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In majority of cases, the visible outsole edge of a shoe can be cleaned using a damp cloth to wipe over the surface. For a deeper clean and to help maintain the look of your shoes, a foam shoe cleaner may help.

For excess dirt underneath on the outsole of a shoe, first brush away excess dirt with a nail brush or similar (unless you have a great door mat!). Then clean further, if needed, with a damp cloth.

Some of our styles have soles made out of Polyurethane. The features of this compound offer lightweight construction with stability and cushioning. To have the benefits of a soft and stable material, the material does come with an expiry date. The sole will show the effects of deterioration over time, whether they are worn often or stored in a cupboard. Though Polyurethane wears well, it doesn't like being shut away in a box. It might sound obvious, but the fact is our shoes are designed to be worn. So wear them and enjoy!  

We recommend washing your Smartwool socks on a gentle cycle in warm or cool water with a mild soap. No bleach or fabric softener (bleach destroys the Merino wool fibres, and fabric softener coats those fibres—reducing their ability to naturally manage moisture and regulate body temperature).

While you can tumble-dry Smartwool socks, we recommend air-drying to reduce your environmental impact and further extend the life of each product.

The footbed of a Birkenstock will mark with wear and you will notice the imprint of your feet. This cannot be removed with a cleaner and is part of the wear of the shoes.

To lining of most Birkenstocks is suede leather and can be brushed up using a Suede eraser, brush or block.

 Birko-Flor is the material upper of many of our Birkenstock range. These can be cleaned using a damp cloth to wipe over the upper.

For leather uppers, please see our care tips above for different leather finishes.

The cork footbed of Birkenstocks has a seal layer covering the exposed cork at the outside edge of the sandals. You can see this as it has a high shine when new. Over time this can dull and wear away. To maintain the seal on a cork footbed, you can apply a cork glue. We recommend Naot’s Cork Glue.

Majority of the footbeds, in the shoes and sandals we have at Footgear, are lined with either Micro-Fibre, Suede or Smooth leather. To maintain freshness of a shoe or sandal, you can use the ECCO Shoe refresher spray. This spray is technically formulated to revive the inside of your shoes. It is suitable for all footwear types, with a gentle but efficient water-based formula of high quality, natural ingredients that does not use perfume to mask unwanted scents.

We have found this spray works best with early and regular use. An easy routine to follow, spray the inside of the shoe and footbed at the end of the day, after wearing them. This allows you to let the shoe sit and rest and the formula to dry overnight, before wearing them again.

Footbeds should not be soaked, bleached, or cleaned in a washing machine. In conjunction with a shoe refresher spray, dirt or build-up can be removed in most cases using a clean, damp cloth. For recommendations on specific materials, please see below.

•   Micro-Fibre lined footbeds can be cleaned using a gentle baby-wipe.

•   Suede leather lined footbeds can be cleaned using a suede brush or block. We recommend the ECCO nubuck/suede eraser

•   Smooth leather lined footbeds can be cleaned using a small amount of a foam shoe cleaner. We recommend the ECCO foam shoe cleaner.

•   If the cleaning of a footbed leaves them damp, it is recommended to let them dry in a shaded, cool, and dry place. It is not recommended to apply any heat source or expose them to direct sunlight.

•   Please ensure you always read the product instructions on any care product prior to using and wear with care.