This is the exact date you should be pulling out your wellies, and it’s sooner than you think
Welly weather is around the corner as temperatures plummet and the umbrellas come out, but according to a new study, over a third (34%) of Brits aren’t prepared for the change in seasons as they don’t actually own a pair of wellies. However, of the two-thirds (66%) that do own a pair, 34% only wear them once a year and more than one in four never even wear them.
But a new study by Joules has analysed historical weather data from the last ten years to uncover the rainiest day in each of the 15 biggest cities in the UK, revealing when Brits really do need to pull their wellies on.
Each city’s official welly warning can be found below and some are sooner than you think:
How to prep your wellies for the winter
There’s nothing worse than getting your wellies out of the cupboard from the year before to find them coated in mud from your previous outing. Naturally, over time wellies can be worn down, so to make them last it’s important to clean them regularly.
Viv Hamill, senior footwear technologist at Joules has broken down the best way to clean your wellies to ensure they last for many winters to come.
- Let the mud dry before knocking your wellies together to remove as much mud as possible.
- If your wellies have a zip make sure to remove any mud from between the teeth to prevent the zip from clogging up.
- Use a microfibre cloth and a bowl of soapy water to remove any excess by soaking the cloth and wiping the entirety of your welly.
- Remove the insoles and wash them with soapy water and a microfibre cloth also.
- Leave your wellies and insoles to dry naturally and avoid the radiator at all costs! If the kettle is on and you want to speed up the process, then stuff them with some newspaper and leave them to soak up the water.
“Once dry you might find a white powdery residue on your wellies. This is nothing to worry about, it’s called ‘blooming’ and is just the natural oils in the rubber coming to the surface and this can be wiped away with a damp cloth”.
Viv explains that you should always try to clean your wellies as soon as you take them off, even when on-the-go,
“If you’ve been out on a particularly muddy or icy day, you’ll want to make sure your wellies are clean before getting back in the car. I would recommend keeping a bristle brush and a large bottle of water in the boot for when you don’t have access to cleaning supplies so that you can loosen the mud from the sole of your wellies.”
When it comes to your wellies, storage is just as important as cleaning to ensure they live a long life.
Viv says,
“To make sure your wellies keep their shape you should use a boot tree, this will prevent them from folding over when not being used. Alternatively, you can use household items to do this; stuffing your wellies with scrunched-up newspaper or old tea towels will achieve the same effect.
There are certain factors that can impact how long your wellies will withstand the elements Viv explains that,
“To make sure your wellies last you should avoid prolonged exposure to freezing conditions.
“You should store your wellies somewhere cool and dry as well as out of direct sunlight, this will keep the rubber from perishing thus increasing the life span of your wellies.”
For more advice on how to maintain your wellies this winter, visit the Joules website.