Are you thinking about purchasing a pair of rattlesnake boots but want to know how to care for them properly? Check out this informative cleaning guide.

Cowboy boots are making a big comeback in America and across the globe. We're seeing more and more folks pairing cowboy boots with casual wear, professional wear, and even formal wear--and the look is incredible!

The only problem is that with all these new cowboy boot lovers comes a steep learning curve. Unlike sneakers and even traditional cowhide leather shoes, cowboy boots need specialized care based on the variety of materials they're made from.

Today, we're going to talk about rattlesnake boots, python boots, and other kinds of snakeskin boots. Rattlesnake and snakeskin boots, in particular, require an attention to detail if you want to preserve them for years to come.

Read on to learn everything you need to know about caring for your new rattlesnake boots.

Regular Care For Your Rattlesnake Boots

One of the best ways to prolong the lifespan of rattlesnake boots is to practice regular and preventative care. Let's take a look at the easy steps you can take on a regular basis to keep your rattlesnake boots in tip-top shape.

Cleaning After Each Wear

A light cleaning after each wear is a great way to keep the scales of your rattlesnake boots clean and shiny. Grab a soft, dry cloth (microfiber is ideal) and a soft, dry brush to remove any dirt that has accumulated during regular wear.

First, wipe down your boots in the direction of the scales with your cloth. Then, use your soft brush to gently remove the dust and debris that collects between the scales. Make sure you're not lifting the scales in this process.

General Cleaning Tips

Need a little more elbow grease to get your rattlesnake boots clean? Use a soft cloth and dampen it slightly with clean, plain water and repeat the same process as above.

Remember, the scales are resistant to water. You don't want to use an excessive amount of water when cleaning them and you don't want to use soap products, no matter how gentle. Water and soap will just run off of the scales and down into the membranes of the snakeskin, which will cause dryness, cracking, and curling at the edges of the scales.

Conditioning Your Rattlesnake Boots Inside and Out

With any boot made from any kind of leather, you're going to want to condition them to keep them from drying out. We recommend conditioning rattlesnake boots every one to two months.

How to Condition the Outside of Your Boots

Snakeskin is not the same as other common types of leather, such as cowhide. You don't want to use any old leather conditioner on the outside of your rattlesnake boots, as other kinds of leather conditioners can actually dry out your snakeskin boots or cause discoloration. Instead, make sure that you find a conditioner designed specifically for reptiles, preferably for snakeskin.  Tim's Boots recommends Bick 4

Apply your snakeskin conditioner to your boots in small, dime-sized amounts. Use a clean cloth to massage the conditioner into the snakeskin, always going with the grain of the skin--never against.

Allow the conditioner to sit for 20 minutes before removing any of the excess conditioner and polishing your boots.

How to Condition the Inside of Boots

Less frequently, you may want to condition the inside of your boots. Snakeskin boots typically have a cowhide interior, which means that you can use a standard shoe leather conditioner to condition the inside. After conditioning the inside of your boots, allow them to dry for at least 24 hours before putting them back on.

Polishing Rattlesnake and Snakeskin Boots

After conditioning your snakeskin, you will want to use a neutral, soft cream wax to finish off with a polish. Once again, you will want to apply very small amounts of the polish. Use a cloth to lightly massage the polish into the snakeskin in slow, clockwise motions.

Basic Rattlesnake Boot Care Tips

What else can you do to take care of your rattlesnake boots? Beyond cleaning, there are a few measures you can take to avoid damaging your rattlesnake boots.

Know When Not to Wear Your Rattlesnake Boots

As we mentioned earlier, you don't want your rattlesnake boots to come into contact with excessive amounts of water. That means that when it's wet outside, it's probably not the best day for your boots. Avoid wearing rattlesnake boots when you'll be in and out of rivers or lakes, when it's raining, or when it's snowing.

Waterproof Your Rattlesnake Boots

Although the scales are water-resistant, other elements of your rattlesnake boots are not. When you first purchase your rattlesnake boots, spray them with a water-proofing spray designed for snakeskin. You may want to repeat this process about once or twice a year.

How to Store Rattlesnake Boots

Living snakes prefer cool, dark areas, and so do your snakeskin boots. When you're looking for a place to store your boots for a season, choose an area that is moderate or cool in temperature. Make sure your boots are not sitting in direct sunlight and avoid spaces with high moisture levels if possible.

Should You Re-Bleach White Snakeskin?

Typically, white snakeskin boots are white because the snakeskin (often python) has been bleached. Over time, white snakeskin boots will become more golden in color. We never recommend rebleaching the snakeskin, as this will almost surely damage it.

Buy Cowboy Boots Online With Tim's Boots

One of the best ways to ensure that your rattlesnake boots have a long lifespan is to start with quality. At Tim's boots, we offer handtooled boots made from a variety of materials that you're going to love.

Don't just take our word for it! Head over to our online cowboy boot shop and take a look around. We promise that you're going to like what you see--and you're going to find yourself a pair of cowboy boots that will last for years to come.