When you buy a pair of high-quality boots, it is like an investment. However, if you don’t take care of them properly, chances are they won’t last you as long as they would otherwise.
This is true for almost all boots, but especially true if the boots are made of exotic skin, such as Caiman. So, how do you take care of Caiman boots?
After carrying out thorough research, I have gathered the best way for you to take care of your exquisite Caiman boots.
Keep reading to know all the details about cleaning and maintaining your Caiman boots so that you can get the most out of them.
How To Store Your Caiman Boots
When it comes to exotic skin boots, such as caiman, crocodile, or alligator skin boots – where and how you store them is very important.
First and foremost, keep your Caiman boots away from direct sunlight. Direct exposure to sunlight will discolor the sensitive leather and dry it out completely, which will in turn damage it further.
Next, for optimum storage, the key is to keep them as dry as possible.
Yes, since you’ll be wearing your boots around, they are bound to get wet sometimes, and that’s completely fine.
However, when it comes to storing them, you must pick a place that is dry.
This is because being exposed to too much moisture can ruin the finish of the Caiman leather, eventually destroying the boot itself.
So, your closet would be a good place to store your Caiman boots.
But if you somehow got them wet, make sure you properly wipe off the boots and dry them out before storing them. Refrain from storing them when wet, and preferably store them in a well-circulated place.
Since Caiman boots are very textured, they are more susceptible to dust building upon the surface of the leather.
To prevent this, you can keep them in drawstring bags or boxes.
Generally, Caiman boots are much taller, so keep the boots from bending over and getting streaks or cracks, you can use boot inserts that will keep the boots erect while they are in storage.
Follow our guide on how to Care For Cowboy Boots.
How Often Should You Clean Your Caiman Boots
If you want your Caiman boots to last, you will have to clean them regularly.
The standard practice would be to thoroughly clean your Caiman boots once a week and deep condition them at least once every two months.
How often you treat your boots depends on a lot of factors.
You need to consider how often you wear them, the weather where you live, whether you wear them indoors or outdoors, and such. You must establish a cleaning and conditioning routine for them based on all this.
Read more on how to Clean and Care Your Clark Desert Boots.
How To Clean Your Caiman Boots
Like all other boots, cleaning your Caiman boots also plays a vital role in their longevity and performance.
Cleaning your Caimans periodically and effectively will ensure that there is no buildup of dirt and dust on the Caiman leather. This will help maintain the quality as well as the appearance of the boots.
But how do you clean them? What are the steps to be followed?
I have elaborated the steps you need to follow to effectively clean your Caiman boots below. To clean your Caiman boots you’ll need these tools:
- Cotton cloth
- Shoe brush
- Leather cleaner or saddle soap
- Leather conditioner or polish cream
- Boot cream
- Waterproofing cream/spray
Below are the steps that you have to follow to clean your Caimans
First, take the soft piece of cloth and wipe it over your boots to get rid of any loose dirt or debris. Make sure you wipe it thoroughly, covering the textures and stitchings.
Follow our guide to know What is A Soft-Toe Work Boot.
Next, take the shoe brush and use it to rub off all and any removable hard dirt from your boots. You will have to go hard on the edges, especially the stitches and the joinings where the leather meets the outsole.
Using a damp cloth, spread the leather cleaner or saddle soap all over your boots, covering every part that is exposed.
Use the brush to rub it in and break apart any stubborn dirt or stains from the body of the leather.
Once scrubbed and cleaned thoroughly using another damp cloth, carefully clean the boot and get rid of any residue of the saddle soap or leather cleaner. Make sure that none of it remains on the boots.
Once the boot has been cleaned, polish the boot to give it the desired glossy finish using the leather conditioner or polish cream.
Then leave your boots to dry, absorb the conditioner and get the supple and elegant look.
After the boots have dried, wipe off any excess conditioner.
Lastly, spray some waterproofing agent on your Caiman boots and they are good to go!
Go through our epic guide on how to Fit Cowboy Boots.
Additional Protection
I would strongly recommend that you use a non-silicone protectant to shield your Caiman boots from spills and stains.
In case you spill something on them, depending on how long substances such as alcohol are allowed to soak in, Caiman leather may discolor or dry out more rapidly.
If the spilled liquid is not acidic, you can wipe it off and dry out the boots. But if they are acidic, it can also have an effect on the skin’s appearance or texture.
Since Caiman is generally dry in nature and must be cleaned and conditioned on a daily basis.
Cleaning and conditioning will be quicker and easier in the future if you use a protectant to repel dirt and dust from the surface.
Check out our separate post on how to Care For Cowboy Boots.
How To Deep Condition Your Caiman Boots
Deep conditioning the boots is important to maintain the supply and classy look of the boots.
Given that Caiman boots are not very cheap, you would surely want them to look their best when you have them on. For that, deep conditioning is a must.
But be careful not to go overboard with the deep conditioning as it may ruin the integrity of the leather, damaging the material.
For best results, deep condition them once every two months.
To condition them, first clean the boots using the steps mentioned above.
Next, while the boots are still slightly damp, spray on a generous amount of bot conditioner on them, covering the entire exterior of the boots.
Let it sit and wait for the conditioner to dry out, then using a shoe brush, buff the leather to get the desired finish.
Conclusion
Caimans are stylish and elegant boots, but taking care of them can be a bit difficult at times.
To make sure you give them the best cleaning up, make sure you cover all the nooks and edges since dirt can easily hide behind the raised texture of the Caiman leather.
Follow the steps mentioned above and always store them after they have dried completely. This will ensure that they last you a long time while keeping up their appearances.
I hope this article was helpful for you. If you have any tips on caring for Caimans that I might have missed, please let me know in the comments.
If you have any feedback or queries, feel free to drop them down in the comments below.
