clean water.
- Rinse the liners until no more soap is coming out.
- Pat dry with the towels
- Leave to dry in a warm area and stuff with dry clean towels or use boot dryers to dry.
2. Cleaning Ski Boot Liners in a Washing Machine [Step by Step]
Using a washing machine is even quicker but the liners are agitated a bit more so you need to be careful.
- Take out your ski boot liners.
- Put the washing machine on the gentlest cycle for washing.
- Add in your detergent.
- Wash on a cool or warm setting.
- Once the cycle is complete, squeeze out the excess water in your liners.
- Leave to dry in a warm area and stuff with dry clean towels or use boot dryers to dry.
Things to Avoid When Cleaning Ski Boot Liners
When it comes time to clean your ski boot liners, there are a few things you should avoid. First and foremost, never put them in the washing machine on any cycle other than a gentle wash. Aggressive agitation of the machine can cause damage to the liner material. Second, avoid using very hot water when washing. Stick to warm or cool.
Finally, never put them in the dryer. The extreme heat can cause the liner material to warp or shrink. Use towels to dry your ski boot liners or boot dryers which are made for the specific purpose and they won’t toss your liners around like a dryer.
Extending The Life Of Your Ski Boots and Liners
A well-maintained pair of ski boots will last for seasons upon seasons with the right care. Ski boots are one of the most important pieces of equipment for skiing, and it’s important to take care of them. Stick to a schedule of washing your ski boot liners and cleaning the outside of your ski boots to get the most life out of your equipment.
When to Replace Your Ski Boot Liners
We know it is common to overlook the ski boot liners in your boots but replacing them every few seasons can make the boot feel crisp and new while preserving the ski boot. It can make an older ski boot feel brand new.
If your ski boot liners are losing shape or visibly falling apart then consider foam-injected custom ski boot liner replacements or replacing your ski boots as a whole. You might not want to replace liners on a lower-end boot but extending the life on the $600+ boot if often worth it if you can.
Final Thoughts
You should be set. Say goodbye to smelly ski boot liners and get on a schedule of cleaning your ski boot liners. Not only will they feel and smell fresh but they will hold up better if you give them the maintenance they need and want.
You might be a great rider on the slopes but no one wants that ski buddy in the car with smelly feet!
Remember, it all starts with the ski boot liners being clean!
Brianna Lee writes for Proper Peaks and lives in Duluth, MN. Her favorite thing about skiing is the glades. Your have to start in the glades if you want to catch a glimpse of Brianna’s pink ski helmet as she dodges the trees.
