Product Care

How to care for suede moccasins and boots

Suede is celebrated for being very soft and supple leather. Due to its textured nature and open pores, suede may become dirty and quickly absorb liquids. Below are tips to help you protect your new products, or tend to products that have encountered the natural elements that come with wear and tear.

Do:

• Apply Water & Stain Repellent or Scotchgard before first wear — two applications recommended

• Use a suede brush, emery board, or toothbrush to loosen dried dirt before cleaning

• Stuff the toe with tissue paper while drying to maintain shape

• Air dry away from direct sunlight

• Reapply Water & Stain Repellent after cleaning to restore protection

Don't:

• Submerge suede in water

• Use heat to dry — no hairdryers, radiators, or direct sunlight

• Machine wash

Protecting your footwear

Prevent water spots and oil stains with Minnetonka Water & Stain Repellent or a Scotchgard product. Simply spray on and allow two hours to dry. We recommend two applications before wearing for the first time, then weekly or monthly treatments depending on how often your footwear is worn.

Cleaning your footwear

1. Use an emery board and toothbrush or suede brush to loosen dirt

2. Wet the brush, moisten the soiled area, and spray with Suede and Leather Cleaner or a gentle baby shampoo

3. Continue brushing the stain

4. Rinse the brush and brush the area with clean water

5. Stuff the toe with tissue paper to help maintain shape and air dry away from sunlight

6. After the footwear has dried, apply Water & Stain Repellent to prolong the life of your product

Removing scuff marks

1. Use a toothbrush or suede brush and brush back and forth over the scuffed area

2. Use a pencil eraser to remove the scuff

3. Brush the area clean of debris

How to care for sheepskin slippers and boots

Do:

• Spot clean with a mild detergent or baby shampoo and cool water

• Use a suede brush or toothbrush for difficult spots

• Hand-blot as much moisture as possible after cleaning

• Dry away from direct sunlight or heat to preserve the natural oils in the leather

Don't:

• Use Woolite

• Submerge sheepskin in water — submersion may shrink the leather and mat the fur

• Machine wash

• Dry with heat

Note: If sheepskin has been submerged, after a few wears it will stretch back to a comfortable fit.

How to care for smooth leather, deerskin, and moosehide

Do:

• Choose a delicate leather cream to clean and preserve your leather's soft, supple texture

• Wipe clean with a soft damp cloth for light surface dirt

Don't:

• Use suede cleaner on smooth leather — use leather-specific products only

• Machine wash

• Dry with heat

The natural oils and attributes of leather cause laces to easily untie. Two options:

Option 1 — Water method:
Slip into your footwear and adjust the laces to a comfortable fit. Soak the bow (not the whole shoe) in water — this will shrink the leather slightly. Let the bow dry naturally and your laces will remain tied.

Option 2 — Superglue method:
Apply a small drop of superglue underneath your bow's knot for extra security.

If you find the fringe of your favorite fringe boots has gone a bit wild, an iron or flat iron hair straightener may be the remedy. Lay the boot down on a flat surface and place a cotton towel underneath the area you will be straightening. Fold part of the towel on top of the fringe and start to iron using a no-steam setting in a downward motion. Place the boots in an upright position and away from direct sunlight to dry.

Cleaning specific stains

Water stains

Allow the shoe to dry completely before treating — attempting to clean wet suede spreads the stain. Once dry, use a suede brush to gently buff the water mark. If the mark persists, lightly dampen the entire surface with a clean cloth to even out the moisture, then air dry away from sunlight. Apply Water & Stain Repellent once fully dry.

Mud

Allow mud to dry completely before brushing — never attempt to clean wet mud. Once dry, use a suede brush or toothbrush to brush away as much dried mud as possible. For remaining marks, apply Suede and Leather Cleaner from the Minnetonka Care Kit and brush. Air dry and reapply Water & Stain Repellent.

Odor

Sprinkle baking soda inside the shoe and leave overnight. Shake out thoroughly before wearing. For sheepskin styles, air the shoes in a dry, well-ventilated space away from direct sunlight after each wear.