Dress boots and winter salt.

[Reevolving]

I do not want leather to get damaged by salt.
I have applied mink oil.
Do you wipe down your dress boots with a damp cloth after wearing?

 

[tigerpac]

For shell boots - absolutely.

 

[moltoelegante]

You can minimize absorption of the salt water by keeping the leather well oiled/waxed. Wash off the salty residue with a water/vinegar mix, allow boots to dry, then apply more mink oil/wax.

Result (on my Barker boots):

 

[Reevolving]

Why vinegar?
You reapply mink oil each time you wear your boots?

 

[JohnMRobie]

You can minimize absorption of the salt water by keeping the leather well oiled/waxed. Wash off the salty residue with a water/vinegar mix, allow boots to dry, then apply more mink oil/wax.

Result (on my Barker boots):

View attachment 1292620

I spoke to a cobbler about this exact issue today - I’m often out for meetings so wearing rubber overshoes isn’t really an option with nowhere to toss them and cleaning them once I get where I’m going, outside of running to the bathroom and grabbing some paper towels, isn’t a great option either. He suggested the water vinegar mix BUT with a drop of clear dish soap added and then reapplying some wax or mink oil at the end of the day. 60% water, 40% white vinegar mix and a drop of soap.

 

[moltoelegante]

You reapply mink oil each time you wear your boots?

Not every time that I wear them but every time that I scrub them clean with vinegar water. It could be 2 or 3 times a week at the worst time of year when you are forced to walk around in an inch of salty slush. (This was when living in Kiev in winter, no such issues in southern Italy )

 

[Reevolving]

What does the vinegar do ?