General Maintenance

• Wipe off dust to allow the leather to breathe. Boots should be wiped off every time you take them off. Any cloth will do for this job. Dust can do a lot of damage to leather if left on for long periods of time. The dust settles into the creases of the boot and acts like sandpaper. Every step taken will cause the finish and leather to be cut by the dust. The end result will be the leather cracking.
  
  Clean the boot with leather cleaner such as saddle soap. Choose a cleaner that contains an oil base, which is very good for the leather.
  
  Condition the leather often to restore oils. The natural oil in leather dries due to weather conditions and from drying after being wet. If you live in a dry climate the leather will need to be conditioned more often than a humid climate. The best time to apply a conditioner is right after the boots have been cleaned and the leather is still damp. Moist leather will absorb more conditioner. It is important to not over condition the leather; it will become tacky and dull and will result in dirt sticking to the leather.
  
  Polish the leather with a color that matches the boot. This will help protect and hide scuff marks. Allow the polish to dry for a few seconds and then buff the boots to a resilient shine.
  
  Protect your boots with non-silicone water and stain protector. When storing boots for long periods of time use cedar boot trees to maintain their shape. The soles of boots need compression to prevent cracking. To prevent damage to boots that are only worn a few weeks of the year you need to slip them on a couple times each month. Walk around for a few minutes and then put them back into storage.
  
  

Tips

• It is always recommended that a small spot be tested before trying any of the following tips.
  
  Spots left from sugar or alcohol can be cleaned with a solution of equal parts of white vinegar and water.
  
  A pencil eraser can rub off many spots, especially on white leather.
  
  Boots need to rest and air out if they are a working boot. It is best to invest in two pairs and alternate the wear.
  
  Boots should never be placed near heat to dry.
  
  Spray-on spot remover will clean oil and grease.