Boot care question

[white92coupe]

My finance bought me my first pair of exotic skin boots. They are full quill ostrich. What do you guys use for cleaning/caring for exotic leathers. Everything I've read and been able to find says to clean loose debris with brush or cloth and use leather conditioner.

Is this what you would recommend? If not what products do you use?

 

[Peabody]

I use leather conditioner and occasionally go get a shine at at various places at the OKC stockyards.

I have a pair of full quill ostrich boots. They are Mercedes brand boots. I got them back around 1981 or so. They still look freaking awesome. I've had to get them resoled a few times over the years.

 

[inactive]

Bickmore Bick 4

 

[tran]

Go to your local Show/Boot repair store and get you a good Horse hair brush... As far as conditioning ostrich, I would ask the professional.

 

[white92coupe]

Thanks for the opinions. Why a horse hair brush? Are they softer/finer than other brushes? I'm asking because I've wanted full quill ostrich boots for as long as I can remember, and I want these to last me as long as possible.

Do you guys use any kind of water proofing spray as well as conditioners?

 

[elwoodtrix]

Thanks for the opinions. Why a horse hair brush? Are they softer/finer than other brushes? I'm asking because I've wanted full quill ostrich boots for as long as I can remember, and I want these to last me as long as possible.

Do you guys use any kind of water proofing spray as well as conditioners?

no spray!! mink oil

 

[Lithiumokc]

Go to autozone or walmart and buy some Lexol leather cleaner and conditioner for the cleaning. Then use some cream polish if you want to do it yourself. DO NOT use wax based polish on exotics. dont worry about water proofing, there not made to be water proof. If you get them wet, walk them dry dont use heat to dry them out. I would not put mink oil and exotics either, plane ol boots its fine but not a pair of 300+ boots.

 

[inactive]

no spray!! mink oil

I say no Mink Oil! Mink, neatsfoot, Sno Seal, Obenauf's.... they significantly darken the leather. I recommend a colorless conditioner, again like Bickmore Bick 4.

If you keep them lightly and regularly conditioned, you never need to waterproof, oil or treat them with a specialized waterproofing product.

If you really want them polished and shined (I don't shine boots like I do my dress shoes though), get Neutral creme and/or neutral polish. That will keep the leather color as close to the original shade as possible. Unless you WANT to darken them up, then you can pick matching (or non-matching) colors to subtly change the shade. It's not what I normally do though.

 

[tran]

Horse hair is softer and will not scratch. It also does a good job polishing the boot.

 

[elwoodtrix]

I say no Mink Oil! Mink, neatsfoot, Sno Seal, Obenauf's.... they significantly darken the leather

have had my 2 pair over the last 15-18 years, mink oil has never darkened them significantly, maybe a "wet" look, not darken though, oh well