How to Clean Winter Gear

I love the way a pair of bright leather gloves add a touch of color when I'm wearing a dark winter coat. The only problem is light-colored gloves seem to get dirty much more quickly than dark brown or black gloves do. To get your favorite pair clean, work a small bit of saddle soap into a lather with a dampened a paper towel. (We like Meltonian Saddle Soap.) Don one glove and with the sudsy paper towel in the other hand gently work the soap into the soiled areas. After several seconds, use a new damp paper towel to rinse away the soap and grime. Wet leather loses color easily, so be sure not to over-wet or vigorously rub the gloves. Repeat these steps, if needed. And then do the same with the other glove. Allow both gloves to air dry, and you should find the leather softer, more supple, and maybe even as good as new.

You might be tempted to scrub at ugly black marks on rubber rain and snow boots, but they need a lighter touch: Dip a soft cloth in water, then kitchen scouring powder, and rub the spots gently with the paste. Once spots are gone, wipe with a clean damp cloth and buff dry.

Suede is a beauty to behold, but a beast to clean. If it's mud, be sure to let it dry completely; scraping at fresh mud will just smear and worsen stains. Quickly rub off overall dirt with a kneadable eraser, stiff suede brush or just lightly sand away obvious stains with an emery board. To raise the nap of suede that's flattened, scrub briskly with a clean toothbrush or terry cloth towel. If it's really matted, hold the shoe a few inches above the spout of a steaming teakettle for a few seconds, then brush up the nap.

Rain boots keep the wet out but the sweat in. Right after wearing the boots, crumple up some newspaper and stuff it tightly into the foot of each wellie to absorb any moisture and odors. Wipe off mud and dirt from the boots' exterior with a damp paper towel and put them in a cool place to dry. Once the boots are dry, remove the newspaper and generously sprinkle in some odor-absorbing baking soda or foot powder. With your hands, work it into the lining of the boots and leave it for several hours (or overnight). Take the wellies outside, turn them upside down, and bang them together to shake out excess powder. It's fine to leave some behind — it'll just keep on working. Still smelling stale? Spritz the inside with an extra-strong fabric odor-eliminator spray, like Febreze Sport.