FITFLOP SHOE CARE AND CLEANING GUIDE

(For patent faux-leather shoes see ‘Caring for faux-leather’ below.)

TO CLEAN patent leather FitFlop shoes, wipe them clean with a soft damp cloth and a drop of mild soap. A patent leather cleaner containing silicone will restore the gloss.

IF YOUR PATENT LEATHER SHOES GET WET, stuff them with newspaper and let them dry naturally – away from direct heat or sunlight – for at least 24 hours.

PRIOR TO WEARING, spraying your shoes with a water repellent and stain repellent can help minimise any staining (please note that any product used may alter the colour of the leather).

TO CLEAN leather FitFlop shoes or boots, wipe them with a damp cloth before applying polish. Wax polish adds more shine and colour than cream polish. You can also use specialist leather cleaners or protectors.

IF YOUR LEATHER SHOES OR BOOTS GET WET, stuff them with newspaper and let them dry naturally – away from direct heat or sunlight – for at least 24 hours. Once dry, they will benefit from an application of a specialist neutral-coloured leather conditioner.

PRIOR TO WEARING, spraying your shoes with a water repellent and stain repellent can help minimise any initial staining (please note that this may alter the colour of the suede).

BECAUSE SUEDE IS NOT AS WATER-RESISTANT AS LEATHER, it’s best to avoid wearing your suede footwear in heavy rain and to keep it away from perfume, hairspray and other products containing chemicals.

TO CLEAN suede FitFlop shoes, sneakers or boots, we recommend leaving any dirt/mud to dry and then gently cleaning the upper with a soft suede brush only.

Specialist suede cleaners/protectors can also be used. Avoid polishes and other products designed for leather.

• - For dirt or smudges try a colourless or white rubber pencil eraser before brushing gently.
• - If spillages occur, soak up the moisture with a dry towel (paper towels are fine) and allow the shoes to dry naturally. Then ‘restore’ the suede by brushing with an old toothbrush or rubbing with a clean towel.
• - Oil or grease stains may be removed by rubbing a small amount of talcum powder directly onto the stain, leaving it to dry out, and then brushing with an old toothbrush to remove the talcum powder.
• - Treat stains asap! The longer they sit on the suede, the greater the chance of permanent marking.

PRIOR TO WEARING, spraying your shoes with a water repellent and stain repellent can help minimise any initial staining (please note that this may alter the colour of the nubuck).

TO CLEAN FitFlop nubuck shoes – because nubuck is a leather that has been buffed and therefore does not have its own protective barrier, we recommend that you try to avoid getting these shoes dirty, because they can be extremely difficult to clean. To maintain nubuck you should apply a protectant product at least once every six months. If by any chance you do get your nubuck shoes dirty, there are special cleaners that may help to remove dirt and stains, and nubuck brushes to restore the nap. Avoid products designed for leather.

IT’S IMPORTANT TO AVOID GETTING YOUR NUBUCK SHOES WET, because it is a buffed leather, with no protective barrier. If your nubuck shoes do get wet, stuff them with newspaper and let them dry naturally – away from direct heat or sunlight – for at least 24 hours.

TO CLEAN sheepskin FitFlop boots (eg Mukluks), shoes, sneakers or slippers, use a specialist cleaner and conditioner. Some dry cleaners offer sheepskin footwear cleaning services. To restore the nap surface after cleaning or drying, we recommend using a soft footwear brush on the outside surfaces. Brush in a consistent direction.

Avoid products designed for leather.

IF YOUR SHEEPSKIN BOOTS OR SHOES GET WET, stuff them with newspaper and let them dry naturally – away from direct heat or sunlight – for at least 24 hours.

TO CLEAN faux-leather FitFlop shoes, remove any dirt with a soft damp cloth.

IF YOUR FAUX-LEATHER SHOES GET WET, wipe off the excess water with a cloth.

(For knit fabric eg Überknit™, see ‘Caring for knit fabrics’ below.)

PRIOR TO WEARING, spraying your shoes with a water repellent and stain repellent designed for fabric or canvas footwear can help minimise any initial staining.

TO CLEAN FitFlop shoes in canvas, webbing or other fabric, we recommend the following:

• - Remove excess dirt with a fine-bristled brush (e.g. a toothbrush)
• - Scrub your shoes gently using a clean, damp sponge and mild detergent or dish soap (checking they contain no bleach or chemicals that will harm the colour). If necessary use a toothbrush for especially dirty spots. Then rinse the sponge and wipe away any excess soap residue from the shoes.

IF YOUR SHOES GET WET, blot them with clean, dry towels and then stuff the shoes with hand towels, paper towels or white paper – don’t use coloured paper or newspaper which may bleed through. Let them dry naturally away from direct heat or sunlight

TO CLEAN FitFlop shoes in a knit fabric, it’s important to take extra care because this type of material is fairly fragile. Using cold water and a mild soap, very gently rub or dab any dirty areas with a cloth or soft brush. Then let the shoes air dry.

• - To avoid risk of damage, take your time and do not use undue pressure.
• - Do not use bleach or detergent.
• - Make sure you use cold water, as warm or hot water may ruin the dye and/or material.
• - Always wash by hand and air dry, never use a washing machine or dryer.

IT’S IMPORTANT TO AVOID GETTING YOUR FELT SHOES WET, because the shape of felt can change or shrink if this happens. Spills should be wiped off immediately and the shoes allowed to dry naturally. If the shoes get excessively wet then you will need to blot them with clean, dry towels. You could also gently stuff them with tissue or newspaper and allow to dry naturally.

TO CLEAN FitFlop felt clogs or shoes – because felt is a delicate material, we recommend that you try to avoid getting felt shoes dirty, because they can be extremely difficult to clean. If by any chance you do get them dirty, a dry cleaner may be able to help.