Shoe Care Tips

Wolky shoes and sandals are made of top-quality materials. To maintain the life and quality of these leathers, regular cleaning and maintenance is required. Below are practical care tips for the different materials we use in our products.

Nubuck/suede
Nubuck is similar to suede leathers but with finer nap hairs. There are special maintenance brushes or erasure blocks available in the marketplace to raise the naps of the leathers and lift the dirt up and out. Do not use creams for this type of leather as this will flatten the hairs and change their look and feel.

Nappa leather & other smooth fashion leathers
For smooth nappa and other smooth fashion leathers, we recommend treatmeant with a mink oil or neutral moisturizing conditioner to replenish the hide’s natural oils. You can also select a similar or like-color cream that matches the color of the leathers. If this is not an exact match it may change the color of the leather. Make sure to test in a discreet area before treating the rest of the shoe.

Patent
Patent leathers or leathers with shine can be maintained with a clean, damp cloth using lukewarm water and plain soap. Afterwards, use a dry, smooth cloth to polish.

Insole leather
The insoles of many of our sandals have been specially selected and developed by Wolky. To properly maintain the softness and strength of the insole lining, clean and polish regularly with a neutral shoe cream.

Salt Stains
If your shoes should have salt marks from normal walk wear, this should be rinsed off immediately. Use a 50/50 mixture of white distilled vinegar and water and apply with a clean cloth. Be sure not to over-saturate the leathers! Wipe dry, allow to air-dry further and follow up with a leather conditioner to revitalize your leathers.

Moisture Proofing
You can protect the leathers from moisture by using a water-proofing spray. This will reduce the amount of moisture that is absorbed into the leathers. Additionally, the spray can help to prohibit foreign substances from staining the leathers.

For Longer Lasting Wear
For longer lasting wear, we recommend that Wolky wearers do not wear their footwear daily. This is to allow enough time for the moisture to air out and the leathers to breathe. If your sandals become oversaturated with moisture this can cause damage to the leathers. The leather will stretch, weaken and become brittle and crack as it dries. Like your skin, leather requires care and maintenance.

Bleeding Dye
To preserve their natural comfort properties, we do not heavily paint our leathers. This allows the wearer to feel the natural texture and suppleness of the leathers, but because of this the dyes in the leathers can react with your body’s chemistry, thereby transferring color onto feet and socks. This is not a defect.

By following the care tips listed above you will be able to significantly increase the life of your newly purchased Wolkys.