Value Village ／ Clothing
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
Autumn and winter boots come in smooth leather, suede and synthetic leather, and how you put them away decides what state they are in next year. In Japan they sit in storage right through the humid rainy season and summer, so this article is organised by material with that in mind.
| Material | Everyday care | End of season | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smooth leather | Brush off dust after wearing, cream once a month | Clean → cream → waterproofing spray outdoors only | If wet, stuff with newspaper and dry in the shade. No hairdryer |
| Suede and nubuck | Lift the nap with a suede brush, rubber-style suede cleaner | Brush → waterproofing spray | Cream cannot be used (it flattens and stiffens the nap) |
| Synthetic leather | Wipe with a damp cloth | Wipe dry, store with a desiccant | Hydrolysis advances even when unworn (a few years) |
| Rubber (rain boots) | Rinse with water, dry in the shade | Dry completely, keep out of direct sunlight | UV and heat harden and crack the rubber |
| Shearling and fleece-lined | Dry the inside, deodorise | Draw all moisture out of the lining | Many cannot be washed (check the label) |
[Verify] The sweat figure is a general physiology statement. Confirm the waterproofing-spray accidents against the published material of the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan.
A suede brush, a suede eraser and waterproofing spray are enough for routine care. Water leaves marks, so the basics are to avoid rainy days and to apply waterproofing spray in advance.
Sudden heat stiffens leather and causes cracking, shrinkage and glue coming apart. Stuff with newspaper, changing it as it dampens, and leave in a well-ventilated shady spot for one or two days.
Too much cream leaves a sticky surface that attracts dust and feeds mould. Spread a rice-grain amount thinly, and wipe off the excess once it has dried.
No airflow is exactly the condition mould needs. If you use the box, put a desiccant in it and open it once a month. Never a plastic bag.
Synthetic leather (polyurethane) hydrolyses in humid air; within a few years the surface goes sticky and peels even if the boots are never worn. Dry storage only slows it down. Buy them and wear them is how synthetic leather is meant to be used.
---
https://www.jlia.or.jp/
https://www.kokusen.go.jp/news/data/n-20180125_1.html
https://www.hokeniryo.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/kankyo/kankyo_eisei/jyuukankyo/indoor/kabi.html
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
Follow the care label and the maker's instructions for any garment, shoe or bag. For expensive or sentimental items, ask a specialist cleaner or repairer.
Tell us if this has changed
Approved contributions keep the contributor's name, shown in five languages.
Other languages：日本語 ／ 简体中文 ／ 繁體中文 ／ 한국어
Value Village is not a government body. Always confirm procedures on the official site.
Written by Value Village from public sources. Nothing here is reproduced from another site.