I use the Peet Dryer original for my boot dryer, picked it up from tractor supply. Very very happy with it thus far. As far as why I use dish soap: it’s what Whites recommends. I’ll wash with a little dish soap and warm water, allow to dry for a full 24 hours, and then apply Obenauf’s Boot Oil. There’s tons of different methods and products for boot care, but I figured if anyone would know how to care for Whites boots, it’s whites. For the record, 2 years of my time wearing these boots to work was in a limestone mine doing field welding and heavy repair. They hold up.