I have worn
rubber gumboots for farm work, wading through shallow flood waters, working in
a muddy garden, and for washing cars, but nowadays I use them for hanging out the washing on the clothesline when
the grass is wet!
Gumboots,
sometimes known as Rain Boots or Wellies, should be a staple wardrobe item for anyone
who ventures outdoors in wet and muddy conditions.
New
Zealand’s leading brand of rubber gumboots are hand-made Skellerup Red Bands, and every
year or so I give my ones a good clean.
Not too dirty, but caring for them gives them a longer life
I start by
washing them in the laundry tub with lukewarm water and a little dishwashing
detergent, making sure to never let any water enter the inside of the gumboot. Usually a cloth is adequate for this, but
sometimes a stiff brush is needed to clean the cleats of the sole.
Cleaning the Gumboots
The
gumboots are then rubbed down with a dry cloth and left to air dry (rubber
boots should never be exposed to artificial heat or prolonged direct sunlight,
as it can cause them to perish).
As a child, our gumboots used to fill up with gunk which we cheerfully called Toe Jam! Today, thankfully, I am no longer so messy and the inside lining of my boots remains clean and smellie-free.
Take the
nice clean dry gumboots and polish with a little olive oil on a rag or kitchen paper
towel. Start at the top and work down,
doing a small area at a time, and NEVER put any on the soles (unless you want
to try skating in them!).
Feeling loved, and ready for another year
After a few minutes, I dry them off with a clean paper towel before storing them in their cupboard at the back door.
I always tuck them away in the car if I am going on a long trip anywhere. One never knows when my tootsies may need some extra protection!
Have a
great day 😊
Margaret.
My trusty rubber boots are always with me in the car.
ReplyDeleteThey are really handy to have around sometimes :)
DeleteI have worn many pairs of gumboots in my lifetime or as I still call them from my English upbringing "Wellies" but have never given any of them a clean and polish, except from washing off mud. Never thought of it. Reprehensible of me - I must do it to my current pair.
ReplyDeleteCowshed gumboots only got washed - twice a day with hot water and Iodophor (iodine sanitizer that we used to clean the machinery). Those were the days!
DeleteMy wellies are in the garage, not worn for years, modern life does not require them often.
ReplyDeleteI bought this pair when we were still living in the country. They came in very handy at times.
DeleteI have a pair of Skellerup boots, but not red band - anything else is too narrow in the foot and splits after a year, two if I am lucky.
ReplyDeleteThe boots that lasted me the longest prior to my conversion were some I have bought for my children, and both grew 'through' them before I commandeered them, and they lasted for years, for all they were relatively cheap!
I don't treat mine as well as you do, but they sit by the back door and are never in the sun unless they are on my feet.
Stay safe
Blessings
Maxine
I know I will never buy another pair (it would be an unwarranted expense) so thought I may as well look after what I have. In earlier days I tried plastic gumboots but my feet hated them :)
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteThe gumboots are great for the wet and muddy walks. I could use a pair just to keep in my car, for when I am out birding on a muddy trail. Take care, enjoy your day! Wishing you a great new week ahead.
Muddy gumboots would be easier to clean than muddy shoes, that is for sure :)
DeleteMy husband has a pair, in the garage, right outside the entry-to-house door. We don't have a lot of muddy weather, but he uses them for more than just that. They are a staple, many places, I'd imagine.
ReplyDelete💛🍁💛🍁💛
As I said above, I used to use mine for all sorts of things but not so much these days.
DeleteI’ve had the same rubber boots for forty years or so. They last forever!
ReplyDeleteI've had this pair for over ten years - I wonder if I will be around in another thirty? :))
DeleteI have a pair, too, but there is never ever enough rain!
ReplyDeleteI am inclined to stay indoors now when it is raining, but in the country you still had to feed animals whatever the weather.
DeleteWhen our rainy season returns I'll have to get my rubber boots cleaned up and ready to step into. I should have stored them upside down to keep out the spiders!
ReplyDeleteLOL I would have to use the vacuum cleaner to suck out the spiders - they are not my most favourite insect at all :))
DeleteGreat tips for cleaning rain boots.
ReplyDeleteWhy are they called gumboots? I've never really had any!
ReplyDeleteGood question Susie - I had to go searching and found this in the New Zealand Geographic:
Delete"GUMBOOTS ARE BOOTS made of rubber. All those cheap boots made from PVC and other plastics may look like gumboots, but they’re not—they’re just plastic boots impersonating the real thing. They’ll never (ever!) match the gumboot’s performance because they aren’t as durable, flexible or tough as rubber. So why not call gumboots rubber-boots, you ask? Well, the name started way back with the Egyptian word kemai, which begat kommi in Greek, which begat gummi in Latin, which begat gum in English, a precursor of rubber. So gumboots it is."
You learn something new everyday! Mxx