CREPE SOLE

Do I need a care routine for keeping my crepe sole clean?

Natural crepe soles ensure recreation of the most natural way to walk or stand. One disadvantage: it is open-pored and therefore becomes gradually dirty over time. A little bit of dirt is not critical – it gives this unique natural product character and is the natural patina that provides the shoe with an interesting flair. These soles reflect the long and often dusty path we take over years. It is for this reason that we would say that the soles cannot and should not be kept completely pristine.

How to clean a natural crepe sole:

If you, however, feel that the honey-colored or white crepe soles are too dirty, the following, simple tricks will help you to partially clean them. It goes without saying that they will not come out of this process looking as though they are fresh out of the shoe box.

1. Using a grease-removing detergent

Dissolve the colourless detergent in warm water and then carefully lather the sole with a sponge. Remove the more coarse dirt with a brush (an old toothbrush will do) and wash off using clean water. Any fine tuning can be done by a sponge using soft movements forwards and backwards. Please be careful not to get the upper leather damp. Crepe soles with velour leather uppers (also known as suede) are a really attractive combination, which is why such styles are regularly manufactured. It is very important that the detergent is not applied to the upper leather section.

2. Using curd soap

The crepe sole is dampened using warm water prior to cleaning. You can then apply the soap directly to the sole and rub using a brush or put the soap on the brush and apply this way. After this, you can follow the instructions from step 1.

What should you consider when cleaning the crepe soles? Please do not apply solvents such as turpentine, cleaning solvents or enamel removers to the sole. Most solvents are made from methanol or ethanol. As the crepe soles we use at Sioux are made of 100% natural products, the surface of the sole will become damaged upon contact with solvents and therefore incur irreversible damages. The surface could become sticky and result in even more soil being absorbed after such an inappropriate treatment.

Summary:

Here at Sioux, we recommend that you leave crepe soles with their natural patina. This way, the soles will tell their own individual story. It is only when the dirt starts to collect too much that you should try the tips above. Want to know about the special features that natural crepe soles boast? Click here for more information about this extraordinary natural product.