Three Easy Steps to Boot Care…

1. Clean
Boots made of waterproof leather should only be cleaned with warm water and a stiff bristle brush. For suede's and rough outs, the Nubuck/Suede Cleaner Kit can be used to remove dirt and retain nap. Other leathers can be cleaned with Red Wing's Leather Cleaner in order to remove excess dirt, waxes and other abrasive materials on the leather.

2. Condition
The finish of your boot can determine which conditioner to use. Here are some rules of thumb. On oil-tanned leathers, Boot Oil, Leather Conditioner or Mink Oil can be used. On dry-tanned leathers, we recommend Silicone products. Silicone products may also be used on suede's and rough out leathers so that it will not matte the desired appearance. During the waterproof tanning processes, our waterproof leathers are impregnated with conditioners at the time of tanning. Red Wing Mink Oil is the only approved care product to recondition these leathers. However, a small amount of Silicone can be occasionally applied to darken leathers based on personal preferences. Hold each boot upside down for each application. Notice that liquid and paste soaks into the leather immediately, especially if the leather is old, worn or dry. DO NOT HEAT. Use an old toothbrush to make sure you have adequate coverage of the dressing in close areas where your fingers cannot reach: welts, seams, gusset closures, around hardware. Let boots stand for a few minutes and apply a second coat if required.

3. Protect
The final step is to add extra protection and help preserve your footwear investment with Red Wing Leather Protector. This special non-aerosol liquid adds a layer of protection to keep the conditioner in the leather and the water, dirt, oil and mud out. Simply apply the Leather Protector to the entire boot, including the fabric, if any. Proper care is that easy. You will see for yourself how easy these steps improve the life, function and comfort of your footwear.