13 Unusual Uses for a Hair Dryer

Step 10: Dry Wet Boots

This is a great trick to use in the winter!  Dry off your snowy boots with your blow dryer setting on high.  Be sure to do this over a towel so your mom doesn't yell at you for getting water every where! (personal experience...)

Comments

[swatterson]

far better to stuff them with newspaper, am sure most people have more than 1 pair of shoes

[tezcatbus]

why would you be sure of such a thing?

[hausi]

Don't do that to your expensive leather shoes! Dry them slowly, stuffed with newspaper over the course of some days!

[sconner1]

Careful. I thought I'd melt some mink oil into the leather for waterproofing.
I shrunk the leather of my boots with the hot air.
Now they don't fit right.
Salt or calcium chloride (ice-melt) can dry out and shrink leather too.
I've ruined many pairs of gloves by getting this stuff on them without even using a dryer.

[knobaroundtheclock]

I don't know if that's such a good idea. I heard that you shouldn't put wet shoes next to a heater (or a hair dryer for that matter) because the sudden change in temperature (and moistness?) supposedly puts a lot of strain on the material. Still, nice instructable :)

[dysynchronous]

Fabric shoes: iz OK
Leather: the heat removes essential oils from the leather,causing brittleness & cracking. BUT! this depends on the leather, and the rate of heat that you apply.
Reptile skin leathers are less affected by rapid drying. (I don't know why, for me it's counter intuitive, but snakeskin, shark & alligator can take some rough treatment that mammal leathers can't). You CANNOT turn the heat on high and dry your shoes or gloves out in 25 minutes and get away with it. What you should do: Stuff your shoes w/ dry newspaper to maintain he shape. Use some of your hair conditioner or skin lotion to moisturize your boots or shoes ( It's wet & absorbent, take advantage of he fact). Rub that stuff in!. then gently air your shooZ/ bootz out with your hair dryer. IF you stuffed the newspaper, AND you used the conditioner, the best place for them smelly things is behind your fridge for 2 hrs max. Gerry