10 of the best boot scrapers and brushes for outdoor shoes (2024)

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While doormats are ideal for removing everyday grit and dust, a boot scraper comes into its own when you’ve got to deal with muddy boots. We’ve chosen a variety of options in a range of styles and materials. So, whether you’re after an antique boot scraper or contemporary combination of boot brush and scraper, there’s something to suit all budgets and tastes.

Need to replace your wellingtons? We've tested the best wellingtons for the winter ahead. If you're looking for a new pair of gloves our test of the best gardening gloves should set you off in the right direction, and we've also put together a round up of the best boot racks for wellies and outdoor shoes to keep your hallway neat and tidy.

What is a boot scraper and what's it used for?

A boot scraper is a device used for cleaning outdoor gardening shoes, boots and wellies of mud and other debris. An early version of the doormat, boot scrapers sit outside the front or back door to your home and you use them before entering and treading mud through the house.

Boot scrapers tend to be made from metal (usually cast iron) and allow you to knock thick muck off your footwear before you head inside or clean your boots fully in preparation for your next outing.

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There are a range of styles, many of which incorporate a boot brush, the bristles of which are particularly useful for tackling dried-on dirt.

10 of the best boot scrapers

Cast Iron Boot Brush and Jack

10 of the best boot scrapers and brushes for outdoor shoes (1)

This clever cast-iron boot brush not only has a boot scraper built-in, but a heel jack too, so you can quickly kick off your wellies after a long day in the garden.

Price: £32.95

Buy the Cast Iron Boot Brush and Jack from Harrod Horticultural

Fallen Fruits Boot Brush and Scraper

10 of the best boot scrapers and brushes for outdoor shoes (2)

This boot brush and scraper combo features environmentally friendly coco fibre bristles, strong enough to dig out even stubborn dirt from the tightest nooks and crannies. The traditional fleur de lys pattern also makes it an attractive addition to your doorstep.

Price: £35.69

Buy the Fallen Fruits Boot Brush and Scraper at Amazon

Boot Scraper And Brush Set

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Hand-forged by English craftsmen from steel his combined boot scraper and brush set incorporates a handy boot rack too, so can get your best wellington boots cleaned up and ready for their next outing before hanging them on the rack.

Price: £99

Buy Boot Scraper And Brush Set at Not on the High Street

Dibor Robust Cast Iron Outdoor Boot Shoe Scraper

10 of the best boot scrapers and brushes for outdoor shoes (4)

This hard wearing cast iron shoe scraper made by Dibor should make a durable, weather-resistant dirt-tackling tool. The prong helps it sit stably in the ground and the ornate bird design gives it a rustic, antique look.

Price: £19.95

Buy Shoe Scraper with Birds at Scotts of Stow

Fallen Fruits Small Hedgehog Boot Brush

10 of the best boot scrapers and brushes for outdoor shoes (5)

This charming shoe brush makes a great gardening gift idea and is a softer choice for buffing up garden boots. The boot brush is shaped like a hedgehog with the bristles, which tackle dried on muck forming the creature’s spikes.

Price: £17.14

Buy Fallen Fruits Small Hedgehog Boot Brush at Amazon

Boot Tray and Scraper

10 of the best boot scrapers and brushes for outdoor shoes (6)

This boot scraper tray is made from wood with tough bristles to help banish mud, grass and grit from your shoes before you enter the house. There are rubber tracks on the wooden underside of the tray to help keep it in place, making it a sturdy alternative to your usual doormat.

Price: £11.99

Buy Boot Tray and Scraper at Wayfair

Crissay Boot Scraper

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This metal boot scraper is designed and made in Britain from solid steel. It features a long handle to help keep you stable, a scraper and two pads of bristles so it's can access the muck on every side of your shoes. A matching boot rack is also available to purchase separately.

Price: £43.99

Buy Crissay Boot Scraper at Wayfair

Cast Iron Hedgehog Boot Brush Shoe Scraper

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This wildlife themed boot brush is made from cast iron, so it should be hard-wearing and long lasting. The pad of thick bristles will clean mud and debris from your shoes and its heavy construction will help to keep it stable while you clean. The hedgehog design also means it could double as an unusual garden ornament.

Price: £35

Buy Cast Iron Hedgehog Boot Brush Shoe Scraper at The National Trust

Boot Scraper

10 of the best boot scrapers and brushes for outdoor shoes (9)

This moulded PVC mat is ideal for tackling dirty boots from every angle. The spokes on the base dig out grime from underneath while four horizontal lines of teeth tackle the inner and outer sides of your muddy wellingtons and shoes.

Price: £28.99

Buy Boot Scraper at Wayfair

Dibor Metal Door Mat Boot Scraper

10 of the best boot scrapers and brushes for outdoor shoes (10)

This ornate metal boot scraper is designed to sit alongside a doormat and help you clear caked-on mud from your best gardening shoes or wellies. Made from cast iron this large scraper should be weather resistant and durable for long term use.

Price: £26.95

Buy Dibor Metal Door Mat Boot Scraper at Amazon

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This Product Guide was last updated in September 2022 and we apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

10 of the best boot scrapers and brushes for outdoor shoes (2024)

FAQs

10 of the best boot scrapers and brushes for outdoor shoes? ›

A boot-scraper, door scraper, mud scraper, or decrottoir is a device consisting of a metal blade, simple or elaborate, permanently attached to the wall or to the sidewalk at the entrance to a building to allow visitors to scrape snow, mud, leaves, or manure off the soles of their footwear before entering.

What is a shoe scraper called? ›

A boot-scraper, door scraper, mud scraper, or decrottoir is a device consisting of a metal blade, simple or elaborate, permanently attached to the wall or to the sidewalk at the entrance to a building to allow visitors to scrape snow, mud, leaves, or manure off the soles of their footwear before entering.

What do you use a boot brush for? ›

Brush your boots before a hike to remove dirt & seeds.

How do you make a shoe brush at home? ›

Homemade Boot Brush
  1. Step 1: Gather Materials and Tools. Tools: ...
  2. Step 2: Disassemble the Brushes. ...
  3. Step 3: Cut the Plywood Pieces. ...
  4. Step 4: Set the Brushes in Position. ...
  5. Step 5: Attach Brushes to the Plywood. ...
  6. Step 6: Attach Supports to Brush Sides. ...
  7. Step 7: Test Fit a Boot. ...
  8. Step 8: Attach Sides to Base.

What kind of shoe brush intended to remove dirt in the shoes? ›

Horsehair brushes are the best type of shoe brush because they are sturdy yet incredibly soft, so as to not scratch the leather. Horsehair bristles are known for being exceptionally soft. In addition, the bristles are flexible which allows them to dislodge dirt stuck in your shoes' grooves.

What is the real name for a rubber scraper? ›

The rubber scraper (left) can be called a spatula in both UK and US English because it is a flat utensil used for mixing and spreading. The tool on the right is also called a dough cutter. In American English, spatula refers broadly to a number of broad, flat utensils.

What is the best material for shoe brushes? ›

For high-end /delicate luxury shoes you might want to use a slightly softer brush such as a boarhair or horsehair brush, but for sneakers and boots this is the perfect brush. A synthetic bristle brush is more hygenic to use and dries up quicker because the bristles do not absorb any of the water.

What can I use instead of a shoe brush? ›

Try a toothbrush.

Pull out your harder scrubbing muscles after mixing and applying cleaning solutions to really penetrate the material and clean shoes. This tool works best on rubber flip-flops, rope wedges, sneakers and canvas shoes.

How many shoe brushes do you need? ›

- Depends on how many shoes you own. If you own a black and a tan shoe, you should have a brush for each (both the 6in Brush and the Welt Brush). If you own black, tan, mid-brown, dark brown and burgundy shoes, then you would at least want 3 of each brush.

What is the best DIY cleaner for shoes? ›

Baking Soda and Vinegar

This paste, when applied to the fabric of your shoes, especially mesh shoes, can remove even the most stubborn stains. For the sole, a scrub should be enough to do the trick. After applying the paste, leave it for a few minutes before washing it off with warm water.

What can I use to brush my shoes? ›

Shoe brush

A high-quality horsehair brush is ideal for shoe shining as it allows you to get into the nooks and crannies with its coarse bristles. Be prepared to use this once for the buffing and cleaning, then again for applying the cleaner itself.

Does toothpaste work as shoe cleaner? ›

Make your white sneakers look new again with this simple mix ✨ Mix 2 tbs baking soda, 2 tbs dishwashing liquid +1 tbs toothpaste. Apply + leave for 10 mins. Place shoes in the washing machine (or wipe off if they can't be washed)✨ always patch test as every shoe is different.

What is a boot scraper? ›

noun. a contraption consisting of an upright metal shape formerly placed outside some houses to enable people to scrape the mud from their boots before going in.

What does brushing a boot do? ›

Leather brushing serves a few purposes: Helps remove surface dust collected while not in use. For leather that is actually dirty, you should use a different brush for removing the dirt first. The friction warms up the wax and oils slightly, which helps disburse them across the leather.

What is the scraper thing called? ›

This tool is known by a variety of names, including dough scraper, dough cutter, dough knife, pastry cutter, bench scraper, board scraper, and bench knife. Some modern varieties of this tool have handles of nylon or silicone and even feature both straight and curved edges.

What is a foot scraper? ›

"Both are mechanical tools (electric/manual) that use coarse stone or metal to remove dead skin cells," Dr. Tomassian says. Though it might be tempting, less is more when it comes to foot scraping. "I would not recommend using a foot scraper more than a couple of times per week maximum," Dr. Graf says.

What do you call a boot remover? ›

A boot jack, sometimes known as a boot pull, is a small tool that aids in the removal of boots. It consists of a U-shaped mouth that grips the heel of the boot, and a flat area to which weight can be applied with the opposite foot.

Why is shoe making called cobbling? ›

The word cobbler is believed to be derived in the 14th century from the surname and place name “cobelere”, meaning “one who mends shoes”. A shoe mender, shoe repairer, a shoe-maker, one who hand-crafts shoes. In modern day, a cobbler is a master craftsman, an artisan.

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