Key takeaways
- Chacos can be machine washed. Birkenstock sandals cannot.
- Heat destroys cork, so keep Birkenstock sandals away from radiators.
- Fabric softener frees up seized Chaco straps.
- Seal Birkenstock cork two or three times a season.
A little maintenance keeps good sandals going for years. Birkenstock and Chaco sandals are both built to last, and they are built from opposite materials, so the care that helps one will ruin the other.
Chacos go in the washing machine
Chaco's polyester webbing and rubber sole tolerate water well. Run them through a gentle, cold wash with mild detergent or a little baking soda, then let them air dry. Bleach degrades the webbing fibers and the straps will fail at the channel, so keep it away from them.
Straps seized up with grit want a small amount of fabric softener worked into the channel, then the strap pulled through a few inches at a time. The softener lubricates the webbing and clears the debris without forcing anything.
Birkenstock sandals must stay away from water
The opposite rules apply. The cork footbed and the adhesives holding it together are not built for submersion, so Birkenstock sandals should never go under running water or into a machine.
- Footbed: a barely damp brush with Birkenstock Cleaner and Refresher, worked in circles, then toweled dry.
- Leather uppers: a water and stain protector spray, reapplied every few weeks in regular wear.
- Nubuck and suede: a suede brush to lift the nap, always brushing in one direction.
- Cork: cork sealer two or three times a season. Skipping this step is why footbeds crack.
Heat ruins both
Prolonged direct heat dries out Birkenstock cork until it crumbles, and it softens the adhesives in any sandal. Keep both pairs out of hot cars, off radiators, and out of direct summer sun while drying. Room temperature and moving air is the right answer every time.
Store them unstacked
Cool, dry, and with nothing on top of them. Sandals stored under weight deform, and a footbed holds that shape once it dries.
See our Birkenstock care range →
