HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR VEGETABLE-TANNED LEATHER BOOTS

The lifespan of your shoes will depend on what you do with them and how you care for them. Frequency, use, and maintenance methods for leather shoes—if you want them to last a long time, nothing should be left to chance. Especially when it comes to vegetable-tanned leather and suede, two of Oodoo's flagship materials.

Why should you care for your leather shoes?

Caring for your shoes is like caring for your skin. Leather is a living thing, so it can tend to crack, get dirty, wrinkle, and even break if it's too dry. That's why, if you want them to last, it's strongly recommended to regularly check their appearance and pamper them, without procrastinating.

A little basic advice: avoid wearing your shoes every day. You have to let them breathe; that's the secret to longevity. Ideally, you should alternate every other day if possible to let them breathe.

Maintenance of vegetable-tanned leather shoes

To ensure your pair of vegetable-tanned leather shoes retain their beauty and longevity, it's no secret that they need regular maintenance. But be careful, if there's one rule to remember, it's to avoid traditional shoe polishes made with solvents and other chemical components. Once you've learned this basic rule, which says no to chemical polishes, all you have to do is follow these few essential tips and steps for your leather shoes.

1. Get the right equipment:

• Wooden shoe trees if you have them

• A shoe scraper or a slightly damp cloth

• A welt brush (for Goodyear-welted shoes) or a toothbrush

• 100% natural shoe polish (Oodoo if possible)

• A cotton chamois or horsehair polishing brush

2. Prepare your leather shoes:

If the model has laces, remove them to avoid clogging the eyelets.

3. Clean your leather shoes:

An essential step, if ever there was one, is cleaning, because dirt must not mix with the leather shoe care wax. Use the shoe scraper to remove dirt or a slightly damp cloth if necessary with the shoe polish.

4. Feed the welt thread, the leather, the leather laces and the sole

On Goodyear-welted leather shoes, the thread that connects the welt to the sole is waxed to ensure a waterproof seal. It is therefore essential to ensure that it does not dry out, otherwise the sole may detach from the upper. Dab your welt brush (or a toothbrush) into the natural wax and work it around the sole, paying particular attention to the front of the shoe, the most vulnerable part.

Regarding the nourishment of the leather, wrap your index and middle fingers in a cotton chamois cloth, making sure that it is as taut as possible (creases would prevent optimal spreading), and with a circular and energetic gesture, penetrate the natural wax as much as possible all over the upper (for more shine, slightly dampen the chamois cloth), without omitting the tongue and the pleats. We also do not forget the leather laces, the outsole and its stitching, the smooth and the heel, which also require just as much care.

5. Feed the welt thread, the leather, the leather laces and the sole

Using a cotton chamois or a horsehair polishing brush, rub the entire leather shoe using a light, soft motion to ensure the wax penetrates well and restores its shine.

A little tip if you forget this step and don't have anything on hand: simply rub your leather shoes on your jeans and you'll have the shine you want, just like the first day.

Maintenance of suede shoes

Suede leather is a full-grain leather whose inner surface has been brushed for a long time and finely to obtain a touch that is both supple and soft. It is quite similar to nubuck (which comes from the outer surface of the skin), but it is more textured for a more "raw" and robust finish. Ours comes from one of the best Italian tanneries, itself from the LWG. In other words, we have on our feet the crème de la crème of suede calfskin, which is also super resistant, because it is waterproof.

This type of leather requires virtually no special maintenance. However, we add a piece of natural crepe to the boots, which is very effective for minor stains and other small, harmless marks. That said, there's always the slight fear of the nasty oil, grease, sauce, or ink stain that can prove stubborn on suede shoes.

Here are some tips to avoid breakage:

• Option 1: Absorb as much of the liquid as possible with a tissue, then apply fuller's earth to both feet for 24 hours (so you don't end up with a mismatched pair). Rub with a soft brush made from plant fibers. The stain on your leather shoes should otherwise disappear completely and be significantly reduced.

• Option 2 :Make sure to absorb the liquid with a tissue and equip yourself with Marseille soap (a real one) and water, then clean both feet again to avoid differences in color after drying. Let it dry well and again, with a soft brush with vegetable fibers, come and polish your pair of shoes

• Option 3 : If you haven't had time for a tissue, if you don't have anything handy to clean with and if you don't want to take any risks, there will always be a good, friendly shoemaker near you who will always have a solution for you.

How often should you maintain your shoes?

Focusing on the maintenance of smooth leather shoes, if you change your shoes regularly and give them time to breathe (at least 3 times a week), a little care once a month is enough. If it is occasional, it is recommended to do it every 15 days.

For suede leather models, this material requires little maintenance as explained above, you just have to be careful not to let stubborn stains set into the skin. And similarly to “smooth” leather shoes, it is important to rotate your pairs to let them breathe.