Any tips? These boots have only been used for showing and haven’t been used hard but as they’re black, the hard parts look dull. I’ve tried using Armorall but it hasn’t made a significant differenct.
I spray showsheen on them and rub it in
Ok don’t laugh but this works well on all boots with shiny exteriors…But do test a small spot first.
Armor All Car wax. Make sure you clean the boots with soap first and rinse well and FULLY dry. They cannot be wet or it won’t work and they’ll look hazy forever.
Apply with a soft cloth that won’t leave fuzzies. Allow wax to haze and then buff out hard with a towel. Extra shine comes from buffing with a knee high over your hand. Voila! Water proof for a long time and REALLY shiny!
Emily
I have a friend who used Armor All with great results on her …gasp… Rubber boots.
Professional car detailer here!
Armor All is the devil in the car detailing world. So I’m always reluctant to recommend it. Also, generally, for plastic-y materials, we tend to not use general paint sealants, because it can cause haze.
There are specific cleaners and protectants for plastic materials on cars. Plastic is… well, plastic. So these products should work well on restoring your boots:
- Temporary solution (last for a few washes) but is easy to apply; spray it on, let it dry, buff off excess with a towel: http://www.detailedimage.com/Chemical-Guys-M31/Fade-2-Black-P226/11-oz-S1/
[Before/afters using this very spray on my car’s engine bay]
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Little more permanent solution (should last a few months). It’s a sealant that is specifically made for plastic/rubber: http://www.detailedimage.com/Chemical-Guys-M31/HYBRID-V7-Optical-Select-High-Gloss-Spray-Sealant-Detailer-P530/16-oz-S1/
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Permanent solution (2 years+): http://www.detailedimage.com/GTechniq-M70/C4-Permanent-Trim-Restorer-P868/15-ml-S1/
Just FYI - If you want shiny, well “conditioned” bell boots, use a tire gel product.
Now THAT ^^ looks like an answer!
This might sound crazy but it works. I polish mine with black boot polish just like I do MY boots. 
Works like a charm.
Thanks everyone. I appreciate the input. My son is a mechanic so I will ask him about the car products. DD is showing at Devon 5/24 and 5/25 for the first time (so excited!) and wants to be as clean and shiny as possible!
Haha I cannot believe I am not the only person here that uses Armor-All! Always use the cleaner first, and if you want a little more shine add the dash conditioner. It cuts through dirt like NOTHING else and it seems like it makes it harder for mud and other “ick” to stick on them. I don’t worry about it breaking down the plastic or dulling them. They are horse boots, a thorough wipedown is the least of the struggles they will experience in their “lifetime”.
