How to say good-bye to cold wet feet forever!

I do a lot of outside work, it's the nature of my business. This means, I rely on my boots to keep my feet warm and toasty, not wet and clammy. Sometimes, that is not as easy as it seems, especially on those awful slushy snow days, when wading through puddles is about as sloppy as it gets. After doing that for hours, if my feet became soaked and freezing, I wouldn't be much good to anyone. Needless to say, I do some basic maintenance to make sure this never happens, and if you follow these tips, you will never have to worry about cold wet feet again.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plumbers grease
• Hardware plumbers shoe goo

1. This first idea I learned many years ago was from a plumber, of all people, but when you think about it, what business gets your shoes into water more often than plumbing? He told me to take plumbers grease, which is made to lubricate water valves and such, and spread it over the seams of my boots or shoes. It's a terrific idea, since this stuff is made to be applied and lubricate places where there is running water, which means it will not easily wear off.
   You can find this stuff at any hardware store in the plumbing isle, and it's fairly inexpensive. Heat it up a little so that it is almost runny, dip a finger into it, and spread it onto your boot/shoe seams, pressing it in the fabric as you go. Now, I won't say this will last forever, but I can still see water bead around the seams of my own work boots, and it has been a good 5 years since I did this, and I have probably put my boots through many worse situations than the average person.

2. Greasing up your seams is one thing, but if the seams are becoming separated, that's a completely different ballgame. They will need to be repaired, but here is an easy fix. There is a product out there called plumbers goo, or hardware goo or shoe goo, and there is no finer shoe repair adhesive than this.
   You can find this goo in either the shoe department or near camping supplies, and you will be amazed at how well this stuff can repair separations, tears or rips.
   The original goo was developed to repair running shoes, particularly wear spots on the soles of the shoe, but also separations on the seams and where the sole meets the leather top. It is gooey and sticky, not something you want to get on your fingers, but it comes with a stick applicator, and is pretty easy to apply.
   Wipe off the area with rubbing alcohol, let dry, then apply and spread the goo, make sure the entire torn seam is covered, and that's it. You will need to wait between 24 and 36 hours before you can wear them, but your seams, rips and/or tears will be solidly joined. I love this stuff, and when this goo sets, it is permanent.

3. Wear them! It never hurts to dab some grease on the seams after every wet season, and if you do that, the waterproof properties will literally last longer than the boot itself. Use these easy maintenance tips and say goodbye to cold wet feet forever!

Tips & Warnings

• Goo is pretty versatile stuff. It makes a terrific adhesive for virtually anything, the only drawback is that it takes a long time to set up, and as I said, 24 to 36 hours to fully cure. If you have a project that can remain stationary for that long and needs to be glued, goo would be my first choice.
• If you get goo on your hands, either mineral spirits or paint thinner will take it off. If allowed to even remotely dry, plan on shedding that stuff off your fingers or any other part it has become attached to.

[ewingdallas]

on 11/18/2009 I had this problem of cold & wet feet for 5 years. It was so severe, that I regularely had to leave work at lunch break to go home and take a bath to heat up my body. Of course I tried everything - from new Shoes, socks to Doctors and several alternative Medicine treatments - nothing helped. Until I by chance discovered that there was a direct link between my cold wet feet and the deodorant that I used at that time (Vichy for sensitive skin). Once I changed the deo, I did no longer suffer.

[LilacGirl]

on 7/22/2008 I've never heard of this before but I'm going to try it on my boots and shoes this winter.

[KonaGirl]

on 11/16/2007 Excellent tips for anyone that is out and about in nasty snowy weather. I am thinking that this might even work for deck shoes for fishermen/women.