HI,
I don't think keeping on top of your skates is a lot of work. It gets to be routine, like brushing your teeth, lol.
One thing is that you want to make sure the soles (and boots) have been waterproofed before you get the blades attached when they are brand new. That prevents moisture from getting up into the sole, especially the heel area and rotting the leather/breaking it down too soon.
You also want to regularly put leather conditioners and waterproofing stuff on the boots and soles. You don't want leather to dry out too much-it has to have a little moisture in it or it will wear out faster. Dryed out leather is just as bad as wet leather. It can crack, tear, etc. So, for me I don't worry about cleaning so much because they are black boots but I do rub the boots and soles with mink oil after they are dry from skating, usually once every one to two weeks. That gets rid of water spots on the soles and will clean off dirt and scuffs. You just rub it on, let it sit for a while and then buff it off.
I use spray-on waterproofing less often but you definitely need this to protect the boots and soles. Make sure you cover the blades first before you spray and do it outside if you can because the fumes are bad. I'd do that when you first get the skates (unless your pro shop already has) and then once every 6 months or so (more or less, depending on your skating time).
As for soakers, I kinda hate them but they are a necessary item. I use them only for transporting the skates in my bag so the blades don't get messed up. When I'm done skating, I take them right out of the bag, take the soakers off and put the skates out of the way so they can dry. Wear the actual skate guards only when you walk around in your skates. Don't leave your blades covered with the guards because even a few hours can cause rust to start forming.
The towel you use for wiping off your skates isn't all that important, just don't go crazy wiping the blade edges with it. They get scratched up easily. Your mom's old dish towel will work fine, as long as it isn't abrasive. Something soft and absorbant is fine. My coach uses cloth baby diapers, lol. Whatever!
How often you get the blades sharpened is really dependent on how often you skate and what level you are. If you're a rec skater, every 6 weeks or so is probably fine. You don't want the hockey sharpener to touch your blades though! Make sure the pro shop gets the person who deals with figure skates to do your sharpenings. It makes a major, major difference.
Last thing is that in your bag, you can lug around your skates with other things but I found that keeping them seperate is better. When they are wet, they get everything else damp (like work out clothes, etc). You can get bags with more than one compartment. I wouldnt' bother getting a special skate bag yet though. They aren't necessary. Just a gym bag that has enough space/maybe 2 zippered compartments.
New boots are stiff usually. Very stiff. You're going to get blisters around where the tops of the boots rub your skin and possibly elsewhere. Wear nylon socks or tights. Don't wear layers of socks inside your skates, especially cotton because that causes a lot of friction and more blisters. Protect your skin if you feel like you're getting sore areas before they become blisters with makeup sponges (yeah, I buy makeup sponges, lol) and sports tape. Don't wrap the tape tightly around your foot or ankle, but enough to keep the sponge in place. If you have blisters from the new skates, put a bandage on first with antibiotic cream, then the sponge. That will help keep them from getting worse. New skates are a pain to break in for a little while but you'll get thru it. Just protect your feet and ankles along the way. I have other break in advice but I need to get some sleep so I'll wait and see if you want all that. Take it easy!
