Footwear Care Instructions

Sievi shoes and boots are handmade in Finland, and they are designed for varying weather conditions and to withstand heavy wear. The upper materials vary depending on the use and the conditions in which the footwear is worn. Sievi’s footwear is mainly made of genuine leather, such as top-grain leather, split leather and nubuck. In addition to leather, Sievi also uses other materials such as breathable and washable microfibre and technical fabrics.

To maintain the properties and durability of the upper materials of the footwear, the footwear must be cared for regularly. The footwear lasts longer if it’s properly cared for.

Footwear Care Instructions

Sievi shoes and boots are handmade in Finland, and they are designed for varying weather conditions and to withstand heavy wear. The upper materials vary depending on the use and the conditions in which the footwear is worn. Sievi’s footwear is mainly made of genuine leather, such as top-grain leather, split leather and nubuck. In addition to leather, Sievi also uses other materials such as breathable and washable microfibre and technical fabrics.

To maintain the properties and durability of the upper materials of the footwear, the footwear must be cared for regularly. The footwear lasts longer if it’s properly cared for.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS FOR VARIOUS UPPER MATERIALS

 

PU COATED LEATHER

The PU coated leather, or polyurethane leather, used in Sievi’s safety and occupational footwear is strong, breathable and extremely durable. It has an inherently slippery surface, which makes it repellent to dirt and water. Footwear can be made more water resistant by treating the seams with beeswax or boot oil. Thanks to its artificial surface, PU coated leather does not need a separate conditioner.

  • We advise that you clean loose dirt off your PU coated leather shoes by brushing them gently after use.
  • You can also use a damp cloth and a footwear detergent.
  • You can use shoe wax or shoe polish on worn spots and scratches on PU coated leather shoes.

 

TOP-GRAIN LEATHER

Top-grain leather is shiny, smooth and breathable leather that has been treated to repel water and dirt. It is an easy-to-care-for material, often used in footwear as it can withstand even heavy use.

  • Footwear made of top-grain leather should be cleaned by brushing gently after use (do not use a hard brush and avoid pressing hard when brushing).
  • You can also use a damp cloth and a footwear detergent.
  • Footwear can be protected with a spray that prevents dirt from sticking to the leather’ surface, protects the colour from fading and increases water repellence.
  • Shoe polish keeps the colour shiny, and even a colourless clear polish or wax makes your shoes shiny.

 

SPLIT LEATHER 

The split leather that Sievi uses is a very breathable material that has been treated to repel water and dirt. Split leather retains its properties in use for a long time when cleaned and cared for regularly.

  • If the surface of the leather is dirty, we recommend cleaning it with a dry brush (not a steel brush). If the surface is very dirty, it can be cleaned with a damp sponge.
  • If you want to use conditioners or sprays that increase water repellence, only use water- or silicone-based products. Any other type of product can significantly impair the shoe’s water repellent properties.
  • Do not use degreasers, solvent-based thinners or similar detergents. Avoid using acid solvents and benzine to clean the leather; also avoid oil- or animal fat-based products.
  • The colour in split leather may run when it is cleaned. Split leather should not be machine washed.

 

NUBUCK

Nubuck is a fine, smooth leather used mainly in Sievi’s casual footwear. It is a very breathable material that has been treated to repel water and dirt. Nubuck retains its properties in use for a long time when cleaned and cared for regularly.

  • Nubuck footwear can be treated with a protective spray that prevents dirt from sticking to the leather and stops the colour from fading.
  • The surface of nubuck always needs be cleaned before being treating with a protective spray.
  • Nubuck leather products can be brushed and treated with a nubuck sponge or shoe brush to clean the upper material and keep it looking good.
  • You should clean nubuck at regular intervals using a damp cloth, for example.

 

MICROFIBRE

Microfibre is a very breathable and water-repellent material. It can be washed and it dries quickly.

  • Microfibre footwear can be cleaned with a damp cloth.
  • The water and dirt repellent properties of the surface can be maintained with a protective spray.

  

FABRIC

The fabrics used in Sievi’s safety and occupational footwear has been treated for water resistance. Fabric surfaces can be kept clean by brushing off loose dirt with a soft brush after use, and stains can be removed with a damp cloth. Fabric footwear can also be protected with a protective spray.

 

GORE-TEX

GORE-TEX is a completely waterproof and highly breathable material designed for extreme conditions. In Sievi footwear, the GORE-TEX membrane is sewn between the upper material and the inner lining. You should never sew badges or patches on GORE-TEX products as it might puncture the membrane. All the seams in the footwear are sealed, so that the stitch holes created by sewing will not let water through. The upper material of GORE-TEX footwear must be treated in accordance with the care instructions for the upper material in question.

  • For GORE-TEX footwear with a leather upper, use a product that does not form a film that would prevent the footwear from breathing. We recommend the black shoe polish from Sievi’s product range. Avoid substances that contain oil or grease.
  • GORE-TEX footwear should be cleaned regularly and then protected with a spray that increases water resistance and repels dirt.

 

Washing Your Footwear

We recommend that you wash your shoes by hand, using lukewarm water and brushing gently with a soft brush. Do not use a hard brush and avoid pressing hard when brushing. You can also use a damp cloth or sponge to remove dirt.

The footwear can also be machine washed at your own discretion, but no hotter than 40 oC and no spin cycle. Shoes and boots with textile and microfibre uppers are more resistant to higher temperatures, for example in autoclave treatment. Please note that split leather footwear is not machine washable.

It is recommended that you use a terry towel or wash bag to protect the footwear when machine washing it. Alkaline or base detergents should never be used when washing leather shoes. Neutral detergents (pH 7), such as pine soap, and detergents containing oils are suitable for cleaning leather footwear. However, frequent and repeated machine washing is not recommended as this may cause the leather to change in nature by hardening, for example, and it may also damage the other materials in the footwear.

Sievi Pressure Relief, DryStep® and Green Comfort insoles are machine washable at 40°C. Sievi Dual Comfort and Sievi Dual Comfort Plus insoles should be washed by hand.

Sievi Racer TR Roller 52353

Drying Your Footwear

If your shoes are wet, or if you have washed them by hand or machine, we recommend drying them slowly at room temperature, keeping them away from sources of heat such as open fires, fireplaces and radiators. The best way is to let the shoes dry naturally at room temperature (max. +30°C), in a well-ventilated and dry space. Dry removable insoles separately. Do not put anything inside or on top of the shoes whilst they are drying.

GT 58 TEEMA 44 12855 133 71M11

What Do You Need to Care for Your Footwear?

Protective sprays shield your shoes from moisture and dirt, prevent streaks when drying, and increase the heat insulation properties of your shoes. Shoe polish brightens the colour of shoes and is available in different colours and neutral (no colour). Any loose dirt can be brushed off with a soft shoe brush, and specific suede cleaning gum is available for suede shoes.

TARVIKKEET KENKARASVA 00 99400 000 000

Store Your Footwear Correctly

Footwear should always be cleaned thoroughly before being stored. Store your shoes and boots on a shoe rack or in a shoe box with plenty of room when you do not wear them. Shoes retain their shape in storage if you use shoe trees. You can also place a support shaped out of paper in the tip of the shoe, and stretch the shoe out into shape with a thin rod. Moisture may accumulate in the sole material during storage due to hydrolysis, so long-term storage may cause the sole material to break when you wear your shoes again. We recommend that you wear your shoes actively.

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