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  2. Should You Put Your Work Boots in the Dryer? The Pros and Cons
Boot Care & Tips

Should You Put Your Work Boots in the Dryer? The Pros and Cons

ByDavid Alegeta March 25, 2022
can work boots go in the dryer,can steel toe boots go in dryer
Table of Contents
  • Your Steel Toe Boots Aren't Meant For The Dryer
    • Leather and Clothes Dryers Aren't Friends
    • You Are Risking A Bent Steel Toe
  • Can You Put Regular Work Boots In The Dryer?
  • Should You Dry Composite Toe Work Boots or Shoes In The Dryer?
    • Dry Them On Air Fluff Mode Only
  • Putting Your Work Boots In The Dryer: Pros & Cons Conclusion

Slipping your feet into a pair of wet work boots is a really bad way to begin the day.

I mean, it’s hard enough to get out of bed and on the road without your feet feeling cold and clammy from a wet pair of boots. It would be great to have a warm, dry pair of boots before you head out to work.

So sure, you want to…but should you put your work boots in the dryer? Let’s find out.

Your Steel Toe Boots Aren’t Meant For The Dryer

You might be surprised to know that most steel toe boots are not dryer-friendly.

Leather and Clothes Dryers Aren’t Friends

First, most steel toe shoes and boots have out layers made out of leather. Leather and the hot-temperature air of the dryer do not mix well. The leather will dry quickly, start to shrink and quickly crack.

Your leather boots will end up looking like a 60 year old sun-worshipers face. That’s not a good look.

can work boots go in the dryer,can steel toe boots go in dryer

In addition, your dryer will take a heck of a beating from the steel toe bashing into the dryer drum for a half an hour. While throwing a towel in with the boots can help a bit with the noise, it’s enough to wake up anyone else sleeping in the house.

You Are Risking A Bent Steel Toe

It’s not common, but sometimes the steel toe gets bent while in a dryer. You wouldn’t think something strong enough to protect your foot can be damaged by a dryer, but it does happen on occassion.

The heat from the dryer can damage the waterproofing on the boots and cause the steel toe to warp. Sometimes it isn’t the heat, but the contact with the washer drum that causes problems.

Either way, it’s not worth putting your steel toe boots in a dryer.

It’s better to air dry your steel toe boots – either with a fan or just from the passage of time. Putting crumpled up newsprint or newspapers inside of your work boots will speed up the drying process quite a bit.

If you’re in a hurry, use a great boot dryer. Boot dryers work differently than your clothes dryer and are much nicer to leather uppers found on boots and shoes.

Can You Put Regular Work Boots In The Dryer?

Ok, we’ve covered steel toe work boots. Howe about run-of-the mill non-protective work shoes or workboots?

Yes, you can put regular work boots in the dryer as long as they don’t have any metal parts. You want to avoid putting leather work boots in the dryer with any heat – air dry only should work ok.

You can put a towel in with your work boots to help absorb some of the noise. This will help keep you from waking up anyone else sleeping in the house.

Should You Dry Composite Toe Work Boots or Shoes In The Dryer?

Steel toe boots aren’t the only game in town. Many people have composite toe workboots – so the toe cap isn’t made of steel but of a lighter, non-metallic material.

Are these safe to put in the clothes dryer?

Dry Them On Air Fluff Mode Only

Composite toe work boots and shoes can go in the dryer on the air-only setting. While most have leather uppers, the material of the boot itself isn’t the issue.

You don’t want to put any heat to them as it can damage the composite material. The best way to dry your composite toe work boots is with an boot dryer – just like with steel toes.

Putting Your Work Boots In The Dryer: Pros & Cons Conclusion

So there you have it. The pros and cons of putting your workboots in the dryer no matter what they are made of.

The bottom line is that unless you have regular non-steel toe work shoes or boots, you’re better off not putting them in the dryer. If you do, make sure to use the air-only setting and throw a towel in the dryer to keep the clanging down to a light roar. Also understand you are taking a risk of aging your boots prematurely.

Instead try an alternate method of drying. You can use newsprint inside of the boot to draw out moisture. A hairdryer in skillful hands can help remove dampness from a boot.

Work boot dryers are a great way to dry your work boots without any risk of damaging them. We’ve got a guide to help you if you are looking to buy a boot dryer.

So there you have it – the pros and cons of putting your work boots in the dryer. What do you think? Is it worth the risk or not?

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