How to Care and Protect Your Birkenstocks
Proper care ensures your sandals stay comfortable and stylish for longer. Follow these tips to protect and maintain your favorite pair of Birkenstocks.
Air Out Your Footbeds Regularly: Birkenstock footbeds are crafted with layers of jute and cork, lined with suede to absorb moisture. Regularly airing them out helps prevent odors caused by excess moisture buildup.
Keep Them Dry: Avoid immersing your Birkenstocks in water as it can damage the cork and affect the glue/sealant. If they get wet, dry them slowly away from direct heat sources. Rinse buckles exposed to saltwater to prevent corrosion.
Protect from Heat: Avoid exposing your Birkenstocks to extreme heat. Keep them out of direct sunlight, away from radiators, fireplaces, and hot cars, as concentrated heat can damage the materials over time.
Birkenstock Materials Care Tips:
Smooth Leather: Apply a good quality clear or colored cream polish regularly to remove scuff marks and keep the leather supple. Note: Dyed leather may transfer color.
Natural Leather/Oiled Leather: Use a suede brush or nubuck eraser block to remove stains. Apply a colorless leather conditioner to restore/maintain color.
Metallic Leather: Metallic finishes are prone to scuff marks. Avoid contact with corrosive liquids like perfume or nail polish remover. Protect with neutral shoe polish.
Patent Leather: Clean with a damp soft cloth.
Suede Leather: Protect with a silicone-based waterproofing spray. Use a wire suede brush to clean.
Nubuck Leather: Clean with a nubuck eraser block or suede brush. Protect with a silicone-based waterproofing spray.
Wool Felt: Gently brush with a plastic bristle suede brush or old toothbrush.
Birko-Flor: Wipe with a clean, damp cloth.
Birko-Flor Nubuck: Lightly brush with a plastic bristle suede brush or old toothbrush.
Birko-Felt: Gently brush with a plastic bristle suede brush or old toothbrush.
Microfibre: Brush lightly with a plastic bristle suede brush or old toothbrush.
Polyurethane: Wash with mild soap and water.
EVA: Wash with mild soap and water.
Note: EVA can shrink at high temperatures.
By following these simple steps, you can extend the life of your sandals and continue enjoying their comfort and durability.
Happy wearing!
