Cleaning Tech 8's

stormer94

~SPONSOR~
May 30, 2001
589
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I got awful muddy in my new tech8's on the last ride. I like my boots, like the rest of my gear, to look good and work good. When I cleaned them up with soap and water, I couldn't help but wonder the best way to clean them and get the shine back as well.

You've got that leather/suede piece on the side, how do you address that? Wouldn't water ruin that in some way? I was thinking of Armour-All on the plastic part of the boot to get the shine back, and maybe some kind of leather restorer on the rest.

I even spent a few minutes at the Alpinestar website, looking for answers. No luck there, however.

So in a nutshell, what's the best way to clean the sweat and seeped in muck out of the interior of the boot? The best way to get the shine back on the exterior plastic? and how best to treat the 2 different kinds of leather on the rest of the boot.

Any and all ideas are greatly appreciated.
Bob
 
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cr250john

Member
Jun 14, 2000
122
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I just use "Simple Green" on the outside of the boot, leather side and all.
I use a diluted mixture with warm/hot water.
The simple green doesn't seem to bother the leather on the inside calf side of the boot. I also wipe the boot dry with a cloth towel after the washing and leave it in the sun to dry further.
I'm not interested in shine. Boots are functional gear for me, not a fashion statement. I would be careful with the Armour-All on the boots. You don't want to be sliding around the pegs and frame from a slippery boot.

For the inside I use a damp to slightly wet cloth towel to clean them up. Then into the sun they go again to make sure they are dry.
 

stormer94

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May 30, 2001
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Here's the automated reply I got back from Alpinestars.

 

CR307

Member
Apr 12, 2001
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I also use Simple Green to clean all my gear. I mix a bottle up with 50/50 S.G/Water. Works great
 

michigan

Member
Mar 9, 2001
424
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This might be a little off the wall, and it might be the wrong way to maintain a pair of boots, but I always pressure wash my alpinestars inside and out when I wash my bike, then I spray them down with wd40 after they dry out. This gets them as clean as they're gonna get, then the wd40 lubricates the leather and keeps it soft. It also prevents the toe caps from rusting. The boots look like new after I do this.
 

CR307

Member
Apr 12, 2001
157
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How long does it take for them to dry out and spraying the inside out with a pressure washer?
 

yzeater

~SPONSOR~
May 21, 2001
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I soaked my new Alpinestar boots in a bath tub when I got them (nikki's idea...didn't work). We left for a trip that night. They were almost dry three days later.

One last idea. I believe that Alpinestar makes boot polish
 

michigan

Member
Mar 9, 2001
424
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307,

I don't know how long they stay wet since I never ride during the week. I just spray them with wd40 and throw them in the garage.
 

nikki

Moto Junkie
Apr 21, 2000
5,802
1
LOL yzeater :) I don't think you did it right, then (they aren't supposed to get wet inside :confused: ). Red and I and a few buddies used the hot bath water trick to break in our Tech 8's and 6's.

As far as cleaning them - we also use diluted Simple Green and a pressure washer on the outsides. Never pressure washed the insides, though. I guess from the Alpinestar email, pressure washing isn't the best alternative. Oh well - Red's white Tech 8's are a few years old and still in great shape.
 

Lorin

LIFETIME SPONSOR
Jun 25, 1999
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I alternate using Mink oil and black shoe polish on my boots. Another couple of options would be saddle soap and Neatsfoot makes an oil specifically designed for boots that can be found at Wal Mart for $4-$5.
 

stormer94

~SPONSOR~
May 30, 2001
589
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yzeater,

I don't believe that they do make a boot polish. I got the mail from them above, and they made no mention of it. That sure would have been a good time to bring it up if they did.

I like the wd40 idea as well. I'm still thinking of putting some armor-all to them. But how to deal with the leather parts, that's a melon scratcher.

I just want them to look nice as long as possible. A little preventative maintainence now could add years of life, and enjoyment, to the boot.

Bob
 

70 marlin

Mi. Trail Riders
LIFETIME SPONSOR
Aug 15, 2000
2,960
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dry brush the dried mud off. simple green the plastic & polished leather, wipe dry. then polish with water proof polish, dry brushed the suede leather.
 

RMXkid

Member
Jul 13, 2001
108
0
i have tech 6 and i spray them with silicone and spry them off with water and wipe them dry