HELP!!! ALL of my boots got soaked in and out. Need help/guidance

[efarrell4]

As the title says. I had a sewer main become blocked this past Tuesday causing ground water that would normally have left through the pipe to fill my basement/Batcave to a level of 6 to 8". Some stuff is basically ruined or degraded seriously. My biggest worry right now though is my boots. I hade somewhere in the neighborhood of 14 to 18 (not even sure) pair of leather Bat boots down there that basically fell over and filled with water. Anyone know how to clean and disinfect them? or where I might take them for the service? On top of everything else I'm diabetic so I really can't take the chance of putting on boots that have a fungus or worse growing inside of them (I'm very prone to athletes foot). Any guidance would be appreciated. The insurance adjuster is coming tomorrow to assess the damage but people like that don't have a clue what a hobby like ours involves. These are not "off the shelf" boots for the most part.

Thanks in advance.

 

[rollerboi]

I believe you can tell the adjuster the value of things if they are not "off the shelf". At least, I hope you can.

 

[DS Operative]

Are the boots still wet? If so, I'd fill them full of off-the-shelf plain (dry) cooking rice. The rice will soak up the moisture and then should pour right out. I've heard of people having success with their cell phones using the rice trick. Leave the rice in there for a few days then dump it out. After that, I would put some cedar blocks or balls and permanently store the boots with the cedar from there on out.

Aside from that, I would make a call to a local cobbler, shoe repair, or even a tack (horse supply) store for better advice.

Good luck with the salvage of your boots. I would also make sure the adjuster has a website for where you purchased the boots so he can have a good reference.

 

[efarrell4]

Thanks DS. Yes they are still wet inside. The rice idea, I didn't even think of that. Maybe it'll work. I am planning to check with our local cobbler to see what he can do as well but I can't do that till Tuesday. (he's closed on Mondays). I know that eventually they will dry but I'm concerned about mold, mildew and other fungi. Maybe if I fill them up pretty good after they dry with athlete's foot powder.
The insurance co. send a clean up team but they are not the brightest crayons in the box. I have one of the most extensive Batman collections out there and they're moving stuff around like it's regular every day toys. I told them I'd try to stay out of their way but after I saw what they did on Friday I will be in their way on Monday when they come back. AND they didn't seem to have a clue about the leather goods (heck they were gonna throw away resin kits and alot of my mold masters,OY)
Most of the boots came from a web site (these http://www.snaz75.com/el-125-tyler.html) and then I modified them into Batman boots (I was doing that few years back for Bat people till the ol' sewing machine started acting up. I'd have to pay the cobbler to replicate that at this point) but a few were replica movie boots that I had to contract parts out like my 89 Bat boots. They're made from a 22 year old pair of Nike's (authentic) with uppers hand sewn on by a fello Bat friend in NJ and leather armor pieces that I got from DavidYR1 a few years ago. :cry

Anyway, again thanks.

 

[tictoc]

http://www.peetshoedryer.com/product_advantage.html

I use this when my motor boots get wet.

 

[Jayn]

Ditto on the shoe dryers.. I have a different version, but basically the same - low or no heat air circulation. I'd say if they are still wet, to go ahead and rinse them out good with clean water before drying to remove the dirty water. After drying they'll probably need to be reconditioned/shaped.

 

[Bizarro Lois]

Using a dehumidifyer in your basement for a while might help too.