Are you working on a ranch, a farm, or a workshop? Do you live in muddy, sandy, or snowy environments? If you are, then you definitely need the best boot scraper you can find.
Boot scrapers are pretty ancient; they came into play sometime in the 18th century. Abrasives for boots used to line footpaths until they were deemed unsafe for streets and people placed them by their front doors instead (Source).
Modern boot scrapers are somewhat portable, and their design allows you to use them in any location. Consider buying an all-in-one scraper, scrubber, and cleaner. This way you don’t have to buy them all individually.
Years ago, you’d buy the traditional, massive boot scrapers. However, the ones sold today are smaller and portable, but may not be as powerful.
What Is A Boot Scraper?
A boot scraper is a tool used to clean shoes or boots of any kind before entering a home or business. Boot scrapers are similar to doormats as they are typically located near the entrance to a building to allow the user to quickly clean their footwear without having to remove them.
Before paved streets were common in the 18th century, boot scrapers were simple horizontal metal plates installed near buildings, used to clean mud from boots.
Modern boot scrapers are designed for a wider variety of applications. Scrapers made for home use are often more aesthetically pleasing and are more compact for easy storage. Industrial scrapers are typically more durable and heavy-duty to stand up to the demands of large construction sites and factories.
How Much Does a Boot Scraper Cost?
There is a wide variety of boot scrapers on the market. From simple metal plates similar to scrapers from the 18th century to industrial heavy-duty wire brush types and even some shaped like hedgehogs or other small animals.
The basic metal plate style of scraper is ideal for those looking for an antique look to add to their home or office décor. This type provides less functionality than other scrapers as it does not have brushes to get into the crevices of boots. But as they range from only $15 to $30, they are inexpensive enough for light use or even simple decoration.
The heavy-duty industrial type of scraper is built more for durability, which does add to the cost. However, as they are typical of fairly simple design, with less aesthetic flair than other types, they are still relatively inexpensive, ranging from $15 to $75.
From cast iron to polystone materials and shapes ranging from hedgehogs to dogs and even alligators, these scrapers are designed for a broader spectrum of consumers. As such, they can range in price from $10 to well over $100.
Comparing The Best Boot Scrapers
| Rubber-Cal Herringbone | |||
| Scrusher Original | |||
| Mr. Boot Cleaner | |||
| Rhino Bilt Folding | |||
| Jobsite Boot Scrubber |
1. Rubber-Cal Herringbone Boot Scraper – Best Overall
With a subtle design that flatters your entryway décor, the boot scraper boasts a purely natural coconut coir fiber built. This offers interior flooring with protection from shoes with dirt and mud.
Consequently, you are assured of a durable and long-term service due to the coconut.
To scrape the boots, one can either stand on it or nail it down, and dirt will fall off. Similarly, since the wire binding is rigid, you can simply let the mud dry off then sweep it away.
Meanwhile, to quickly clean this shoe and boot scraper, simply vacuum or shake it.
Additionally, since the scrapper is resistant to all weathers, you can carry it or leave it anywhere. This allows you to have clean boots at any given time.
- It has a subtle design that complements entryway décor
- Has a coir boor scrubber that removes dirt and mud easily
- Has a wire binding it that helps in keeping it rigid and allows dirt to fall through
- Offers balance as it is wide enough
- Fairly priced
- Needs support as you have to stand on it with both feet to prevent sliding
2. Scrusher Original – Best High End Boot Scraper
The Scrusher Original Boot Scraper is the best high-end product to buy. Measuring 6.2 by 11.5 by 4.8 inches, the Scrusher will offer you an excellent clean sweep by removing mud, grass strands, dirt,, and snow.
With its unique design, the soft side bristles do not scratch or damage the boots in any way. The soles are cleaned by the bottom bristles that are more rigid and firm.
Moreover, this product has a five-year warranty.
- It has a sturdy maple design that holds the bristles in place.
- It comes with a five-year warranty.
- It has a weather resistant frame that prevents rusting.
- It offers a clean sweep by leaving your shoes free from mud dirt, grime, and snow.
- Its brushes are replaceable.
- It does not come with a base to hold it down.
- Metal is susceptible to rust.
3. Mr. Boot Cleaner – Best for Industrial Boot Cleaning
Measuring 9.6 by 6.6 by 4.8 inches and weighing 2.6 pounds, this is one of the best scrapers for cleaning industrial boots. With its sleek design, you can mount the bracket that comes with it at any preferred place of your choice with included hardwood.
Moreover, its reinforced sides are built with metal and premium bristles that are stiff and hard like a wire. Therefore, dried and stuck mud are helpless before this shoe scraper.
Additionally, Mr. Boot Cleaner is compact and durable. It is also treated with a maple finish and can stand up to both indoor and outdoor elements.
However, the best thing about this product is if you’re not satisfied with the purchase, you can return it and receive a refund.
- It features strong bristles that clean the boots easily without causing any damage.
- It is made of high-quality materials.
- The metal can endure both outdoor and indoor conditions.
- It boasts perfect brush heads that can reach even the difficult parts.
- Refund is available if you’re unsatisfied.
- Mounting it requires a lot of work that at times becomes difficult.
- It is narrow and may not fit your entire boot.
4. Rhino Bilt Boot Scraper – Best for Home Use
Being a popular boot cleaner, the Rhino Bilt Scraper is a solid, heavy-duty scrubber that does not disappoint. Measuring 10 by 6.8 by 4.9 inches and weighing 2.9 pounds, it is one of the best quality scrapers for the money.
It boasts a steel frame and a firm wood. Usually, it usually comes with screws to enable it to be mounted and attached to the flooring surfaces. Therefore, for best results, this boot scrubber should be mounted to a sturdy surface.
With powder coating its steel, you wouldn’t have to worry about rust as this product can withstand extreme weather conditions. Additionally, it can clean both boots and athletic shoes.
Alongside that, it features a folding plate on each side to make storage easier. It can be folded as well; lessening your worry about taking up too much storage space.
Overall, this is one of the best boot-cleaning brushes for home use.
- It has hard bristles made of plastic fiber to scrape off dirt and mud with ease.
- It comes with mounting screws to fix it in flooring surfaces.
- It has a rigid frame made of steel and wood.
- It boasts a durable powder coated metal and weatherproof hardwood for both indoor and outdoor use.
- It completely removes dust, mud, and dirt.
- It is a composite scraper built to resist rust and moisture to enhance durability.
- If you have wide shoes and bulky boots, this scrubber is a little bit narrow.
- It is impossible to scrape off dirt while standing.
- Bristles at the bottom fall off quickly.
5. Jobsite Boot Scrubber – Best for Indoor & Outdoor Use
Are you in the market for an economical boot scraper? If you are, then look no further than the JobSite Boot Scraper. Unlike conventional scrubbers, this particular design features superior ABS plastic, which makes it an all season scraper.
You are likely to come across designs that are made of wood, which dries and deteriorates with the elements. However, the JobSite scraper’s heavy-duty plastic materials allow you to live it out all season long.
Another great feature of this scraper is that it has a lip on the side which will catch any mud or debris when you scrap the bottom. Therefore, this helps to keep the bristles a little cleaner.
Likewise, this is relatively easy to use boot scrubber. You just have to fasten it down with your left hand and use your right hand to scrape dirt or mud out of your boots. The scrubber also comes with a fastening bracket along with the necessary hardware for outdoor use.
Finally, you can use the hardware to attach the scraper into wood like a deck or you can attach it to concrete with the anchors that are enclosed.
- Its plastic edges do not rot or crack.
- It has strong bristle brushes that clean snow and mud easily.
- The tough bottom of the boots are scrapped using the edge scrapper.
- It has a long-lasting base.
- You may experience some issues with the frame, which may be unstable sometimes.
How does a boot scraper work?
Whether you are using them at home or on a large construction site, boot scrapers are designed to clean sand, mud and snow from shoes and boots.
Boot scrapers are built with heavy-duty horizontal and vertical abrasives, typically wire brushes or rough coir fiber. Some scrapers are designed to be fixed to a flat surface.
These types are typically made to clean one boot at a time so they need to be solidly anchored to avoid movement while the user pushes their foot through the abrasives. This also allows the scraper to provide pressure against the user’s foot to more effectively clean the boot.
Other scrapers are similar to a doormat. These types are usually made to clean both boots at the same time. The user would stand on one side of the scraper, using one foot to anchor the scraper while they move their opposite foot through the abrasives.
How to Install a boot scraper?
No matter which type of boot scraper you use, they are all very simple to install.
The simplest antique type scraper typically has spiked legs so that the scraper can be pushed into the ground next to a paved walkway.
Scrapers designed for home use are typically light and portable enough to be placed in the desired location like a doormat. The more creatively designed scrapers on the higher end of the price spectrum such as a cast iron dog are typically heavy enough to sit in place with no additional anchors.
Heavy-duty industrial scrapers usually require more work to install, but it is still minimal. These scrapers are typically screwed down to wood or concrete using standard wood screws or concrete anchors and bolts.
Things You Should Know Before Buying Boot Scrapers
Whether we work outdoors or at a construction site, our boots are prone to getting dirty and scuffed over time. It is important to keep them in good shape so they last longer.
When shopping for the best boot scraper, there are a few things that you need to consider. This includes the type, design, material, frame, brushes, and the place where your shoe cleaner would mostly reside.
Type
There are two main types of boot scrapers: doormats and scrub brushes. Doormats are flat and blend in fairly well both inside and outside your home while scrub brushes tend to stand out.
Doormats come in different varieties and cleaning properties; some could be made of soft material that absorbs the wet dirt while others can be hard and good for the dried debris on your boots. It cannot, however, clean the side of your shoes as well as a traditional scraper could.
Scrub brushes clean both the bottom and sides of your boots. They are the most recommended boot cleaners with how much work their bristles can do. They always come in different designs.
Design
The design is probably the most important feature when buying a boot scraper. Some scrapers are made of a simple handheld design while others are made of a more detailed structure.
Usually, the most popular structure used by most manufacturers consists of three small base brushes and two side brushes. The base brushes are normally made of small bristles, while the bigger brushes are made of large bristles.
Make sure the model you choose has a tight rivet that is sufficient enough to hold the parts together.
Material
The best shoe and boot scrapers are often crafted with metal, rubber, and coir. Metal is the simplest and most durable but the hardest to use. Meanwhile, rubber is floor-friendly and scratch-friendly but not too thorough when it comes to cleaning. Coir, on the other hand, is efficient, water-proof, mold-proof, and can last the longest.
As for the bristles, the most suitable option is corrugated plastic fit to withstand the toughest jobs. Besides that, the bristle should also be mildew and mold resistant.
How to Make Your Own Boot Scraper
If the abovementioned products are unsatisfactory, you can always make your own boot scraper. Here are step by step instructions you have to follow:
- Gather the necessary materials
- Disassemble the brushes
- Cut the plywood pieces
- Set the brushes in position
- Attach brushes to the plywood
- Attach supports to brush sides
- Test your boot size
- Attach sides to the base
Ready To Buy The Best Boot Scraper?
Anyone who wears boots in muddy conditions will welcome the aid of a good boot scraper. A shoe brush just above ground level outside your door may be simple or decorative, but the performance ought to be the finest.
The above-selected boot cleaners are the best in terms of quality, value for money, convenience, and performance. Overall, our best choice is the Rubber-Cal Herringbone Boot Scraper.
However, if you own a pair of industrial boots that may need some serious cleaning every time you come when it is raining, then you need the Scrusher Original Boot Scraper. It may cost more than the other models, but it is built to deal with the toughest boots.
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