Boots in hot bath is the best advice I got - but do it when you have your new smart Sorbothane insoles in (still about the best), as you need those boots to fit with the thicher comfy sole in.
I used to wear 2 pairs of socks but mostly wear one good pair now - spend a little and treat yourself to some good high wicking socks - about a tenner a pair but well worth it. I wore them in the bath, let them dry (slowly, away from heat & stuffed with newspaper) then just wear them all the time - work, rest & play in them. Never ran in them and never really suffered. We never had to 'bull' our boots - the course behind did as punishment, but we just had to keep them clean.
As for your shoes - polish. The guys with scams for not polishing seemed to spend more time scamming than we did polishing!
Remember - it is all about the joke.