That is, any hope of at least toning down the stench? These are expensive leather boots found in a basement, I hate to throw them out without at least trying to remedy the awful smell. I’ve read using rubbing alcohol, Lysol, burying them in baking soda, charcoal, or kitty litter, setting them out in the sun, dryer sheets, putting inserts in. Is there anything that works or are they a lost cause?
saddle soap a couple times. sit in the sun.
Try saturating them in high percentage isopropyl alcohol to try to kill the mildew. Spray the INSIDE as well. Set them in the sun until thoroughly dry, which may take more than one day. After you do that, though, you’ll need to restore the oils in the leather, so use mink oil or a leather conditioner.
There are shoe disinfectant sprays/deodorants out there, too. Use liberally. You want something effective against bacteria and fungus, and mildew, too, if you can find it.
But if the mildew has gotten too firm a hold yeah, they might be a lost cause.
I’ve sprayed heavily with Lysol, inside and out. They look brand new, the smell must be inside the sole. I thought I’d try spraying and spraying inside and maybe drying with a hairdryer. I don’t know when we’re going to get a sunny day, though, they might be fit to wear by fall…