My old lady loves when I wash my boots out in the kitchen sink The leather part that is stitched down to the sole always curls up on me. I take the back of the denture brush I use for scrubbing and push it back down. Air dried over night. Oiled up, and finished.
This is and old pair of $19 Sears 501s I have had for about three years. I use them for working around the house. This is all natural wear and tear. I have been fixing holes as they happen.