Dancing in the mud for hours at a festival, or taking a great walk in the woodlands in the rain, your favourite Dr. Martens have been through a lot. Despite everything, your Docs live happily ever after, but your favourite shoes need some extra love and care to survive the future. Just like any other shoe, it is essential that you properly maintain your Dr. Martens boots. How do you do that? Here are tips on how to take care of your Dr. Martens boots to keep them looking like new.
The right care for Dr. Martens
Every material needs special handling and care. Of course you can consult our maintenance page to find out which product is best to use on your shoes. But Dr. Martens shoes need a different approach. To be more specific: you care for your boots as if they were your own child. If you give them enough love and attention, they will last a lifetime!
Dr. Martens smooth leather care
Many of the all-time favourite Dr. Martens are made of smooth leather, like the Dr. Martens Pascal. It is best to use a shoe cream in the same colour as your shoes or a colourless shoe lotion if you want to maintain smooth leather. To get the best results, it is clever to use a clean cloth to apply the products. What if you don’t have a special cleaning cloth at hand, but your Docs are in desperate need of a proper refreshment? Well, you can always use an old pillowcase or a tea towel. It is essential that you use clean cloths that don’t have any residue of other care products on them. Allow your Dr. Martens to dry completely and they will be as good as new!
Another favourite maintenance product for leather Dr. Martens is the brand’s Wonder Balsam. This balm makes your shoes shine like the sun and bare toes disappear without a trace. The Wonder Balsam brings your Dr. Martens back to its original state, without making them shine like crazy. It’s a miracle! All you have to do is use the brush to clean off any dust. Then you a apply a small amount of the Balsam with the sponge provided and work in the balsam cleaner into leather and seams. Done? Allow the leather to absorb the Wonder Balsam for five minutes and your boots are ready to wear! If you want to extend the lifespan of your Dr. Martens, we advise you to monthly treat your docs with the Wonder Balsam.
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Dr. Martens greased leather care
A couple of Dr. Martens models are issued in greased leather, like the Dr. Martens 1460 Greasy. This edition may look like the Dr. Martens Pascal, but the leather is stiffer and more robust. The best care for a pair of greased leather Dr. Martens is to use wax cream for greased leather. Apply this product with a special cloth. If you don’t have any cloths, you can also use an old pillowcase or tea towel. Even the Dr. Martens Wonder Balsam is suitable for greased leather boots and shoes.
Dr. Martens patent leather care
Patent leather Dr. Martens tend to wear more quickly and the coating is likely to crack. Without a doubt, that is something you want to prevent from happening. Use a special patent leather spray to regularly spray your patent leather Dr. Martens. Never, never use a regular leather spray! The patent coating does not appreciate that. Baby or olive oil is also a bad idea: oil contains acids that can cause the patent layer to split. After you are done spraying, allow your Dr. Martens to dry completely.
Dr. Martens suede leather care
Caring for suede shoes is quite a job and you really don’t want to ruin your Dr. Martens boots. Suede requires considerable precision and the right care products. Always use a suede spray on your suede docs and avoid experimenting with other products. Even the Dr. Martens Wonder Balsam is not suitable for suede. Thoroughly spray your suede shoes, until they are nearly soaked. Then allow your Dr. Martens to dry naturally and do not place them near or under a stove. As the finishing touch, you can use a special suede brush to activate the ‘hairs’.
Dr. Martens vegan leather care
Dr. Martens vegan boots are becoming more popular, but these docs need some extra love and attention. The best product you can use is water- and dirt repellent spray, to keep the colour from fading. Before you start wearing your Dr. Martens, spray them and repeat this every now and then. Since faux leather is not an animal product, the vegan Dr. Martens does not require a lot of maintenance. It is easy: wipe your shoes with a wet cloth and they are clean!
Dr. Martens Wonder Balsam: the ultimate care?
You may think your Dr. Martens are worn and need a miracle to get back to their original state. Dr. Martens sells that miracle in a jar. Many Dr. Martens fans keep a jar of Wonder Balsam in their stack and, let’s be honest, we love it too. The formula keeps most leather soft and supple to make your shoes last longer. The Dr. Martens Wonder Balsam is a 2 in 1 formula and can be used on almost all leather, except suede types. One downside for the vegans among us: the Wonder Balsam contains bees wax and is therefore not vegan-friendly.
How do you use Dr. Martens Wonder Balsam? Watch the video below for clear instruction.
