Care of Birkenstock Sandals

Millions of Birkenstock sandals have been worn since the company began making footwear in 1774. In the 235 years since, Birkenstocks continue to be manufactured with essentially the same materials: leather, brass hardware and cork soles. While noted for their comfort, Birkenstocks do require special care to protect the materials and prolong the life of the sandals. Follow these steps to preserve your footwear.

Cleaning the Birkenstock sandals

Apply Birkenstock footbed cleaner to the top of the foot pad to clean the leather and remove odors. Scrub lightly to help remove dirt and grime. Allow to air dry, but keep the sandals away from direct heat sources.

Protecting the Cork Soles

Paint the sole surfaces with cork sealant to shine the cork and protect it from drying and chipping. Cork sealant, which comes with a brush built into the cap on the bottle, has the consistency and color of white glue and dries quickly. Birkenstock recommends applying sealant once a month when the sandals are being worn regularly.

Cleaning and Protecting the Sandal Uppers

Use leather cleaner to remove dirt and restore the natural luster of the hide. A fine leather paste can be worked in with a clean cloth to restore suppleness. Brass cleaner will bring a shine back to the buckles and hardware on the leather uppers.

References

• Birkenstock cleaning resources