Fall is the perfect time to wear your favorite leather boots to crunch through fallen leaves and stay cozy on chilly days.
But after a few years of constant wear, salt stains, cracks, and fading can make them look a little tatty.
Whether you’re about to invest in a new pair or want to hold on to your old boots for just a little while longer, here are some care tips and tricks to follow.
Shoes are exposed to the most dirt in comparison to other items in your wardrobe. With grit and salt, dirt, grime, rain, snow, and oil from cars, there’s probably no one who cleans their shoes as regularly as they should.
The first step to caring for your leather boots is to give them a good clean. Remove the laces and remove any loose dirt with a horsehair brush. With a damp cloth and some saddle soap, you can then create a lather to rub over the boots to break up any stubborn stains.
Leave the boots to dry before moving on to the next stage.
The best way to ensure longevity for leather boots is to prevent cracking. Dry, unconditioned leather can easily be worn away by rain and water. Once the leather has dried, it will start to weaken and form cracks. Prevention is key, as there’s no real way to stop the cracks once they’ve started.
You should condition your leather boots as soon as you get them, as well as regularly after wearing them.
Using an applicator brush, apply a leather conditioner to a small area to test the color. Conditioners will likely slightly darken the area. After testing, wait a few hours to make sure you’re okay with how the color sits in.
Once you’re happy with the color, pour the conditioner onto a terry cloth rag and rub it over the leather in circular motions. Try to ensure the conditioner gets into all the crevices to make the finish as smooth as possible. The job is done when the conditioner is no longer soaking in, and the leather is left damp.
Before conditioning, if you want to breathe new life into your old boots, you might also want to consider dyeing or painting them. Darker browns and blacks look newer for much longer and could easily add a few years to your favorite pair. Angelus leather paint is ideal for all-over color change, or, if you’re feeling adventurous, you could use brighter colors to make your own design.
Finally, it’s time to polish. You don’t need to polish your boots every time, but it is good to spruce things up from time to time. Polish gives your shoes shine and smoothness, so it is especially good for Chelsea boots or other formal styles.
Follow the standard polishing method of applying the polish and buffing it with a brush. Then, add a water-resistant or waterproof coating. Some boots will already have this proofing, but through wear and tear, it can become weak. Use a waterproof spray and lightly coat the boots before use.
Then, make a list of all the places you’re going to go in your new boots and get going! Compliments incoming.
