How to Care For Your New Leather Boots

You just love your new leather boots which did cost you quite a bit, but which are soft and supple, flattering and so comfy you almost hate to take them off. But these boots are in for a lot of wear and tear, walking many miles in all kinds of weather including rain and snow. How do you keep them looking new when you take into account the damages they will undergo when worn day after day?

As leather ages, it becomes even more beautiful as it develops its own deep patina. Leather boots fit so well because leather is organically like a second skin, stretching and shaping itself to your own contours. Without proper care though, leather will become as dull and lifeless as your own skin when you ignore the care it requires to remain beautiful.

To keep leather looking its best and in top condition, a little extra care will go a long way. Polishing your new boots in a regular manner is perhaps the first thing that comes to mind, but there are other ways. Because leather is an organic material, it is necessary to protect it and even improve its appearance not only with polishing, but with weatherproofing which will shield its surface from inclement weather and the damage of scuff marks.

A small investment in a container of dubbin will ensure your boots are fully water resistant and keep them looking their best. Used to waterproof, condition and soften leather, dubbin is a concoction of oil, tallow, and natural wax well worth the bit of extra work it may require to apply.

Dubbin primarily forms a protective surface layer over your boots, but is not shoe polish in that it contains no pigments, so if you want to freshen the leather's look use the appropriate shade of shoe polish and buff the leather with a soft cloth. This degree of special care will keep your feet dry when it rains and your boots looking shiny and beautiful for years to come.

Another no-no is to dry your boots with a hairdryer or other source of direct heat as leather, just like your own tender skin, can be easily damaged by intense heat. Permanent damage to the leather surface may result as the heat produces cracks and causes the surface of the leather to pull back from the hide.

Actually any extreme temperature change can damage your leather boots, and extreme cold can make the leather brittle and more easily prone to cracking, as well.