Care Advice
Content:
1. Leather care - Basic tips and tricks
2. How to protect your boots against water and dirt
3. Care and cleaning of smooth and shiny leather
4. Care and cleaning of oily and waxed leather
5. Drying your footwear and chaps
6. How to keep the shape of your riding boots
7. Care of zippers
8. Leather abrasion and leather structure
9. What to do when your shoe pinches
10. Maintenance of Vegan and Synthetic Footwear
1. Leather care - Basic tips and tricks
We guarantee the highest comfort and durability of our leather products. Leather is a natural product, similar to our skin, which requires regular care.
To avoid damage and hardening, leather items should be cleaned only with a damp soft cloth or soft sponge. We recommend cleaning and maintaining your shoes with our Shoeboy’s care product series (Made in Germany). It has been specially developed for the maintenance of high-quality leather footwear.
Horse urine, sweat and dung contain acid, which can have an aggressive effect on leather. In order to avoid the hardening and damage of the leather, remove urine, sweat and dung immediately after use with a damp cloth.
Important: Never clean your riding boots with saddle soap! The soap dries out the leather and causes leather damage.
2. How to protect your boots against water and dirt
Impregnate new shoes
We recommend treating your new shoes with our Waterproof Protect or Nano Protect Spray before using them for the first time.
Apply the spray with a minimum distance of about 12 inches / 30 cm. Always impregnate your products outside, never inside (please read the instructions on the spray for more details).
The spray needs some time to be absorbed. Do not impregnate immediately before your next ride or walk. Try to impregnate at least one day or evening in advance.
Impregnate used shoes
Applying a water protect spray at regular intervals will improve protection. You can also use a shoe wax or shoe cream. Here's the best way to do it:
1. Cleaning: First remove dust and dirt (please also read our section "Care and cleaning").
2. Spraying/waxing: Once the boots have been cleaned, you can either spray them - as described above - or you can use a wax or cream. Spread the care product with a soft cloth or sponge gently onto the surface.
3. Give it some time (wait): The care product needs some time to be completely absorbed. Please do not impregnate immediately before your next ride or walk. Try to do the procedure a day or evening in advance.
3. Care and cleaning of smooth and shiny leather
Smooth leathers are the most common upper leathers. They are the easiest to clean and maintain. We recommend to remove dirt and dust with a soft brush, a sponge or our Shoe Clean. Then apply leather care (spray, wax or cream). This makes riding boots very water- and dirt-repellent.
Tip: Please remember, the colder the days are, the more important it becomes to groom your leather product repeatedly.
4. Care and cleaning of oily and waxed leather
Certain leathers are treated with a special leather wax or leather oil. They are called pull-up leather. Oily leathers are more likely to show signs of use than conventional ones, but they are also easier to treat. After cleaning your boots, apply the leather wax or waxy leather foam with a cloth or a soft brush onto the leather – It’s as easy as that. The protection and look of your boots is restored.
Important: If riding boots and chaps have an adhesive leather trim, do not treat the trim with care products, otherwise the grip may be lost.
Note: Pull-up leathers develop a unique patina with regular care and intensive use. “Patina” means the used-look of the leather.
5. Drying your leather products
To remove moisture from your leather product, fill the boots with paper or kitchen paper tissues. Store the boots in a dry place. Use a shoe tree to keep them in shape.
Do not expose leather items to direct sunlight or other heat sources such as ovens or radiators. Leather boots should be dried from the inside out, otherwise the leather may crack, which affects its durability. Depending on the degree of moisture penetration, leather needs at least one day to dry.
To preserve the shape of Suedwind tall boots, always use a boot tree. Regularly clean the zippers with a clean soft brush.
Tip: With daily use, we recommend you use a second pair to change. This counts for all leather footwear, riding boots as well as sneakers. Give the leather a chance to dry before you wear them again.
6. How to keep the shape of your riding boots
In order to maintain the shape of your riding boots, you should always use a boot or shoe tree.
7. Care of zippers
Zippers should be cleaned regularly with a clean, soft brush and treated with a special zipper spray.
Zippers must always be opened completely, otherwise damage can occur when you slip in to your boots. Closing and opening the zipper must always be done with a straight leg and without applying any force. Do not open and close your zippers with a bent leg!
Important: Do not use food or vegetable oils. They will ultimately cause corrosion and damage to the zippers. It is recommended to only use special zipper sprays.
8. Leather abrasion and leather structure
Leather is an organic material that in many cases is naturally colored. Therefore, after several hours of use, signs of wear may appear on the surface. This is a natural process and has no effect on the properties of the leather.
Important: Leather is a natural product and therefore scarring is not a material defect.
9. What to do when your shoe pinches
Sometimes new shoes may pinch a bit. Usually that disappears after the break-in-time when the leather becomes softer. If your new boots are still pinching, you can use some special care products (Shoe Stretch by Shoe Boy’s) to stretch the leather slightly.
Shoe upper leathers are usually made from sturdy cowhide leather. With moisture and movement, you can stretch the fiber structure of the leather a little and make it more flexible. We recommend our care product Shoe Stretch for the procedure.
Important: If your new shoes press too hard, be sure to choose a size larger to avoid painful blisters and pressure points.
10. Maintenance of Vegan and Synthetic Footwear
To ensure that your vegan shoes also last long and provide best comfort, proper care is crucial. Here are some tips on how to maintain your synthetic and vegan riding boots:
- Cleaning after each use: Remove rough dirt from your shoes with a soft brush, a soft cloth, or a damp sponge. Use warm water and mild detergent (gentle soapy water) to remove stubborn stains. Be sure to rinse the shoes thoroughly to remove any residue of the detergent.
- Let them dry: Allow your shoes to air dry, away from direct heat sources such as radiators or sunlight. Do not stuff them with newspaper as this could damage the vegan material. If your shoes get wet, let them dry slowly and naturally to avoid deformation.
- Waterproofing: Although vegan materials are often naturally water-resistant, we recommend treating them regularly with our Waterprotect waterproofing spray to provide additional protection against moisture and dirt. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
- Regular care: Use our Shoe Clean cleaning care regularly to keep the material supple.
- Storage: Store your riding boots in a cool, dry place, preferably in a well-ventilated area. Avoid storing them in plastic bags or airtight containers as this can promote mold growth.
- Avoid harsh chemicals: Do not use aggressive detergents or chemicals that could damage the vegan material. Instead, use mild cleansers specifically designed for vegan materials (light soapy water or our “Shoe Clean”).
By following these simple care tips, you can ensure that your vegan riding shoes and boots last long and provide you with the necessary comfort and protection.
We wish you tons of fun and a fulfilling time with your Suedwind product.
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