How to rehab red leather boots

October 19, 2015 7:44 AM

I haven't worn my beloved red cowboy boots in a few years. I'd like to wear them again, but the leather feels kind of dried out, and I'm worried about damaging them if I just put them on and start walking. What should I do to get them ready to wear again?
posted by ocherdraco to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (6 answers total)

Response by poster: Also, the boots have scuffs at the toes where they've lost their red color. Is that something that could be fixed?
posted by ocherdraco at 7:47 AM on October 19, 2015

I'd apply leather conditioner (I use the cheap stuff you get at the supermarket, but I'm sure people will have Opinions on that), and try repeated applications of red shoe polish (not sure what color red, so not sure how easy it will be to find a matching shade).
posted by Comrade_robot at 8:23 AM on October 19, 2015

If you really love them it might be worth taking them to a professional.
posted by k8t at 8:29 AM on October 19, 2015 [1 favorite]

I would take them to a cobbler and see what they say. I think DIY leather care is just fine for maintenance, but not for rehab. You'll have better results if you take them to a pro.
posted by OrangeDisk at 8:30 AM on October 19, 2015 [1 favorite]

If you have a local shoe repair place they can figure out the matching color of polish and they can give the leather a good feeding. If the boots are worth keeping for years and years they're worth the small bit you'd spend getting a real pro to take care of them. Skilled shoemakers are a disappearing breed.
posted by mareli at 8:30 AM on October 19, 2015 [1 favorite]

You want one of the millions of videos of How to Care for Your Cowboy Boots.

You want Leather Conditioner (don't they look nice afterwards? There should be shoe polish porn, just an endless parade of sad dingy befores followed by gleaming afters).

Scuffs are what shoe polish is FOR (assuming it's the right kind of leather).

Since it's your first time, take them into a shoe repair shop and buy from them the appropriate matching red polish for the scuffs, and some leather conditioner. Watch them the first time, and get advice on how often you should be cleaning your boots.
posted by Elysum at 3:16 PM on October 19, 2015 [1 favorite]