How Does A Boot Dryer Work?

Last Updated on January 24, 2024

A boot dryer is an electric appliance that removes moisture from boots or shoes. The process of removing moisture from boots or shoes is called “drying” and is done by using a heat source. In this article, I will be explaining how does a boot dryer work?

Boot drying is a great way to protect your shoes from mold, mildew, and bacteria. If you have to wear shoes with holes or if you have a job where you have to walk through a lot of mud or snow, then it is important to dry your shoes after you have finished wearing them. You can use a boot dryer to help speed up the process of drying.

All About Boot Dryers

Now you must be really anxious to know how does a boot dryer work and what they really are? They are also called boot warmers in other references.

To address this, I will focus on boot dryers. Additionally, I will describe some types of boot dryers and how efficient they are. Moreover, I have also included some of the best types of boot dryers!

Without further Ado, let’s jump into it. 

A boot dryer, also known as a boot warmer or shoe dryer, is a machine used for drying shoes. It usually works by blowing air on the inside of the shoes. As a result, the boots dry quicker. The air is heated to speed up the drying process in some cases.

History of work boot dryers:

The History of shoe dryers goes back to the earliest times. Most of them date back to 1963. After that period, Lorne McCartney was, a captain serving in the Ottawa Military, invented work boot dryers in the 1980s. (The link to this fact is shared below.) During this time, people in the military used dryers to clean their work boots. However, new methods and techniques for drying boots appeared with time. Currently, drying has become much easier than ever before! 

Before this review, I am sure you didn’t have a clear idea of the working of a dryer for shoe. You probably thought of it when considering buying a shoe dryer. Is a boot dryer effective? Maybe you should have asked a friend or colleague. Usually, the answer we get is yes; they do work very well.

The main debatable point is how well they work. If you want me to be honest, most boot dryers work pretty differently from each other. However, I must tell you that the results are all the same; they possess different technologies and methods to work, but most have almost the same purpose and objective. In addition, to drying wet, damp shoes, boot warmers may also be used to dry clothes and garments.  

Read on to find out which one of these methods works most efficiently than the others. Therefore you can have a better understanding of how dryers work in general. 

Working of a work boot dryer

Most boot dryers function by the convection process, specifically thermal convection. Let me brief you a little on how this law works. The air present at room temperature is sucked on and then transferred through the open vents. Later that air is heated up to remove the moist elements inside your work boots. That is how their shoes are dried and cleaned.

A boot dryer has a heating element that gets hot when it is plugged in. This heating element is then placed inside the boot or shoe. When the heating element heats up, the moisture inside the boot or shoe evaporates. As the moisture evaporates, the heat of the heating element continues to increase, and the boot or shoe is dried.

Boot dryers are devices that warm the air inside the boot to help prevent moisture from building up inside the boot and causing the leather to crack. This can also help to reduce the smell of the boots and keep them looking newer longer.

The air in a boot is heated by passing it over a heated element, which is usually located near the bottom of the boot. The warm air is then circulated through the boot by a fan, which blows it into the foot of the wearer.

The process of heating the air inside the boot takes less than a minute. Once the temperature of the air reaches the desired level, the fan stops blowing the air around the boot. The heat of the air keeps the boot warm for up to four hours.

When the boot is removed from the boot dryer, it should feel cool to the touch.

Types of Boot Dryers

Now, I will talk about some of the significant types of work boot dryers, or as you can sometimes call them, boot warmers. There are four to five major types of dryers, including multiple types so that you can select from them. As I have mentioned above, most of them work in the same way; however, one of its types, the UV boot dryer, works slightly differently. I have categorized these dryers to understand better how to use the boot dryers and which ones are perfect for your requirements! 

Convection style boot dryers

Convection style boot dryer work by the use of an internal heat system that gradually warms the air. The air is usually kept at room temperature, which slowly warms up, and then its real action begins. After using convection dryers, I admire these work boot dryers because they are noise-free. However, I’m not too fond of these dryers because they are not as fast working as the forced air boot dryer, which I will review shortly.

One of the common examples of this type of boots dryer used by workers is the Peet electric thermal boot dryer. Peet shoe dryer inc uses convection technology. These types of dryers need three to eight hours to dry. 

Forced air boot dryer

These are not similar to the convection style. This Forced Air Boot dryer works by providing up to 105°F of heating without exceeding the power limit! Which is indeed remarkable. Dryers are equipped with fans that direct air toward the boot.

Undoubtedly the best thing about air dryers is that they are pretty portable and easy to handle. You can carry them almost everywhere along with you! Due to its electrical drive, this dryer requires electricity to operate, so you’ll need it available when you use it.

The dryers which use this technology are the Dry guy air boot dryer. In addition to this, Drys home boot dryers also use forced air technology. They are portable, and the fantastic thing about them is that they are entirely moisture-proof! The Max dryer is also a glove boot dryer. As mentioned, forced air dryers work the fastest, so they only require about one to three hours for drying. 

Positive Temperature Coefficient Dryers – PTC Resistance Dryers

PTC dryers are positive temperature coefficient dryers. They are pretty impressive, fast, and operate by resistance. The resistance of PTC heating devices differs significantly from traditional heating types. The resistance changes are inversely proportional to the temperature of the device bit in a nonlinear way. 

The thing that sets PTC boot dryer working from other dryers is that when they heat up to perform the job, their temperature quickly returns to its original state. Therefore, PTC has very little chance of overheating. Although the working is quite efficient, I wouldn’t label them the fastest heat warmers. 

Kooder boot dryers use this type of technology.

Kooder dryer is also the top-rated PTC dryer, and its Amazon rating is remarkable!

Batch-type PTC hot air heaters also use PTC technology. Approximately four to eight hours are the requirement of PTC dryers to clean and dry any garment or boot. 

UV Dryers – Ultraviolet Ray Technology

UV Dryers use ultraviolet ray technology to clean and dry boots and other garments. I have used UV dryers to dry my work boots, and trust me, they are the greatest invention ever! My work boots didn’t hold a sign of any bacteria and were squeaky clean after the use. I bet if you could see through the microscope, even the smallest of microorganisms won’t be there! 

Some small tip I want to mention for UV Dryers is explicit: don’t charge them too much, or they may get too hot. Overheating may cause harm to your boots. So always keep a check on the speed of the dryer machine so that you wouldn’t end up burning your new work boots! UV dryers usually require three to eight hours to dry. 

Silica gel or Ski boot dryers – No Electricity/Power Required

These machine dryers are light as a feather and work efficiently. Furthermore, their technology also ensures that your boots retain all the warmth inside them even after cleaning. This boot drying working use silica gel to enhance the drying process. 

Dry Sure is an excellent example of silicon technology boots dryers. These dryers do not use electricity or power. Therefore, you can use them without electricity.

Benefits Of A Boot Dryer

A boot dryer is a great tool for drying boots and shoes. It is a portable machine that you can use at home or in the office. They are ideal for people who spend a lot of time outdoors. The best part about boot dryers is that you can use it to dry a wide variety of footwear.

There are a number of benefits to using a boot dryer, including saving time and money. As a boot dryer, you can use it to dry boots, shoes, or any other footwear. It is also very easy to use and does not require a lot of maintenance. Due to its low energy consumption and recyclable materials, the boot dryer is an environmentally friendly product.

 The benefits of a boot dryer are numerous. Here are just some of the many benefits of using a boot dryer:

• It saves money by reducing the amount of time spent on drying boots.
• Can help to prevent foot infections by keeping feet warm.
• Keeps the feet dry and free of debris.
• Helps to protect the feet from the cold winter weather and reduce blisters.
• It can help to prevent sprains, strains and spread of germs.
•  Very convenient because they are portable.
• There are no special skills needed to operate them.
• Extremely effective at drying boots.
• Easy to clean and maintain. They are durable.

How can you avoid damaging your work boots when using a Boot dryer? 

Before concluding this article, I must mention how you can prevent damage to your boots while drying them out. Have a look at these!

Step 1

Remove excess water from your boots: When you dry your boots, you should remove any excess water from your boots. This will prevent damage to your boots. You can do this by using a towel or rag to soak up any excess water.

Step 2

Check your boots for signs of water damage: After you dry your boots, check them carefully for signs of water damage. You may notice that your boots are still damp and that there is a dark area inside the toe box.

Step 3

Use the right size boot dryer: Use the correct size boot dryer for the size of your boots. You can find a boot dryer at a local department store, home improvement store, or online.

Step 4

Dry your boots in the morning: When you dry your boots, dry them in the morning before you wear them. If you dry your boots after wearing them, you may end up damaging your boots.

Step 5

Dry your boots on a low setting: The lower the temperature setting, the longer it will take to dry your boots. If you dry your boots on a high setting, you may damage your boots.

Step 6

Dry your boots in a ventilated room: Drying your boots in a dryer with air circulation is better than drying them in a closed room. This is because you want to keep the air circulating around your boots as much as possible. Additionally consider below mentioned instructions as well

• Try to keep the dryer at room temperature 
• Don’t speed up the machining process to avoid overheating
• After using the dryer machine, always take a clean cloth for your boots
• Don’t rub the tissue of cloth into the surface of the boots
• Don’t keep the wet boots in dryers 
• Keep the dryer at room temperature while using it. 

Are Boot Dryers Bad For Boots?

Boot dryers have been around for a long time. They have been used for years to remove moisture from shoes and boots. The drying process removes water from the leather of the shoe or boot, which prevents it from shrinking and cracking.

Boot dryers are very effective for boots and shoes. The best thing about them is that they are not dangerous to use. You can use them for your most comfortable slip on work boots. However, they do have some disadvantages as well. The first disadvantage is that they are expensive to buy.

They can cost up to $200. Another disadvantage is that they are very noisy. The noise can be annoying and can even be disturbing.

FAQS

How To Turn On A Boot Dryer?

• Turn on the power.
• Plug the cord into the outlet.
• Check for a malfunction. If there is a malfunction, check the manual.
• Adjust the temperature.
• Put the boot into the machine.

How To Use A Boot Dryer?

Step 1 – Clean the boots or shoes:

If they are dirty, remove all dirt and dust. If they have a hole in them, repair it.

Step 2 – Put the boots or shoes into the boot dryer:

Put the boots or shoes into the boot dryer and set the temperature to the lowest setting.

Step – Wait:

Wait until the boots or shoes are completely dry.

Step 4 – Check the Work boots or shoes:

Check the boots or shoes to see if they are dry. If they are not dry, put them back in the boot dryer.

Some facts about boot dryers

American Podiatric Medical Association, also known as APMA, refers to the proper cleaning of work boots. Additionally, they believe that if the boots are not properly cleaned, they may leave dirt marks and microbes that may harm your feet. Most importantly, when the boots are wet, they leave harmful effects on your feet, especially when they’re cold due to the moisture.

Many podiatrists and workers have also recommended using the boots dryers for a wholesome drying experience rather than more straightforward cleaning methods. 

Some cautionary measures for Using boot dryers

Always use boot dryers under supervision if you’re not a professional. Don’t keep the machine on after use. Don’t overheat it. 

Final thoughts on boot dryers

Work boots are an essential part of your life. However, if they’re not cleaned properly, they can create more problems than ease for you. Boot dryers are always to the rescue to help you clean your work boots! 

Therefore, you must carry accurate information about the specific boot dryer you want to purchase for your boots, so you can easily clean your shoes by yourself. 

You must also be wondering where you can find cheap boot dryers, thermal boot dryers, or electric boot dryers. You can go on Amazon and other work boot purchase-related sites and get your favorite boot dryer! 

I hope you found our review on how does a boot dryer work helpful. Please read some of our reviews to find interesting facts about work boots. Keep on reading!