How to clean ski boots: dry the liners, banish odours, care for helmet and goggles

The first ski days of the season are behind you, the February sports holidays (Sportferien) are coming up – and now your ski boots are standing wet in the flat, the liners smell musty and your goggles are smeared. Knowing how to clean ski boots and dry them properly doesn't take much effort, just the right order and some patience with the drying.

These five steps show how to look after shells and liners, prevent odours and keep your helmet and goggles in good shape too. For your jacket, see our guide on how to wash a ski jacket.

Why ski boots smell and wear out

Inside a ski boot, your feet sweat for hours in a tightly closed shell. The moisture collects in the liner, along with meltwater from the snow. If the liner stays in the shell overnight, it hardly dries at all: bacteria break down the sweat and the boots start to smell.

On the outside, road salt, slush and sand build up. They clog the buckles, and dirt or ice on the toe and heel of the sole stop the boot sitting cleanly in the binding.

1. Take the liners out after every ski day

1. Knock off snow and ice and open all the buckles.
2. Spread the shell slightly at the tongue and carefully pull the liner out, heel first.
3. Remove the footbed separately.
4. Stand the shell, liner and footbed apart, with the shell's buckles open.

Heat-moulded liners fitted to your feet need particular care – don't fold or crush them. If a liner won't come out, ask your sports shop how best to dry it.

2. Dry gently – no radiators

Liners dry best in a heated room at room temperature, overnight or a little longer depending on how wet they are. Scrunched-up kitchen roll or newspaper stuffed inside draws out extra moisture; replace it after a few hours.

An electric boot dryer that works with gentle warmth or a stream of air is quicker. Choose a model designed for ski boots and follow the instructions. Radiators, fireplaces, stoves and a hot hairdryer are off limits: too much heat can damage foam and glue and throw heat-moulded liners out of shape.

3. How to clean ski boots: shell, buckles and soles

The shell only needs a thorough clean now and then:

• Shell: wash with lukewarm water and a little mild soap, then wipe over with clear water.
• Buckles and grooves: remove sand and salt with a soft brush and let them dry well.
• Salt marks: wipe them off with a damp cloth before they dry in.
• Toe and heel of the sole: keep them clean and check them for wear. Have badly worn soles or loose screws checked at a sports shop.

Avoid solvents such as acetone or thinners – they can attack the plastic.

4. Freshen the liners and get rid of odours

Wipe the inside of the liner with a damp cloth and a little mild soap, wipe again with clear water and let it dry completely. It only goes in the washing machine if the manufacturer expressly allows it. Footbeds are hand-washed in lukewarm soapy water.

Baking soda (Natron) works well against odours: the Swiss consumer protection foundation (Stiftung für Konsumentenschutz) lists it among the simple household remedies to use instead of lots of special products. Put two or three tablespoons into an old sock, tie it closed and leave it overnight in the dry liner. Don't sprinkle the powder in loose – it settles into seams and foam. Our guide to baking soda cleaning has more ideas.

Shoe deodorants and hygiene sprays don't replace drying. Many sprays are flammable: only use them in a well-ventilated room and never near a naked flame. Tox Info Suisse advises reading labels and hazard symbols before use and keeping products in their original packaging, out of children's reach.

5. Look after your ski helmet and goggles

Ski helmet:

• The inner pads and ear pads can usually be removed (Velcro or press studs). Hand-wash them in lukewarm water with a little delicates detergent, rinse well and leave them to air-dry.
• Wipe the shell inside and out with a damp cloth and mild soap, without solvents.
• Don't dry the helmet on the radiator or leave it in the sun behind the windscreen.
• After a hard fall, have the helmet checked at a specialist shop or replace it, even if nothing is visible from the outside.

Goggles:

• The inner lens usually has an anti-fog coating. Don't wipe it while it is wet: shake off the snow, let the goggles dry open in the air and only then dab them gently.
• Wipe the outside only with the microfibre bag supplied or a clean microfibre cloth – never with tissues, gloves or a jumper.
• Don't dry them on the radiator or with a hairdryer, and store them in their bag.

Common mistakes

• Putting ski boots on the radiator: heat can warp liners, glue and shell.
• Leaving the liner in the shell: it barely dries overnight and the smell gets worse.
• Rubbing the inside of the goggles dry: it damages the anti-fog coating.
• Leaving wet kit in the ski bag: moisture encourages odours and mildew spots.

Priority Clean editorial teamOur cleaning team from Alberswil, Canton of Lucerne, shares hands-on experience from move-out, house, office and window cleaning across Central and Northwestern Switzerland.