Before You Store: Sandal Care

This entry was posted on October 1, 2014 by Jessica.

Summer may be gone, but we had such a blast that we aren’t bummed at all! We worked smart and played hard, and squeezed every ounce of awesome out of each summery day, and hope you did, too. From hiking in the mountains to shooting the ‘Hooch, we really put our Chaco, Keen, and various favorite sandals through their paces this year- one of us even thought that taking her Birkenstock Gizeh sandals for a wet, sandy bicycle ride on the beach was a great idea. (It’s not.)
​Luckily, Birkenstock is built to last and are generally repairable so a little minor cork work and a new footbed and voila, good as new. If you loved your Birks a little hard this year, or the past 10 years, it may be time to bring them by and have one of our knowledgeable associates take a look and evaluate to see if they need a little TLC. The most common repair is minor cork work and a resole, and it usually takes approximately 2 weeks. FYI, the soft footbed style sandals cannot be replaced. While we don’t actually do the repairs ourselves, we have been working with the same local, trusted repairman for over 15 years. Trust us when we say you’d rather wait those few weeks now, as opposed to spring when most folks think about bringing their sandals back out. Take care of them now, and they’ll be ready when you are!

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We know you guys love Chaco- what’s not to love in this sturdy, anatomically correct sandal that’s both tough as nails and provides the must-have accessory of every summer- Chaco tan lines! And with the ReChaco program offered through the company you can love your favorite pair for years to come, and keep a pair of footwear out of the landfills. Their website offers a comprehensive list of services and prices, from rewebbing to replacing buckles, and everything in between. Before tossing your sandals, check to see if yours can be given a second (or third, or fourth. . .) life. As they say, “Adventures come and go, but your Chacos stay on your feet.”

​Sometimes the only thing your sandals need is a good cleaning and refreshing. Before putting them away for the winter, give them a good wash with appropriate cleaner. Birkenstock makes a great Shoe Care Kit for leather, suede and nubuck. Also, check to make sure that the cork isn’t drying up and coming off- when the cork has lost its sheen is a good indicator that this is happening. If it is, a light coating of Cork Sealer, available in store and online at www.coolshoes.com will condition and protect the cork from the elements. For Chaco, Keen and Merrell we recommend a gentle water-based soap like Nikwax Sandal Wash which cleans, refreshes and remove odors from sandals, footbeds and insoles. Air dry away from heat, and your sandals are fresh and ready to go next year!
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This entry was posted in Birkenstock, Chaco, Shoe Care on October 1, 2014 by Jessica.

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