Guide to Red Wing Care

Red Wing rugged soles, premium leather, triple stitching and Goodyear welt construction work together to create quality boots that will last a lifetime, and it only takes three steps to keep them clean, conditioned and protected .

Active maintenance of leather is the most effective way to ensure its integrity and longevity. We can guide you on what to use – and how.

Here you can see our selection of boot care products - below you can read more about the different types of leather and how to care for them.

Oil tanned leather

Oil-tanned leather is treated with minimal finishing agents, creating a distinctive natural look and feel. Oil-tanned leather is exceptionally durable and has been used to build countless Red Wing styles over the years. It is water, stain and sweat resistant.

1. Cleaning: Use warm water and a brush to remove dirt from the footwear. Wipe with a cloth. On heavily soiled areas, apply Foam Leather Cleaner with a cloth or brush. Wipe the cleaner off with a damp cloth and let the leather dry.

2. Conditioning: Apply a light, even layer of All Natural Boot Oil, Mink Oil or All Natural Leather Conditioner to the leather with your fingers, cloth or sponge. Proper conditioning keeps leather healthy and extends the life of your footwear.

3. Protection: If necessary, spray the footwear with leather protector at a distance of approx. 20cm from the leather in a smooth, sweeping motion. Leather protector provides a shield against dirt and moisture. It will not darken the footwear.

Suede / Mules-roughout and Nubuck Leather

Muleskin Roughout and Nubuck leathers are created using a reverse suede technique. Many tanneries split and thin hides to create suede, but Red Wing tannery simply uses the other side of the hide. This allows us to create beautiful rough and nubuck leathers without losing durability.

1. Cleaning: Use the Cleaner Bar from the Roughout/Nubuck Cleaner Kit on the soiled area of ​​the footwear. If the stain persists, wet the Cleaner Bar and repeat. Allow the leather to dry and use the brush to restore the leather's nap.

2. Conditioning: Apply a light coat of Mink Oil to Muleskinner leather. Mink Oil will darken leather and should only be used sparingly. Allow leather to dry. All other Roughout and Nubuck leathers do not require conditioning.

3. Protection: If necessary, spray the footwear with leather protector at a distance of approx. 20cm from the leather in a smooth, sweeping motion. Leather protector provides a shield against dirt and moisture. It will not darken the footwear.

Smooth Finish Leather

Smooth-finish leather has a polished surface that shows off its beauty and quality. Smooth-finish leather is made exclusively from top-quality hides and is used to build premium Red Wing Heritage styles. This leather requires more specialized care and attention.

1. Cleaning: Check the leather every few weeks to see if it needs care. If necessary, use warm water and a soft brush to remove stubborn dirt. Then use a clean, dry cloth to wipe away any excess dirt.

2. Conditioning: Apply leather cream or neutral boot cream to any smooth leather to moisturize the leather without darkening and enhance water resistance. Boot creams in black , brown or burgundy can be used to cover scratches on similar leather colors.

3. Protection: If necessary, spray the footwear with leather protector at a distance of approx. 20cm from the leather in a smooth, sweeping motion. Leather protector provides an invisible shield against moisture, dirt, oil and mud. It will not darken the footwear.