Cavenders Ranch Blog

How To Take Good Care Of Your Leather Boots

Jun 28, 2022

Cowboy Boots

How To Care For Your Boots

Boots are a staple in any cowboy or rancher’s wardrobe. It’s important you know how to take good care of your leather boots. A good pair of boots can be essential in protecting your feet from the harsh elements and can last for years if you know how to take good care of them. We’ve put together the following basics of leather boot care so you can keep your boots in great shape for years to come.

Leather Boot Care Tips

One of the first things you’ll want to do with a new pair of leather boots is spray water repellent on them. Water repellent won’t waterproof your boots, but it will help preserve the leather of your boots if they get a little wet.

Next, you’ll want to routinely clean off the daily dust and build-up that accumulates on your leather boots. Use a mixture of dawn dish soap and water and dab small dots of this onto your boots. Use a toothbrush to scrub this mixture into the leather of your boots.

Eventually, the leather of your boots will start to dry out just like your hands would if you never put lotion on them. If you wear your favorite pair of boots every day, you’ll want to put a neutral all-purpose conditioner on them 2 times a month to recondition their leather.

It is important to note that you will never want to use oil on a pair of exotic boots. This will darken the leather. A neutral conditioner with no oil in it is a much better choice. You can use a horsehair brush that works polish into the surface of your boot to bring out the leather’s natural shine and luster.

If you have a pair of roughout or suede leather boots, you can use water and stain repellent spray to coat them. Then use a suede brush or stone to restore the nap and remove any stains. A boot cream on roughout or suede will be too thick for this type of leather and can ruin it. If you have scuffs in your roughouts you can put chalk on the scuff and then brush it out.

How To Take Good Care of Different Types of Exotic Leather Boots

Exotic Elephant Leather

Use a special exotic spray on elephant leather boots. Spray on a nice coat to protect their leather. If you have a pair of elephant boots that is over 10 years old, you’ll want to use a leather conditioner instead.

Exotic Bison & Elk Leather

You can take good care of your bison or elk leather boots by using a distressed or premium leather conditioner on them. Mink oil will work as well. Only use one of these products on the leather of your boots every six months. More often than that will darken the leather of your boots.

Exotic Pirarucu Fish Leather

Pirarucu fish skin is a softer leather that is especially comfortable. You may think that because this leather is from a fish you can get it wet, however that is not the case. Pirarucu fish skin is not waterproof. The best way to remove dirt and debris from your fish skin is to gently brush the scales surface making sure to get under the scales. After brushing you will want to spray your fish boots with a thin layer of exotic spray to help protect them.

Exotic Ostrich Leather

Ostrich has natural oils in its leather already, so you won’t need to add any oil-based conditioner to these boots. If you were to do this, it would add too much oil to your boots, and they would crack over time.

How To Store & Handle Your Leather Boots

How you store your leather boots will add to their longevity. We recommend using a boot tree to help your boots maintain their shape when you’re not wearing them. Another tip to take good care of your leather boots is to ease them off your foot with a boot jack. This will help protect the leather of your boots from scuffs and scrapes over time.

How To Care for Badly Fitting Boots

Are your boots a little too tight? Cavender’s offers free in-store boot stretching to get that perfect fit. We can stretch the top and throat of your boot to make it easier to get on. If you have a spot in your boot that hurts your foot, we can usually stretch a certain part of your boot to give your foot more relief as well.

By following these simple tips, you can take good care of your leather boots and ensure that they last for years. It’s important to be mindful of the type of leather used in your boots. Use the appropriate products and cleaning methods recommend. With a little bit of effort, you can keep your favorite pair of boots looking great no matter what the weather throws at them. So, pull on those boots, saddle up, and get ready to ride off into the sunset – knowing you have taken good care of your investment!