How to clean cork and leather sandals

In summer, your feet are happy in open shoes. But if you wear sandals for a long time, at some point the question of how to clean leather insoles that have become greasy and the fastening tapes that have been getting dirty.

template cleaning

The cork insole of traditional sandals They are lined with a thin layer of suede, while the vegan models are covered with microfiber.

Both fabrics can be cleaned in the same way with a baking soda paste, which absorbs grease, dirt and odours. To make this pasta you need:

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons of baking soda 2 tablespoons of water 3 drops of dish soap

After cleaning the sandals you need the following to keep the material flexible:

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar 3 tablespoons water 1 old toothbrush 1 rag 1 old kitchen towel Some very fine-grit sandpaper

To clean up the template:

Prepare the cleaning paste mixing the ingredients in a bowl. Spread the paste on the stencil and with an old toothbrush moistened brush the entire surface for several minutes. If the paste gets too dry, moisten the toothbrush.Let the cleaning paste work until it is dry. Once it has dried, rub the surface of the stencil with a damp cloth. You can rinse the cloth with water. Finally try to absorb as much moisture as possible with an old kitchen towel. For the aftercare of the material, dilute apple cider vinegar with water and scrub again clean stencil with toothbrush. This returns the pH value to the acidic environment, so that the fat and tannins bound to the leather are retained and the material remains flexible. On the other hand, the fibers of the suede become straight again, since they were flattened during cleaning. The vegan sandals have a microfiber fur insole and do not need this care.Let the sandals dry in the open air in a warm place, but not directly in the midday sun because there is a risk of the material becoming brittle, cracking or even breaking. To speed things up a bit, tuck crumpled up newspaper into the sandals.After the stencil has dried, brush the material again with a suede brush or fine sandpaper, which will remove the last stubborn adhesions and leave a smooth feel.

Cleaning the upper part of the sandals

The upper material of the straps of this type of sandals is made of leather or a synthetic leather substitute. Depending on the type of leather, cleaning and care are different. Open all the buckles first so it’s easier to get to all the parts.

clean smooth leather

Sandals made of smooth leather are very easy to care for. A few drops of vinegar in lukewarm water are enough. Moisten a cloth with the mixture and remove the dirt of the material.

After drying, a oily care so that the leather remains supple. For this you can apply olive oil on the material with a lint-free cotton cloth.

Maintain nubuck leather

Due to the accumulation of dust, cork sandals made of nubuck leather become dull over time. In this case, it is useful brush off dust and dirt.

the nubuck too can be cleaned with a mixture of vinegar and water that washes it and keeps it acidic. Proceed as described in the paragraph on smooth leather and brush the leather again after it is dry.

For stubborn areas on nubuck leather straps, dissolve a little mild detergent and repeat cleaning with the toothbrush. The leather fibers can be carefully abraded again with fine-grit sandpaper.

If you have spots on the body you can use corn starch. Dust the stain with starch, let it sit for a few minutes, then gently brush to remove any remaining starch.

clean patent leather

Patent leather straps are made of lacquered or laminated leather which, thanks to its mirror-smooth surface, is hardly susceptible to dirt and It can be easily cleaned with a damp cotton cloth in a circular motion.

vegan leather

Artificial leather is similar to patent leather and has different care requirements than real leather. They can be easily cleaned with a damp microfiber cloth. If this is not enough, a little dishwashing can be applied.

sole care

The soles of these sandals are made of plastic (polyurethane) or rubber and therefore, like artificial leather, can be Clean very easily with a damp cloth.

If the soles have a deep profile or are whitetry the same method you used to clean up the template: Use water, baking soda, washing up liquid, and an old toothbrush to remove the stains.