HOW TO CLEAN YOUR LEATHER BOOTS

Caring for leather is hard...Or at least, it can feel that way in the beginning. We, here at Crevo, have gone through the ins and outs of the leather care process to simplify the process, just for you!

To start, there are four parts to proper leather care:

CLEAN

When do you need to clean:  When needed.

Something to remember: Leather is skin. Only scrub as hard as you'd scrub your own skin to avoid damage.

Cleaning methods vary, depending on the type:

Leather

- Spot clean with a barely damp cloth. Let air dry at room temperature. Keep away from direct heat

Suede/Nubucks

- Spot clean using a hand brush (these can be pick up almost anywhere shoes are sold). Always brush with the direction of the nap (the fuzzy stuff) to ensure no damage.

WATERPROOF

When do you need to waterproof: Depends on your climate, but every 6 months is a good rule.

- Pick out a good quality beeswax-based paste.

- Wipe shoe with warm, barely damp cloth, softening the leather slightly. This will make the leather more porous. Rub the beeswax paste into the leather, then rub excess with dry, soft cloth.

CONDITION

When do you need to condition: Depends on your climate, the drier the climate, the more you need to condition. It's good to condition once a month to every 2 weeks.

- Important to note: conditioning is NOT polishing.

- Pick out a good quality cream conditioner. (with no dyes or color added)

- Work cream conditioner into the leather in circular motions. Applying liberally.

- Let sit for 20 minutes, then rub excess cream from the surface with either a dry, clean cloth or shoe brush.

POLISH

When do you need to polish: This is all preference.

First, there are 2 types of polish: cream polish (great for restoring color) and wax polish (for a great shine).

What you need:

• Shoe shine brush
• Shoe polish of choice
• Soft cloth
• Pro-tip: old t-shirts work great as shoe polish cloths
• Something to protect your workspace. We recommend newspaper.

STEP 1:

Using a soft cloth or shoe brush, remove surface dirt. If water is required, be sure the leather is completely dry before polishing.

STEP 2:

Open jar and dig a half dollar size dollop of polish onto your soft cloth.

Apply in circular motions, paying particular care to the heel and toe.

     * Pro tip: Wrap the cloth around your hand and use your index, middle, and ring finger.

STEP 3:

Allow to dry for 15 minutes.

STEP 4:

Grab your shoe shine brush and buff with short, even strokes until you hit the desired effect.

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HOW TO CLEAN YOUR CANVAS SHOES

We all have them; the perfect pair of canvas shoes. The shoes that somehow pair perfectly with cuffed jeans on a date and still style flawlessly with your shorts on the yearly camping trip. But, with that devotion, comes the reality of everyday wear and tear that accumulates and eventually leaves your beloved pair looking more appropriate for mowing the lawn than nights out. That's where we come to the rescue with this sure-fire way to prolong the life of any canvas shoe!

What you will need:

Step 1:

Prep your shoes by removing the insole (the removable cushion your foot rests on) and laces. Brush off any surface, loose dirt. (Do this part outside, if possible. Otherwise, keep the broom handy!).

Step 2:

Fill the bucket with warm water and 1-2 tablespoons of detergent.  Fill the sink with clean, warm water with no soap. Throw laces in the soap bucket and soak through shoe cleaning process. Add shoes to clean water in the sink and soak for 15 minutes.

Step 3:

Once soaked, pull shoes from water, letting excess water fully drain off the shoe. Dip toothbrush in soap water and start scrubbing, working in circular motions (I know, you've been working out, be gentle.)

Step 4:

Once the stains are gone, rinse thoroughly in cold water, making sure all soap is worked out and the water runs clear. Repeat step 3 and 4, as necessary.  Take shoe laces out of the soap bucket, rinse thoroughly.

Step 5:

Place wet shoes in a warm, dry place to air dry. Never machine dry. Heat will shrink the canvas and warp the rubber outsole.

*Pro tip: Lay your wet shoe in sunlight until dry. Sunlight is a natural deodorizer!

Important Details:

- Never machine wash or dry.

- Never use bleach (even on white canvas). It will discolor your canvas.

- Soft bristle toothbrushes are best to avoid damaging the material