I recently bought a pair of Roma boots (the open front “competitor series”) and then decided to buy a pair of used ones so that the new ones don’t get scratched up as fast and will still look decent. Only problem is that these used ones STINK. They reek, I guess they smell like mildew? They are clean, they arrived decently clean and I just put them in the washer (tried vinegar and also regular detergent) and they are currently drying outside but they still smell awful. Any advice for getting rid of the smell on the used ones, and keeping it away on my new ones?
I put mine in the washing machine at the barn, with towels and wraps, etc., using regular detergent, and then dry them in the sun.
Color safe bleach would be your best option. I would soak it for at least 30 minutes and wash with detergent. Then sprinkle with baking soda and wash again. Yuck.
Thanks, I will try that! They are clean, but they still smell awful, although it isn’t quite as bad as it was before.
The bleach would make me nervous. I’d try a diluted vinegar soak for the smell. We routinely wash ours with other barn wash and set out to dry. Drying in sun as suggested might help too.
