Care tips:
During the course of a lifetime, no other part of the body is subject to so much strain as our feet. They maintain the body's balance, absorb impact and bear the entire weight of the body. Birkenstock® footwear is designed to offer optimal support, but they also need to be kept in good repair.
1. Apply cork sealant - and fix cracks asap
Your new sandals already have a light coating of rubbery sealant to prevent the exposed cork from drying out. If the cork no longer looks shiny, apply another thin coat (or two) of a flexible sealing material. Done periodically, this application will prolong the life of your Birkenstocks®. We recommend checking the footbed regularly for any cracks or lifting up of the suede footbed liner. Use a flexible glue to fix cracks and suede lifting to protect the footbed from further damage. Do not use "Super/Crazy Glue" or rigid glues - can leave a hard stain and/or react with the latex/glue of the sandal.
DIY: Tie or clamp the sandals flat together (sole to sole), inspect cracks with toothpick, fill with flexible glue, let set per glue instructions.
2. Clean and protect uppers - and footbed surface
Apply water and stain protector to leather, suede and nubuck uppers before wearing and after each cleaning. Keep suede uppers looking fresh with a suede brush. When the uppers become soiled, use mild soap on a clean cloth or use a commercial suede cleaner. For nubuck, use a nubuck block or spray. Clean and condition leather with high quality neutral leather creams; use matching leather polish to cover scuff marks. Wipe Birkoflor (synthetic) uppers with a damp soapy clean cloth.
The top surface of the footbed (usually made of suede leather) may be scrubbed with mild soap suds/dish soap and a soft brush or microfibre cloth. Do not soak - just scrub off the skin cells, oils, dirt, etc. Dry slowly, away from intense heat, to prevent cracking.
Smelly Birks? Clean footbed as above and/or rub a small amount of your favourite essential oil/perfume into the suede of the footbed.
3. Avoid extreme heat - and too much water!
The Birkenstock® sole of EVA (ethyl vinyl acetate) has been carefully selected for its superior qualities. It's lightweight, flexible, durable and shock absorbent. However, both the cork footbed and soles can be damaged by exposure to excessive heat. Keep your sandals away from hot radiators and fireplaces. Never leave them in a closed car on hot days, or alone on the beach exposed to direct sun. The EVA sole may harden and shrink, and then pull away from the cork as the glue between cork and sole is dried out. Rubber gets tighter when heated so if left in too much heat without being worn may end up shrinking the footbed a bit.
We recommend not wearing the cork/latex sandals in water or if soaked - continuing to walk or stand in soaked sandals will flatten out the contours. Let them dry slowly, away from direct heat. Try not to wear them again until sufficiently dry. If the outer cork surface is dull, apply a thin layer of cork sealant to protect the cork footbed from more moisture.
Damaged footbeds can be replaced by a Birkenstock®-trained cobbler if the straps are in good shape.
4. Colour fastness
Although Birkenstock® use the highest quality leathers and tests them for colorfastness, any dyed leather may shed some colour. Be careful with light-coloured socks, especially when your footwear is new. Take the sandals off if using spray insect repellant and make sure the skin is dry before putting sandals back on.
5. Repair
Birkenstock® footwear has been constructed using only the highest quality materials and can easily be refurbished.
Protect your investment and prolong the life of your favourite sandals and clogs with Birkenstock® heel and/or toe "taps". Get your "Birks" repaired by a reputable cobbler with original Birkenstock® EVA soles before they've worn through to the cork footbeds. Cracked cork is easily repaired (see above - flexible glue, cork sealant).
And one more thing: Birkenstocks® are not a good choice as a dog chew toy! Some dogs like chewing yummy-smelling footwear......
With proper care and periodic repair, Birkenstock® footwear can provide you with years of comfort.
"Quality means doing it right when no one is looking." Henry Ford
During the course of a lifetime, no other part of the body is subject to so much strain as our feet. They maintain the body's balance, absorb impact and bear the entire weight of the body. Birkenstock® footwear is designed to offer optimal support, but they also need to be kept in good repair.
1. Apply cork sealant - and fix cracks asap
Your new sandals already have a light coating of rubbery sealant to prevent the exposed cork from drying out. If the cork no longer looks shiny, apply another thin coat (or two) of a flexible sealing material. Done periodically, this application will prolong the life of your Birkenstocks®. We recommend checking the footbed regularly for any cracks or lifting up of the suede footbed liner. Use a flexible glue to fix cracks and suede lifting to protect the footbed from further damage. Do not use "Super/Crazy Glue" or rigid glues - can leave a hard stain and/or react with the latex/glue of the sandal.
DIY: Tie or clamp the sandals flat together (sole to sole), inspect cracks with toothpick, fill with flexible glue, let set per glue instructions.
2. Clean and protect uppers - and footbed surface
Apply water and stain protector to leather, suede and nubuck uppers before wearing and after each cleaning. Keep suede uppers looking fresh with a suede brush. When the uppers become soiled, use mild soap on a clean cloth or use a commercial suede cleaner. For nubuck, use a nubuck block or spray. Clean and condition leather with high quality neutral leather creams; use matching leather polish to cover scuff marks. Wipe Birkoflor (synthetic) uppers with a damp soapy clean cloth.
The top surface of the footbed (usually made of suede leather) may be scrubbed with mild soap suds/dish soap and a soft brush or microfibre cloth. Do not soak - just scrub off the skin cells, oils, dirt, etc. Dry slowly, away from intense heat, to prevent cracking.
Smelly Birks? Clean footbed as above and/or rub a small amount of your favourite essential oil/perfume into the suede of the footbed.
3. Avoid extreme heat - and too much water!
The Birkenstock® sole of EVA (ethyl vinyl acetate) has been carefully selected for its superior qualities. It's lightweight, flexible, durable and shock absorbent. However, both the cork footbed and soles can be damaged by exposure to excessive heat. Keep your sandals away from hot radiators and fireplaces. Never leave them in a closed car on hot days, or alone on the beach exposed to direct sun. The EVA sole may harden and shrink, and then pull away from the cork as the glue between cork and sole is dried out. Rubber gets tighter when heated so if left in too much heat without being worn may end up shrinking the footbed a bit.
We recommend not wearing the cork/latex sandals in water or if soaked - continuing to walk or stand in soaked sandals will flatten out the contours. Let them dry slowly, away from direct heat. Try not to wear them again until sufficiently dry. If the outer cork surface is dull, apply a thin layer of cork sealant to protect the cork footbed from more moisture.
Damaged footbeds can be replaced by a Birkenstock®-trained cobbler if the straps are in good shape.
4. Colour fastness
Although Birkenstock® use the highest quality leathers and tests them for colorfastness, any dyed leather may shed some colour. Be careful with light-coloured socks, especially when your footwear is new. Take the sandals off if using spray insect repellant and make sure the skin is dry before putting sandals back on.
5. Repair
Birkenstock® footwear has been constructed using only the highest quality materials and can easily be refurbished.
Protect your investment and prolong the life of your favourite sandals and clogs with Birkenstock® heel and/or toe "taps". Get your "Birks" repaired by a reputable cobbler with original Birkenstock® EVA soles before they've worn through to the cork footbeds. Cracked cork is easily repaired (see above - flexible glue, cork sealant).
And one more thing: Birkenstocks® are not a good choice as a dog chew toy! Some dogs like chewing yummy-smelling footwear......
With proper care and periodic repair, Birkenstock® footwear can provide you with years of comfort.
"Quality means doing it right when no one is looking." Henry Ford