﻿Stop Destroying Your Boots! [0:00:00]
Thomas: Few things that are more masculine and stylish than a good a pair of boots. But,
are you accidentally killing your boots? A good pair isn’t cheap, so you want them to last.
Thomas, with Real Men Real Style here. And in today’s video, I’m going to cover all the mistakes
you’re making that destroy your expensive boots. The first mistake, not using cedar shoe trees.
Your boots continually bend over and over when you walk, which causes the leather to crease over
time. So, after just a few months of use, your expensive boots can start to look a bit haggard.
The solution to this is easy, putting in a pair of cedar shoe trees into your boots after every wear
will do a great job of minimizing creases and will restore the original shape of the boots.
They are also great for absorbing sweat, moisture, and odor.
And if you want to take it to the next level, upgrade to a pair of boot trees,
which will better support the shaft of the boot. The next mistake, wearing your boots every day.
You sweat in your boots throughout the day and when you wear them on back-to-back days,
the leather doesn’t have time to fully dry. Damp leather is more susceptible to becoming
stretched out and creased. You want to give it at least a day to dry out between wears. So, make
sure you have another pair of boots or other shoes to choose from and alternate which set you wear.
The next mistake, not brushing. After each time you wear your boots, you should take a soft
horsehair brush and sweep away any dirt, dust, or salt picked up while out and about.
This only takes a moment, but it keeps your boots free from dirt and other abrasives that can damage
the leather over time. And it lets you go longer before needing to deep clean them.
The next mistake, not cleaning. Regular brushing will keep your boots in great shape most of the
time. But, if you ever stepped in a mud puddle or get a lot of salt or grime built up on your boots,
then they’re going to need a deeper cleaning. Use a horsehair applicator brush and some saddle
soap to clean off the dirt and grime from your boots. Once you’re done, wipe away any
excess soap and let them sit for at least an hour. You don’t need to do this very often,
just whenever they get dirty enough that your regular brush can’t handle it.
Up next, not conditioning. Even a high quality leather won’t last forever
if you don’t take care of it. Your leather boots will dry out and develop cracks over time.
This is especially something to watch out for if you live in a dry environment.
The easy remedy for this is to use a leather conditioner made for your boots to restore
any loss moisture. Use a soft cloth to apply the conditioner all over the surface of the boots
by trying to get in all the cracks and crevices. Wipe away any excess conditioner and let them
sit for an hour. You need to condition the leather every time you clean the boots to
replace that moisture that’s been washed away. Now, if you don’t clean the boots very often,
you still want to condition the leather at least two to three times per year.
Up next, not polishing. Unless you have a fancy pair of dress boots,
most likely you aren’t looking to create a mere shine. But, over time, your boots are going to get
discolored from scuffs and scratches. But you can easily get the boots back to a uniform color by
using a cream polish. Just be sure to select the polish that matches the color of your leather.
A cream polish won’t give a high level of shine like a wax polish will,
but they will restore color to any spots, where the finish has been scratched. And that will also
provide some extra moisture to the leather. Use a small applicator brush to apply the
cream polish all over. Let each boot dry for five minutes, then buff them with a horsehair brush.
Antonio: All right, gents. Whether you’re using electric, safety, or cartridge razor, consider
using an aftershave balm. Applying this after you shave helps to cool the skin and prevent redness.
Now, gents, the grooming products you see in today’s video, brought to you by Vitaman. And,
instead of me telling you how awesome they are, how about I put a link down in the description
of today’s video, so you can try them for free. Seriously, gents, use that link in the description
to grab a sample kit over at Vitaman for free. Thomas: The next mistake is drying incorrectly.
So, you wore your boots out in the snow or rain and now, they’re a bit soaked. Not a big deal,
but if you dry them incorrectly, you’re going to cause all kinds of damage to the leather.
You may be tempted to flat them in front of a fire or use a hair dryer to speed the drying process,
but the heat is going to over dry the leather making it brittle and at risk of cracking.
The correct method is to blot the excess moisture with a towel,
then let the boots air dry at room temperature. Next stop, not having the right suede tools. To
clean suede, you can’t just go to town with a saddle soap. You need to use the right
cleaning tools, which will include a suede brush and a suede eraser. The suede brush
will help lift up the nap of the suede and knock away any loose dirt, while the eraser
can be used to rub away marks and stains. The next mistake is not weather-proofing your
suede. Suede boots look amazing, but are more prone to being stained and damaged by water
compared to your full grain leather. If you intend to wear your suede boots in snow or
rain, you need to protect them from the moisture. You can easily do this by getting a silicone-based
suede protector spray. The spray is going to help seal the boots, so they repel water.
Apply a light even coat to your boots, let them sit for a couple of hours to dry,
then give them one final coat. So now, you know what to do to keep
your boots looking awesome, but what about your favorite jeans? Check out this video,
guys, where I’m going to show you all the mistakes you make that destroy your denim.
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