Caring for your boots is different depending on whether they are made of leather or manmade materials such as pleather. Leather comes from animals, and therefore the oils naturally found in it tend to dry out over time. The best way to care for your leather boots is to replace these oils periodically.

The first thing you will need to do is be sure to clean your leather boots regularly. Dirt and soil are hard on leather and can shorten its life. You can buy some good leather cleaners at the store, but in a pinch a mild solution of soapy water will do quite nicely.

You can also buy other leather products that will help to prolong the life of your boots, such as oils and leather conditioner. The best product is one that will maintain the color of the leather through use. When oiling or conditioning your leather boots, only apply as much product as the leather will soak in. Multiple thin coats are the best approach.

Once you have conditioned the leather, you will need to wait for it to dry and then polish it. This can be done by buffing with a soft white cloth of 100 percent cotton, such as a retired undershirt or T-shirt. If the boots have scuffs in the leather, you will need to use shoe polish to fill in and disguise the flaws.

Finally, you may want to consider applying a protective spray to your boots that will protect them from stains and moisture. Whether or not you use such a spray, though, you should be sure to always clean off any spills immediately after they happen. A protective spray simply lessens the likelihood that the spill will stain the leather in that short amount of time.

Suede boots must be cared for slightly differently. First of all, a protective spray is almost imperative for suede, as they cannot be cleaned and polished as easily as smooth leather. This spray will protect your suede boots from becoming damaged by moisture and will help prevent dirt buildup. You will also want to periodically remove any loose dirt by gently brushing the suede with a soft brush, a dry sponge, or even a towel.

Because leather and suede boots require so much work, boots that are made of manmade materials are obviously very popular for the lack of care they require, not to mention the reduced cost of buying them in the first place. Fake leather boots can and should be cleaned periodically with a warm, damp washcloth, but they typically don’t require any polishing or conditioning. If your fake leather boots become scuffed, you can cover the blemish up with a special product or just use a magic marker to fill in the color where the surface has been scraped off.

Whether your boots are made of leather or of manmade materials, they are an investment in your wardrobe, just like jewelry is. Therefore you should do your best to protect them and extend their life through proper care, such as cleaning them regularly, conditioning if and when it is needed, and using special products to protect leather from stains. Take good care of your boots, and make sure you get your money’s worth out of them!