I am counting down the days until spring arrives. I can’t wait to pack up my winter boots, jackets, and scarves. While spring doesn’t usually necessitate tank tops and flip flops, I do enjoy wearing beautiful pastel colored short sleeved shirts at this time. To stay warm during the cool spring mornings and nights, I often slip on a colorful sweater over my short sleeved blouse. Sweaters are a great way to bridge the gap in your wardrobe between the cold winter months and the hot summer months. If you currently don’t own any spring sweaters, now is a great time to stock up on them. On this blog, you will learn how to find the perfect sweaters to match your spring shirts. Enjoy!
The exquisite design and quality of leather cowboy boots have made them a fashion phenomenon that has reached beyond cattle ranches and made it onto fashion runways. A pair of cowboy boots can last a lifetime if you maintain it properly, as the quality of the leather is exceptional. To keep the cowboy boots looking like new, don't forget to condition the leather using leather conditioner. This article will explore the importance of conditioning and, more importantly, how to do it right.
The Importance of Conditioning
Depending on where you're getting your cowboy boots from, you can expect to pay anywhere from $370 for entry-level designs to over $2,200 for limited edition collectibles. That's a lot of money to shell out, so you can best believe that these cowboy boots can last decades, if not a lifetime.
Leather contains thousands of microfibers that crisscross one another to form webs. These webs are flexible, which is why your new cowboy boots fit like a glove and can tolerate the pressure of almost all ranges of motions. However, with time, these fibers will begin to lose their moisture and dry out, so the leather becomes less supple. At some point, the leather will begin to crack at points that are constantly being flexed and stretched. If this happens, the damage is practically irreparable.
To prevent this from happening, it is important to condition your boots. Leather conditioner is oil-based, and will penetrate deep into the leather keeping it soft and supple. By applying leather conditioner on your cowboy boots, you are preventing the leather from cracking and aging, and also adding strength and flexibility to the leather.
Quick Steps on How to Condition Properly
Conditioning your boots is not as difficult as it may seem, and it doesn't actually take a long time to complete. Simply purchase leather conditioner from a retail shoe store or through online venues.
Begin by cleaning the boots quickly using a dry rag or cloth. You want to remove as many dirt and dust particles clinging onto the surface of the leather as possible, so that the conditioner can properly soak into the leather. Use a small brush to remove dirt from seams.
Next, pour the conditioner onto a soft rag and rub it into the leather in a circular motion. You want to continue doing this until you see that the conditioner does not soak into the leather anymore. Keep in mind that the conditioner will darken the leather temporarily as it is soaking in. As a result, you should consider doing a spot-test in an inconspicuous area to determine whether the conditioner will darken the leather too much.
Last but not least, let your boots sit for a whole day untouched, so that the conditioner has sufficient time to penetrate into the leather. You can give the boots a quick rub over with a dry rag afterwards or even finish off by polishing it in order to get a nice shine that will make your boots look like new. If you have the time, finishing off with a polish is always a good idea, as the polish will protect the outer surface of the leather and prevent it from being damaged.
Conclusion
You don't have to condition your cowboy boots as often as you think. The amount of conditioning required depends on the amount of usage. While some people may need to condition their boots weekly, others can get away with conditioning their boots monthly. Most experts recommend that you condition your boots when you begin to see their luster fade. Although conditioning your boots often is important, you have to be careful not to over condition your boots either, as this could lead to mold growth and accumulation, which will also damage your boots.
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