How to Clean & Condition Leather Cowboy Boots (A Guide)

Ignore the so-called experts; here's all you need to keep your leather cowboy boots in top-notch condition. Watch for the proven method to restore and protect your investment!
0:38 - Brushing off dirt technique
2:20 - No water or silicon-based products
3:53 - Applying leather balm/conditioner
5:58 - Let the boots dry + additional tips
7:27 - Second brushing and buff to a shine
9:02 - Finished effect and closing thoughts
Get the Chisos Leather Balm: chisos.com/products/leather-balm
You only need three things to ensure your boots last for decades:
• Leather balm or conditioner
• Horsehair brush
• Lint-free rag or old t-shirt
For dried mud or stubborn areas like the welt, you might add a tightly-wound brush or toothbrush to your kit. I also use a lighter to nip stray threads. You might consider some edge dressing to darken up the sole/welt edges on black boots.
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[@hogangibson3398]

Is this the similar process for roughout?

[@Chisos]

No, this process is only for smooth, finished leathers. Roughout doesn't need to be conditioned the same way because the grain side is facing inwards and benefits from the natural oils you pass to it while wearing. For my roughout boots, I let them get beat up and patina'd. If they get too dirty, you can buy a suede brush and use small circles to lift the dirt out of the roughout. A normal horsehair brush doesn't hurt, but also doesn't do as good a job.

[@snail2661]

You can tell when somebody has a passion when they forget to breath 😂

[@Chisos]

😆

[@karlmcnamara]

Great Video!Very Helpful!

[@billlindsay6939]

Thanks for this video! Straight forward and these techniques work perfectly! My #2s really enjoyed it!!

[@Chisos]

You're very welcome! Let us know if you have any questions! Thank you, Allison

[@toddpalmer7790]

Very helpful. I will add this conditioner when I place my order for my Chisos boots!

[@Chisos]

Sounds like a plan! 💪

[@JeffPipkin09]

Just used your leather balm on my boots and it worked perfectly. Thanks for the video.

[@Chisos]

Fantastic! So happy to hear! - Allison

[@konacopia]

You don't want to use mink oil or neatsfoot oil either because they eventually clog the pores of the leather. When you apply mink oil to your leather, at first, it will condition it. However, eventually, the mink oil will oxidize and have the reverse desired effect: It will harden your leather. This is also true of Neatsfoot oil, another commonly recommended animal product for leather that does more damage than good.

[@Chisos]

Great advice! Agreed.

[@ChristinaDay-vi1yb]

Actually anything from Walmart or target or shoe show will ruin your boots. Go to a stockman or western store.

[@TheEdge92]

Seriously? I woiuldn't have thought that Red Wings is selling such crap.

[@cthecheese1620]

I just got my first pair of cowboy boots and I've been wearing them to work. It's a very dusty place where I'm likely to get them dirty and potentially some scuffs, so I was already prepared to maintain consistently. Your video and the comment section have made me halt my use of Mink Oil to go find something that will not harden and destroy my boots over time. Thank you for the video and thank you to the community for your inputs!

[@Chisos]

Very encouraging to hear! Wishing you the best on your boot journey.

[@rudyheicksen177]

What about feeding the sole?

[@SpaceCadetSmurf]

thanks for posting this! super helpful, as I am in the process of making sure I take proper care of all my leather & suede products. question: for python/lizard skin boots, is the process basically the same?

[@Chisos]

We would suggest you look into a exotic conditioner for those leather types! Thank you, Allison

[@DanBCooper]

Slightly scuffed the toes on my new(ish) #2’s 😖 I’m hoping the buffing process you just demonstrated will help. Otherwise I guess they’ll just have added character like me. You rock Will ! Loving the boots btw, already sold a couple pairs for you once my buddies saw mine ! 🤠

[@Chisos]

Howdy Dan! I hope so too! But, a little character never hurt anybody 😉 Thanks for sending people our way! We love our community. Thank you, Allison

[@cthecheese1620]

@@Chisos I agree about scuffs adding character. I come from labor work so I'd look at the potential remnants of a scuff pridefully :)

[@markallen4001]

Great advice. Off topic Q. Are they easily resoled? Could any cobbler do it? Thanks

[@Chisos]

Yes, absolutely-our boots are completely repairable and resolable.

[@thadc5937]

I need some number 1s!!!

[@Chisos]

We agree! - Allison

[@braydonvardy3912]

I have Huberd's shoe grease does it do the same thing as the leather balm?

[@Chisos]

Huberd's makes great products! I think it should work for you! Always apply to a small area of the boot to check its' effect.

[@aronbaczoni6669]

I cuffed the front of my No. 2 brown boots! Anything I can do to hide / restore that? Can I use a brown shoe polish maybe on it? What's the recommendation? Also is Bick 4 a good product to use for conditioning?

[@Chisos]

Fiebing's makes a great Dark Brown Leather Dye that matches our leather well! Bick 4 is a great conditioner!

[@MeteCanKarahasan]

We should have Chisos in 🇹🇷. I'm jealous.☹

[@josephmeddaugh5642]

What do you recommend for getting out? Stains from my blue jeans on my boots?

[@Chisos]

Howdy! A little baking soda and water might do the trick!

[@rudyheicksen177]

What about boots you don’t want to darken?

[@usibo79]

Does a person polish a black dress boot after this procedure?

[@Chisos]

Yes, after conditioning is when you can apply polish, if you desire

[@SouthernArmsChannel]

Hey a old man told me if i dont got any leather products i can just use vegetable or olive oil do you think it will work on my boots ? I know it works on my belts but my belts are very thick and my boots aint

[@Chisos]

I wouldn't recommend it because certain plant based oils can go rancid and mold the leather!

[@chrisberrones9099]

How to you take off grease stains on leather boots?

[@Chisos]

Howdy Chris! You may be able to use a saddle soap! That could impact the color on the boots you are looking at though, test it on the shaft in a place that isn't visible just to make sure it won't super discolor the boots you are working on! Thank you, Allison

[@aaronbrowne1114]

I tossed the paper away. Is it important to always put that back in the boot after each wear? Also any recommendations on a horse hair brush? Thanks

[@Chisos]

It's not life or death if you don't stuff them with paper, but I would recommend you find some old newspaper or buy a cedar shoe tree to stuff in there. It absorbs moisture and helps the boots keep their shape. I don't have a strong recommendation on a horsehair brush. In my experience, none or that great nor that terrible.

[@aaronbrowne1114]

@@Chisos will do. Any brush you recommend? Thanks

[@Chisos]

We don't have a specific brush we recommend! Any horsehair brush will do the job!

[@defaultea]

@@aaronbrowne1114 Nordstrom rack is having a sale on their cedar shoe trees right now

[@NMLogue]

The paper that came in your boots was free, but other paper will do. If your boots are valuable (monetary or sentimental), invest in a pair of cedar boot trees. They come in different sizes, so get the ones suited for your boots.

[@tomlit6487]

Could I wear these as a barber 💈 standing all day long?? And can they hold up in Michigan wet weather and snow ❄️? Thank you

[@Chisos]

My barber wears his Chisos when he's manning the chair! In terms of Michigan wet weather and snow, you'd need to add some rubber sole savers or else you're gonna have a slippery time. It's an easy addition that any cobbler can do. We recommend Scott Maddox at Snellville Shoe Repair in Georgia!

[@tomlit6487]

@@Chisos thank you so much I love your boots 🥾 but I need something supportive for my feet 🦶 that answered my question. I’m looking at the black ostrich boots 🥾 I’ll buy them thank you 🙏🏻

[@Chisos]

Thank you Tom! Let us know if you have any other questions! 🤠

[@brandiesuarez]

Can you just use pure beef tallow?

[@Chisos]

I wouldn't recommend it! Tallow could go rancid and mold the boots!

[@captbob1494]

Using Vaseline is it good maybe?

[@Chisos]

Stay away from petroleum-based products. They will dry out the leather in the long run.

[@stevenroche9874]

Dirty boots should be washed with saddle soap, rinsed with cool water, then allowed to air dry for 24 hours before conditioner is applied. This is the best way to really get leather clean.

[@joed1319]

Absolutely, I've been doing that since the early 80s

[@ChristinaDay-vi1yb]

Saddle soap is for SADDLES...not boots. You clean boots with water and soap. Saddle soap will ruin your boots. Just like mink oil. The products at the shoe show...that are marketed for taking care of boots actually break them down faster. No saddle soap. No mink oil. Just leather lotion.

[@stevenroche9874]

@@ChristinaDay-vi1yb Wrong !

[@ChristinaDay-vi1yb]

@@stevenroche9874 go ahead. Ruin your boots using saddle soap. But saddle soap is not a boot cleaner. Saddle soap makes leather hard and brittle. The opposite of what you want leather to be. You want leather soft and supple. Saddle soap is a gimmick for ppl who don't know what to use. Just like mink oil. That's why it's the 2 things on the rack at shoe show. It's a marketing plot. To get you to degrade your boots faster so u need to buy a new pair. Just like armor all for car Inteiors. It causes it to crack and dry out. You will not see saddle soap or mink oil in a professional cobblers shop. You will see bic 4, leather lotion, regular old soap.

[@stevenroche9874]

@@ChristinaDay-vi1yb Stop spreading lies on KZbin !

[@stevenroche9874]

Conditioner should be melted into the leather with a hairdryer and rubbed in by hand while it is still warm.

[@Chisos]

That's a good way to go about it! Haven't heard of that trick before!

[@dustins.4666]

He ain’t wrong 😂 I live in Ohio, salt fucks our cars and leather

[@kristinfernandez7208]

Is he single

[@ChristinaDay-vi1yb]

Also..do not use a rag. Use your hands. Only your hands . No brush. No rag. No sponge. Just fingera.

[@Chisos]

How about using a rag after to wipe off the excess resin? Our leather balm is designed to be applied, then wiped off after!

[@nickdacloush5811]

Talks a lot. Doesn't say much. All the useful parts can be easily summarized into max 45 seconds w/o running out of breath

[@shigeokageyama0]

What are you talking about

[@Chisos]

Comments a lot. Doesn't say much. No useful parts ;) Jk! I hear you Nick Da Cloush. Our videos aren't for everyone!