It’s officially boot season – are yours ready for wearing? Boots are, in my opinion, the best investment you can make for your fall and winter wardrobe. They seem to look great in just about every situation. But winter weather (all that salt and snow!) takes its toll. To keep boots looking their best I’ve got some quick and easy boot care basics to maintain and protect them from the elements and hazards of normal wear and tear.

1. Fix Scuffs with Olive Oil

Rubbing the boot leather with a little oil will give them a quick shine. Pure olive oil works fine, It will help condition and soften the leather, too.

To keep them polished, use a cream polish to cover any scuffs and scrapes. The wax is good for protecting them (if you give them a good buffing, they’ll shine like a mirror!) and the soles can also be polished or touched up with special polish.

2. Remove salt stains with lemon juice

Apply a 50/50 mix of fresh lemon juice (or white vinegar) and water to clean off dirt, grime, and salt stains. Let air dry and immediately polish or oil.

After a long hiatus in the bottom of your closet, chances are your boots will be dusty and may even have some spider webs (eek!). Dust with a soft cloth and polish, if needed. If you polish before storing them for the season, they should only need a quick buffing with a shoe brush. Use a brush to remove dirt from the sole and upper part of the boots, but use care – you don’t want to scratch them. Look for brushes with stiff, but soft bristles.

3. Use plastic bags to keep their shape

Stuff the toes and boot shaft with plastic bags to keep them from losing their shape. If your boots come packaged with cardboard forms, keep them and place them inside your boots between wearings.

For the best, longest storage, keep the boots in their original boxes, if possible. If you don’t have them, no worries. Keep them in a place where they will stay cool and dry.