Beauty is inside-out. If you think this saying is for the girlish only, think again. The life of your outdoor leather boots may well be on the line if you don't know how to take care of the innards as well. Check out the following tips.

1. Clean the innards of your boots every time just when you're about to call the day a day.

Contrary to what you think, the innards of the boot actually sustain more dirt and grime than the exterior. The innards are more exposed to moisture, darkness, body salts, sweat and other conditions that are conducive for the growth of mildew.

To clean the innards of your boots, follow this simple procedure. First mix a small amount of alcohol and water. Next, wet a ball of cotton or a piece of soft cloth in the mixture. Pat the wet cotton or cloth on the innards; then air-dry the boots. Take care not to do any wiping action, as doing otherwise will only spread the grime and germs from one spot to the next.

2. Line the innards of your boots with leather conditioner.

Once you're through cleaning the innards of your boots, dab some leather conditioner. Leather conditioner is great because it not only helps clean the leather, but moisturizes it as well and keeps it free from cracking and drying out.

Leather conditioner also helps lubricate and soften the innards of your boots, making your footwear as comfortable as possible for wearing, but stiff and durable enough for retaining the shape and structure. You may want to try using one of the three products recommended by a number of experts and leather boots owners: Lexol, Urad and Leathercare.

3. Stuff the innards of your boots with tissue or kraft paper.

There are two instances when stuffing the innards of your boots with tissue or kraft paper is wise: one is when your boots get wet; the other is when you're storing your boots. Tissue and kraft paper are perfect for absorbing moisture in the innards of your boots. Tissue and kraft paper are also good for maintaining the shape of your boots. Just remember not to overstuff them inside, as one of the vital elements needed to properly care for boots is breathability.

As you may have noticed, experts recommend just the tissue paper or the kraft paper. Other types of paper, especially those with prints as in newspapers, are not advisable as these could have some chemical content that will react and can possibly damage the leather.

4. Clean your feet and your socks before donning your boots.

Do not underestimate the importance of personal hygiene. The best way yet to take care of the innards of your boots is to make sure that the feet that wear the boots are squeaky clean and fragrant. Dry your feet properly before putting on any socks. You may want to powder your feet with deodorant too. Don clean and dry socks as well if you don't want your boots to be an active breeding ground for mildew growth and malodor.