HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR SHOES & JEWELRY

To make them last longer and look their best.

Huaraches

Check out our handmade huaraches

Our huaraches are handcrafted by artisans using smooth vegetable-tanned leather. We know you want to enjoy wearing your shoes as long as possible, so here is a full care guide to prolong their lifespan and keep them looking their best.

How to clean my natural rubber sole?

1. Mix some warm water and a few drops of clear detergent (preferably an eco-friendly option to avoid extra water pollution)

2. Make some foam and gently apply with a sponge or brush (if the dirt is hard to remove)

3. Wash off with clean and cold water

• You can also use curd soap if you prefer and apply it directly into the sole.

• Be very careful not to get the leather wet or spill detergent on it, it might stain the leather or alter its natural color.

• Do not use abrasive solvents because they might permanently damage the sole.

What to do when my huaraches get wet?

Leather is a very durable material, but it’s sensitive to moisture. Therefore, it’s best not to let your huaraches come in contact with water. However, we all know that sometimes we just can’t prevent it. You can use a waterproof spray to protect your huaraches from water and dust absorbance. If your huaraches do get wet, here are some things you can do: 

1. Manually wipe off any water with a soft towel or cloth.

2. Stuff the inside of your shoes with newspaper and let your shoes air dry at room temperature.

3. Keep them away from direct sun or heat sources such as hair dryers or fireplace as these can dry out your huaraches.

4. Apply a leather cleaner and conditioner once they are dry.

5. When they are completely dry, you can place cedar shoe trees in your huaraches to keep them from drying out and prevent wrinkling

How to remove deep scratches?

Small scratches can be taken care of with a little polishing, but deep scratches require some more attention.

Carefully clean the area with a soft cloth and assess the surface. If the color is scratched but the surface is still intact, buff the scratch with a soft dry cloth and apply thin layers of a matching color balm. Then use a leather protector to prevent further scratching. If the surface is compromised, you can use a leather filler to restore the even finish. After that, you can buff and apply the color balm. If you’re not sure what to do, always contact an expert or take them to the local cobbler.

leather boots

Check out our leather boots

All CANO boots are made of high-quality materials and are artisan-made in Mexico. Of course, you want to enjoy wearing your leather boots as long as possible. Here are our product care recommendations with tips to prolong your boots' lifespan and keep them looking their best. 

We have both suede and smooth leather boots at CANO. These different materials have different care needs. So carefully look at what material your boots are before applying any of our recommendations.

Suede leather boots maintenance

To protect your suede boots, use a mild stain and water protection spray. Make sure it's specifically suitable for suede. You can clean your suede boots by using a soft suede brush to remove dust and dirt. If you need a little extra help, you can apply a short burst of steam. Do not use water.

Mark removal

Oily or greasy marks? These can be lifted out by applying cornflour overnight and gently brushing away the excess afterward. For tough stains, we advise using a dedicated suede cleaning product.

Water and oil damage

Water and oil can stain suede, so try to prevent water and oil contact. For light water contact, scroll down to ''What to do when your boots get wet''. If the damage is severe, we advise you to look into dry-cleaning solutions.

Smooth leather boots maintenance

Use a clean, dry cloth to remove dirt and dust from your boots. Don’t clean them with soap or water. Conditioning your boots helps maintain their original shine. You may use leather care products and gentle leather creams and neutral conditioners for light scratch removal, deeper stains, and regular maintenance. Be sure to always spot test your products beforehand. You can use a waterproof spray to protect your boots from water and dust absorbance.

Scratch removal

Small scratches can be taken care of with a little polishing, but deep scratches require some more attention. Carefully clean the area with a soft cloth and assess the surface. If the color is scratched but the surface is still intact, buff the scratch with a soft dry cloth and apply thin layers of a matching color balm. Then use a leather protector to prevent further scratching. If the surface is compromised, you can use a leather filler to restore the even finish. After that, you can buff and apply the color balm. If you’re not sure what to do, always contact an expert or take them to the local cobbler.

What to do when your boots get wet?

• Dry any water that you can right away with a soft cloth

• Do not use a hairdryer as this will dry out the leather

• Stuff the inside of your shoes with newspaper

•Let your shoes air dry at room temperature, away from direct sun or heat, as these can dry out your boots

•Apply a leather or suede cleaner and conditioner once they are dry

•When they are completely dry, you can place cedar shoe trees in your boots to keep them from drying out and prevent wrinkling

How to store your boots

Appropriately storing your leather boots is one of the easiest ways you can prevent damage and maintain their quality.

Store your boots with a shoehorn or tissue paper inside. This keeps them from losing their shape and wrinkle. Place them in a breathable cotton dust bag (avoid using plastic bags!) when not in use to avoid scratches. Also keep in mind to store them away from direct sunlight and artificial heat sources (e.g. radiators) as these can cause the leather to fade, dry, and crack.

Jewelry

Check out our ethically handmade jewelry

Our gold pieces are made of upcycled brass goldplated with 14k gold. Our silver pieces are made of recycled Sterling Silver. The duration of the plating is dependent on the ph of each person. But of course, we have some general and specific recommendations so you can extend your jewelry's life and enjoy them for longer.

General Instructions

Some general tips to prolong your jewelry's life:

• Store your piece in a cool, dry, and preferably airtight place to avoid oxidation.

• Limit exposure: remove your jewelry before cleaning, cooking, swimming, bathing, tanning, and exercising. Also do not expose the piece to corrosive agents such as chlorine, grease, sweat, or perfume for long periods.

• Avoid rubbing bracelets, necklaces, and rings against each other to avoid scratching.

•Regularly clean the pieces to maintain their shine and beauty.

•Generally, you can clean your jewelry by soaking it in warm water with some gentle soap (no detergent!). Afterward, carefully dry it with a dry absorbent cloth. Make sure it's completely dry for storing it again

Gold plated jewelry maintenance

Our gold jewelry items are gold plated, which means that a thin layer of 14k gold is plated over the upcycled brass that it is made of. Extra care should be taken to maximize the lifespan and keep the layer of gold looking good.

After every use, clean your gold-plated jewelry with a soft cloth to remove any dust and dirt. Gently rubbing your jewelry with a soft cloth helps restore the shine of the item. You can use just a bit of alcohol to gently clean the pieces and disinfect them. Do not use a polishing cloth - this can strip away the gold layer.

Sterling silver maintenance instruction

Good news! You can avoid tarnish by wearing your jewelry often. The oils in your skin will “clean” the silver and keep it looking shiny.

Since exposure can tarnish silver jewelry, it's best to store silver in places with low humidity or airtight bags. But be careful individual pieces don't scratch each other. Also take care not to store it directly in contact with wood, as this often contains acids that can affect the surface of silver

You can spruce up sterling silver that hasn't tarnished too much by polishing. This is also a helpful way to clean oxidized silver. You may want to invest in a special silver cloth to polish your jewelry, but you can also use a microfiber or non-abrasive cloth. It's best to use back and forth motions that mirror the silver's grain, as rubbing in circles will only highlight any scratches.

If you want to clean your sterling silver more thoroughly, you can use a simple solution of warm water with some gentle soap (e.g. phosphate-free dishwashing soap).

What to avoid

• Subjecting jewelry to abuse, hitting or pulling.
• Wearing jewelry when sleeping or bathing with it.
• Exposing them to artificial or natural light for long periods of time.
• Exposing them to substances such as chlorine, cleaning fluids, grease, perfumes, creams, sweat, etc.
• Storing them in wooden drawers, closets or wardrobes, as they often contain acids that can affect silver.

General Maintenance Instructions

1
step 1. cleaning

Use a clean, dry cloth to remove dirt and dust from your shoes. Don’t clean them with soap or water.

2
step 2. conditioning

Conditioning your huaraches helps maintain their shine. You can use leather care products such as gentle leather creams and neutral conditioners for light scratch removal, deeper stains, and regular maintenance. 

Be sure to spot test your products beforehand.

3
step 3. storage

• Appropriately storing your huaraches is one of the easiest ways to make them last long. Some things to consider: 

• Store your shoes with a shoehorn or tissue paper inside. This protects them from losing their shape.Place them in a breathable cotton dust bag when not in use to avoid scratches.

• Avoid using plastic bags for storage.

• Store away from direct sunlight, as this can cause the color to fade.

• Keep away from heat sources (e.g. radiators), as these dry out the leather.