Boot Care
Take care of your boots and your boots will take care of you.
Complimentary boot cleaning, polishing and conditioning service is available at our Australian Boot Company locations, for Blundstone and R.M. Williams customers (even if you purchased your boots from another retailer!!).
Please note the cleaning portion of this service applies to the upper of the boots only and not the sole. Please ensure the soles of your dropped-off boots are free of mud, debris and other organic material.
This service is now a drop-off service with a 24 to 72-hour turnaround to allow adequate time for us to take care of your boots. Please limit boots to 3 pairs per customer at a time. We encourage you to call the store before you drop by to double-check they have capacity and to avoid disappointment.
All the boots that we carry require a little bit of care and maintenance to keep them performing for years and years. Below you will find specific information for the specific leathers and brands, but in general you simply need to clean and condition them occasionally. The frequency depends on what you are doing, and what conditions you are wearing them in. If your boots get wet, stuff them with newspaper to absorb the moisture and to keep the shape of the boot. Always dry them at room temperature — never with artificial heat. Allow the two "pull tabs" to take the strain when pulling on your elastic-sided boots.
Some clues that your boots need some attention: salt stains, colour fading, small cracks forming.
Cleaning your boots The best and least expensive way to clean your boots is with vinegar and water. We suggest one part vinegar to three parts water in a spray bottle. Spray the vinegar solution on to your boots and wipe off with a clean lint-free cloth. Let dry and repeat as necessary. The vinegar acts to draw the minerals and dirt out of the leather, so some persistent salt stains may take a couple of treatments. Once you are satisfied that your boots are clean, they need to be conditioned.
Conditioning your boots In general, leather dries out over time, and natural oils need to be added back into the leather. Conditioning your boots revitalizes the leather and adds back suppleness and water-repellency. It will also rejuvenate the colour of your boots, bringing them back to a rich colour. We suggest using a natural product and avoiding products that are petroleum based like Dubbin. We sell a few products that we really like here. If you have a product at home and wonder if it’s okay to use, give us a call, or send us an email and we'll give you our opinion.
Check the information below for information specific to your particular boot.
Blundstone Boot Care
Not sure what kind of leather your boots are or how to care for them? Please give us a call toll-free at 1-877-842-1126, visit one of our 4 store locations or send us an email at web@australianboot.com. We’d love to help you.
Leather Blundstones The majority of Blundstone boots are made from a Greasy Kip Leather. This leather is treated at the factory to be as water-repellant as leather can be, without losing breathability. The boots are ready to wear the moment you buy them. To maintain the leather and the water-repellancy of the boots, clean them as necessary and every couple of months treat them with a natural leather conditioner. Two of our favourite products are R.M. Williams Saddle and Leather Dressing and Otter Wax Leather Salve or Leather Oil. A light application of this with your fingers or a lint free cloth will significantly add to the weatherproofness and longevity of your boots.
Blundstone makes a Waxy & Oily Conditioner, that is great for a quick and easy clean up. It’s a pre-saturated sponge that will spruce up your boots in seconds. Great to keep in your bag or by the back door for giving your boots a quick once over.
Distressed Leather Boots made with this leather (aka Crazy Horse or Rustic Brown leather) have a rugged distressed finish, with a brushed nap. To clean your distressed boots, use a brush to remove dirt and dust. To treat this leather, we recommend Blundstone Renovating Cream - Rustic or R.M. Williams Saddle and Leather Dressing. Please note that this will darken the leather significantly and smooth out the nap.
Suede Blundstones Every couple of years, Blundstone comes out with a Suede Blundstone option. Suede is made from a split cowhide and is soft with a shaggy nap. It makes for a Blundstone that feels like a slipper. Suede is not as durable or as water repellant as a full grain leather. To clean Suede, use a brush to remove dirt and dust. It is best treated with a Suede/Nubuck protector.
Winter Blundstones Blundstone winter series are made from a Waterproof leather. It is treated at the factory to be 100% waterproof. To maintain the waterproofness, clean regularly and treat with OTTER WAX Boot Wax.
R.M. Williams Boot Care
Leather soles have a tendency to absorb more moisture when they wear thin. Repairing your boots in good time is a practice worth observing. Wear your boots in dry conditions on the first few occasions. Fine leather boots can require a full day to dry out from exposure to moisture – even perspiration.
Yearling Leather The yearling leather used in these boots is chrome tanned to achieve a highly polished appearance and to resist water penetration. To maintain this appearance, use R.M.Williams Saddle and Leather Dressing every 4-6 weeks and use R.M. Williams boot polish to cover any deep scuffs. We recommend you wear your boots in dry conditions on the first few occasions. Fine leather boots can require a full day to dry out from perspiration.
Repairing your boots in good time is a practice worth observing. We stock genuine R.M.William repair parts, and are happy to co-ordinate having your boots resoled or repaired for you.
Greasy Kip Leather Greasy Kip leather is considered to be highly water-repellant and with maintenance can offer you years of great weatherproofness. Leather should be cleaned with vinegar and water, and then R.M. Williams Saddle Dressing should be applied regularly.
Any questions not answered above? Call us toll-free at 1-877-896-0122 or email us at web@australianboot.com. We’d love to hear from you.