1.  Clean your cowboy boots

Cleaning is a part of boot care that is underrated. A lot of our customers tell us they thought they only had to condition their boots. But that would be like waxing your vehicle without washing it. Cleaning your boots is the first thing you should do even with a new pair of boots, because you don’t know how long the boots have been on a shelf or in a box, which dries out the leather. Cleaning your boots is especially important on a pair of exotic cowboy boots, like Sting Rays or anything that is grainy because the dirt gets in the pores.

Boots are easy to clean. Just remove the dirt or dust with a soft brush. Alternatively, you could remove dirt with a damp cloth, which should be fine on most hides; always test a small area to make sure no damage will occur. Then apply the cleaner with a cloth. Boot cleaners work with any color boot, including suede and nubuck. Always allow your boots to dry naturally; do not dry them near heat or direct sunlight to avoid fading.

Expert Tip: When the stitching on the welt is no longer white, your boots need to be cleaned.

2.  Condition your cowboy boots

Condition your boots when they are clean. First, apply the conditioner with a cloth. Then, apply the conditioner with a brush to work the excess into the leather. All-purpose conditioner is important; it helps to keep the boots clean and maintain the suppleness of the leather. Conditioner also helps prevent scuffs, scratches, and dry spots. A good leather conditioner will work on all boots without darkening them.

3.  Apply water & stain repellent to your cowboy boots

Water and stain repellent will help prevent the leather from soaking up something you stepped in which might otherwise stain the boots.

A customer once told us that he bought a pair of cowboy boots and immediately went to a party where he dripped barbecue sauce on his right boot. The sauce permanently stained the leather. Had he sprayed his boots with water and stain repellent and allowed them to dry prior to wearing them, that barbecue sauce would not have stained his boots. Water and stain repellent will protect your boots from water, stains, and salt damage—without changing the color of the leather.

4.  Use boot trees

Boot trees draw out the moisture and help maintain the shape of your cowboy boots. This is important. When leather ages, it shrinks because of the moisture. The leather in the toe bends upward. Then when you put the boot back on, the leather breaks against the grain. The boot tree holds the boot in the right position when not in use and absorbs the moisture, avoiding cracking, drying, breaking, and bending the grain.

Expert Tip: Do not wear the same pair of boots two days in a row. Leather needs time to rejuvenate and breathe.

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