How Do You Maintain Your Boot Zippers?

[twobits]

Hey all,

I have had my Ariat contour tall boots for a while now, and so far so good (knock on wood). I am diligent about cleaning my boots after every ride, but I’m not really sure how to clean or maintain the zippers other than just wiping them down? I guess it’s been working so far, but as they get up in age, I want to make sure I’m doing what I can to keep them in good repair. Do you use a special product on the zippers? Clean them often? Any suggestions would be fantastic

[skipollo]

I have the Heritage Contour boots as well. I got them in 2014 and with the exception of one broken lace on the front, they’re in really great shape. I ride every single day in them.

I’m also a bad boot owner. They live in a boot bag with trees, but they get cleaned…maybe once a week. I will say, my boots go on right before I mount, and they come off right after I dismount. They do not go to the wash stall or the pasture or anywhere else. When I clean my boots I run the damp sponge up the (closed) zippers so I guess that helps keep any of the daily dust or dirt off. They also live in a bag, so dust doesn’t accumulate over time. I’ve heard of people using either a dry or damp toothbrush to really get them clean? I haven’t tried it yet but that’s something I SHOULD try :lol:

[punchy]

I run wax up and down them when they start getting tough to zip. You can buy boot wax at most tack shops-it looks like a stick of long chapstick-or just use a candle. You can use chapstick too, but wax is cleaner.

[luckymaverick]

I swear by StarBrite Snap and Zipper Lubricant. It’s made for boats and can withstand abuse. I’ve even used it to save the zipper on a backpack rescued from MIL attic that’s at least from the 80s if not 70s 😀 I read about it on the FAL

[Mouse_amp_Bay]

Goals, sometimes attainable and sometimes not:

• Try to avoid muck that can make it into zippers
• try not to get boots wet
• when grimy, spritz with WD40 and run zipper up and down - wipe out the gunk with a soft cloth

I find that the WD40 works nicely to help the gunk move its way out and keep the teeth on the zipper sliding nicely. Do try to not get it on leather - I would worry that it would dissolve dye and cause problems. I zip up the boots, use the little straw that comes with the WD40 to spritz the length of the zipper, run and up and down a couple of time and then wipe off.

Good luck!