I get the question very often “How often should I polish and clean my boots?’. I also receive the question “How much should I spend on caring for my boots?”.
I always start an answer to these questions with the 7% rule. The 7% rule is something that was passed down to me through generations. It is also something I found is known throughout the world among leather professionals. The 7% rule simply means you should take what you spent on your boots, multiply the number by 7% and that is what you should be spending on your boot leather care annually.
Lets look at a couple examples.
Example 1
Justin Smooth Leather Boots cost: $139 x .07 = $9.73.
Fiebings All Purpose Leather conditioner 6 oz. cost: $6.50
Fiebings Crème Polish 2.5 oz. cost: $5.00
Total Cost: $11.50 (Based on 4 uses per year you will have about ¼ of the product left over)
Example 2
Luchese Full Quill Ostrich Boots cost: $859 x .07=$60.13
Fiebings Reptile and Exotic Cleaner 7oz. cost: $6.50
Fiebings Crème Polish 2.5 oz. cost: $5.00
Lambswool Buffer cost: $9.00
Once per year detailed treatment by a boot or shoe professional: $40.00
Total Cost: $60.50 (Exotics should be cleaned and conditioned every 60 days)
You can see the 7% rule applies well to any style or price range of boots. As a guideline, it works very well in most situations. Smooth leather boots can be maintained using this rule by the owner at home. When it comes to Exotics, I always recommend taking them to a boot or shoe professional once per year for treatment. Many shoe and boot repair professionals also provide treatment and re-conditioning service. These professionals also have special tools to clean dirt out between the folds of snake skin or alligator skin boots. They know exactly the right chemical treatments to use that will improve the longevity of your reptile or exotics by years.
So when does the 7% rule not work? The rule works well under normal circumstances. Having said that, it also depends on the climate you live in, or the type of use your boots are subjected to. If you live in a snow or wet climate, you will want to invest a little more in snow proof or water repellent. These products are well worth the investment. It is critical to remember that quality boots are made of real skin which is a natural product. Leather boots are subject to decay by the forces of nature. The proper use of boot accessories and boot care products can slow that decay down dramatically. In addition, dirt and residue act like sandpaper on boot leather. Keeping your boot leather clean will slow the decay of your boots as well. I have used the 7% rule for 30 years and I still own and wear some boots that are almost 10 years old. Once you get a favorite pair of boots broken in just right, you never want to give them up!
Lisa Anthony is owner of KickBootaccessories.com. Lisa loves the western lifestyle and western decorating. She is also a fanatic about cowgirl clothing and cowgirl boot accessories. She also loves to write articles and blogs regularly about western men’s and women’s western clothing and fashions.
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