RM Williams Care Guide
Getting the most out of your RM Williams boots and leather goods is hugely important to us. We understand that these handcrafted beauties are an investment piece and we want to make sure that the correct care is applied to prolong their lifespan and hardwearing nature.
Top Tips for Cleaning and Maintenance
- Only use RM Williams leather care products
- Apply an area of a 10p coin on each boot when using saddle dressing, conditioner or cleaner
- Boot polish to be applied as required to cover scuffs and marks or for a nice shine
- Avoid applying excess amounts of any care products
- Heavy dirt/mud should be removed immediately by the appropriate measures detailed below
Maintenance - How much?
How regularly you should maintain your boots depends a lot on how often you wear them and where you wear them. Follow this simple guide on how often you should be looking to give your boots a little care and attention.
Type of Use - Estimated leather care required
Casual Light Wear - Wearing now and then in a dry setting. Every 3 months
Dress & Office Wear - Wearing regularly in a mostly indoor environment. Every 6 weeks
Outdoor Work Wear - Wearing in an outdoor setting on a regular basis. Weekly.
How to get the most out of your boots
The number one rule: TAKE CARE OF YOUR UPPERS
Because many of the RM Williams boots can be re-soled, re-welted and re-heeled, if you take care of your leather uppers then the other components of the boots can be replaced in time (even the tugs and elastics).
Yearling Leather Care
Use the following on Classic Craftsman, Comfort Craftsman, Dynamic Flex and Comfort Turnout in Black, Chestnut, Dark Tan.
Cleaning
- Wipe your boots with a damp cloth to clean off any dirt or mud
- Apply leather cleaner to any marks in the leather and rub with a damp cloth until clean
- Remove excess cleaner with a dry cloth
Maintenance
- Apply Leather Conditioner with a clean cloth or hands
- Allow to absorb into the leather for an hour
- Recommend leather conditioning every 2-3 months to stop the leather from drying out and cracking, do not over condition as the leather needs to breathe, so if you clean your boots regularly stick to conditioning every 2-3 months.
- Enhance the smart finish of your boots by polishing them with Stockman Boot Polish.
- Use a clean cloth or brush and rub in well, allow it to rest on the boot for a minute.
- Buff with a shoe shine brush or buffing cloth.
- Boot polish can be left on overnight for boots which are badly scuffs and require a higher level of pigmentation to be absorbed.
Suede Leather Care
Use the following care advice on the Suede Comfort Craftsman in Chocolate and Black
Protecting/Maintenance
- It is very important to protect suede before your very first wear and continue to protect it thereafter
- Spray RM Williams Suede Protector onto clean leather at a distance of 20cm, spray in the same direction
- Allow to dry naturally and avoid heat
- Repeat this process three times for the best results, spraying in a different direction each time
Cleaning
- If your boots do get muddy allow them to dry fully before brushing and cleaning
- Brush gently with a suede brush
- Use RM Williams Suede Cleaner with a suede brush on marks and scuffs that require extra attention
- Give your boots an overall clean by applying Suede Cleaner to a clean cloth or sponge and work in circular motions
- Dab with a clean towel to remove any excess cleaner and leave to dry naturally avoiding heat
- Once dry brush with a Suede Brush
- Apply Suede Protector as mentioned above
Greasy Kip Leather Care
Use the following on the Gardener in Black and Brown.
Cleaning
- Clean with a damp cloth or clean with leather cleaner on stubborn scuffs and marks
- Rub cleaner with a damp cloth, evenly until clean
- Remove excess cleaner with a dry cloth
Maintenance
- Apply Leather Conditioner or Saddle Dressing evenly with a clean cloth or hands
- Allow it to absorb for 15 minutes
- We recommend conditioning every 2-3 months to stop the leather from drying out and cracking, do not over condition as the leather needs to breathe, so if you clean your boots regularly stick to conditioning every 2-3 months.
- DO NOT use boot polish on Greasy Kip leathers as it drastically alters the appearance of the boots.
Pull Up Leather Care
Use the following care instructions on the Comfort Craftsman in Mid Brown, Caramel and Tan.
Cleaning
- Rub out light marks using the natural oils with your finger or thumb
- If required a very light/gentle clean with a damp cloth
Maintenance
- Sparingly apply RM Williams Leather Conditioner and let it absorb for half an hour*
- Buff using a dry clean cloth in a backwards/forwards motion to revive the shine of the leather*
- Use RM Williams Stockman's Natural Boot Polish with a clean cloth and rub in well
- Allow polish to absorb into the leather for a minute
- Buff with a shoe shine brush or buffing cloth.
Burnished Leather Care
Use the following care advice on the Chinchilla Boots in Cognac and Bordeaux
Cleaning
- Clean lightly with a damp cloth
- DO NOT use cleaner
Maintenance
- Apply RM Williams Stockman Natural Boot Polish with a clean cloth and rub in well
- Allow to penetrate the leather for a minute or so
- Buff up with a polish brush for a nice shine
- DO NOT use conditioner
Some dye content may come off during the first couple of cleans, this is completely normal and will not impact the finish of the boots.
Vesta Leather Care
Use the following care advice on the Gammon Boots in Brown
Cleaning
- Wipe over with a damp cloth
- Apply RM Williams Leather cleaner onto any marks or scuffs and rub in with a damp cloth
- Remove excess cleaner with a dry cloth
Maintenance
- Apply Leather Conditioner or Saddle Dressing evenly with a clean cloth or hands
- Allow it to absorb for 15 minutes
- We recommend conditioning every 2-3 months to stop the leather from drying out and cracking, do not over condition as the leather needs to breathe, so if you clean your boots regularly stick to conditioning every 2-3 months.
- DO NOT use boot polish on Greasy Kip leathers as it drastically alters the appearance of the boots.
Crazy Horse Leather Care
Use the following care advice on the Comfort Craftsman in Bark
Cleaning
- This leather requires very little care, it is designed to age and gain character with wear
- Wipe down with a damp cloth
Maintenance
- Conditioning isn't required on this leather as the marks and scuffs are part of the appeal
- If you want to remove any minor scuffs apply RM Williams Leather Conditioner with a soft cloth*
*This can darken the leather for the short term
Yearling Nutmeg Leather Care
Use the following on the Comfort Craftsman in Nutmeg.
Cleaning
- Clean with a damp cloth only - Leather cleaner or conditioner will alter the appearance of the boots and darken them.
Maintenance
- Apply RM Williams Stockman Natural Boot Polish with a clean cloth and rub in well
- Allow to penetrate the leather for a minute or so
- Buff up with a polish brush for a nice shine
Kangaroo Leather Care
Use the following care advice on the Comfort Kangaroo Craftsman in Chocolate and Chestnut
Cleaning
- Wipe your boots with a damp cloth to clean off any dirt or mud
- Apply leather cleaner to any marks in the leather and rub with a damp cloth until clean
- Remove excess cleaner with a dry cloth
Maintenance
- Apply Leather Conditioner with a clean cloth or hands
- Allow to absorb into the leather for an hour
- Recommend leather conditioning every 2-3 months to stop the leather from drying out and cracking, do not over condition as the leather needs to breathe, so if you clean your boots regularly stick to conditioning every 2-3 months.
- Enhance the smart finish of your boots by polishing them with Stockman Boot Polish.
- Use a clean cloth or brush and rub in well, allow it to rest on the boot for a minute.
- Buff with a shoe shine brush or buffing cloth.
- Boot polish can be left on overnight for boots which are badly scuffs and require a higher level of pigmentation to be absorbed.
Kangaroo Tanbark Leather Care
Use the following care advice on the Comfort Kangaroo Craftsman in Tanbark
Cleaning
- Clean lightly with a damp cloth
- DO NOT use cleaner
Maintenance
- Apply RM Williams Stockman Natural Boot Polish with a clean cloth and rub in well
- Allow to penetrate the leather for a minute or so
- Buff up with a polish brush for a nice shine
- DO NOT use conditioner
Some dye content may come off during the first couple of cleans, this is completely normal and will not impact the finish of the boots.
Distressed Nubuck Leather Care
Use the following care advice on the Comfort Craftsman in Vintage Brown
Protecting/Maintenance
- It is very important to protect suede before your very first wear and continue to protect it thereafter
- Spray RM Williams Suede Protector onto clean leather at a distance of 20cm, spray in the same direction
- Allow to dry naturally and avoid heat
- Repeat this process three times for the best results, spraying in a different direction each time
Cleaning
- Wipe with a damp cloth
Veal Calf Care
Use the following care advice on the Signature Craftsman Boots in Black, Chestnut and Dark Tan
Cleaning
- Wipe your boots with a damp cloth to clean off any dirt or mud
- Apply leather cleaner to any marks in the leather and rub with a damp cloth until clean
- Remove excess cleaner with a dry cloth
Maintenance
- Apply Leather Conditioner with a clean cloth or hands
- Allow to absorb into the leather for an hour
- Recommend leather conditioning every 2-3 months to stop the leather from drying out and cracking, do not over condition as the leather needs to breathe, so if you clean your boots regularly stick to conditioning every 2-3 months.
- Enhance the smart finish of your boots by polishing them with Stockman Boot Polish.
- Use a clean cloth or brush and rub in well, allow it to rest on the boot for a minute.
- Buff with a shoe shine brush or buffing cloth.
- Boot polish can be left on overnight for boots which are badly scuffs and require a higher level of pigmentation to be absorbed.
Crocodile Care
Use the following care advice on the Crocodile Boot in Black and Chestnut
Cleaning
- Wipe your boots with a damp cloth to clean off any dirt or mud
- Apply leather cleaner to any marks in the leather and rub with a damp cloth until clean
- Remove excess cleaner with a dry cloth
Maintenance
- Apply Leather Conditioner with a clean cloth or hands
- Allow to absorb into the leather for an hour
- Recommend leather conditioning every 2-3 months to stop the leather from drying out and cracking, do not over condition as the leather needs to breathe, so if you clean your boots regularly stick to conditioning every 2-3 months.
- Enhance the smart finish of your boots by polishing them with Stockman Boot Polish.
- Use a clean cloth or brush and rub in well, allow it to rest on the boot for a minute.
- Buff with a shoe shine brush or buffing cloth.
- Boot polish can be left on overnight for boots which are badly scuffs and require a higher level of pigmentation to be absorbed.