Leather Guide & Proper Leather Care
The Qualities of Leather
Leather is a classic that is always in demand and with proper care, will last for years to come. Without it, the flexibility, durability, comfort, beauty and longevity is diminished. Bickmore recognizes the need for both quality products and consumer education.
Just the Facts
Leather is a natural material made from the hides of any animal. No two animals are the same and neither are their hides. Natural marks add character and appeal to the leather.
As leather goods are worn and exposed to the elements, many of the essential oils the leather tanners put into the leather wear away. When oils are not replaced several things occur: drying, cracking, and hardening of the leather are three of the most common results of improper care.
For Smooth Finish Leathers
We recommend cleaning, conditioning and protecting your leather frequently. By doing this, the natural lubricants lost during wear are replaced.
Without these measures, deterioration caused through wear can lead to swelling, mildew, and the eventual stiffening of the leather.
Unprotected leather is susceptible to spotting or staining from water and other liquids. We recommend that all new, smooth finish leather items be treated with Bickmore Gard-More.
If the Item to be treated have been used, it is recommended to first clean them using the Bick-1 Cleaner. Apply Bick-1 to a clean, slightly damp cloth, creating a foam that will trap and lift the dirt and stain out of the leather. Allow the leather to dry thoroughly.
Use one or more applications of Bick-4 conditioner rubbed into the leather to soften and replace the essential oils lost during wear and cleaning.
If the leather color is not what it once was, a light application of Bickmore Creme Polish in a similar color applied with a cloth followed by buffing will enhance the leather color and create a beautiful shine.
To continue protecting the leather, follow up with several light applications of Bickmore's Boot-Gard or Gard-More spray. This will put up a protective barrier between potential stains and your leather.
For Suede & Nubuck Leathers
New Suede and Nubuck items need to be protected by a light application of Boot-Gard or Gard-More. To clean these types of leathers, we recommend Suede and Nubuck Cleaner by Bickmore. Followed by light applications of the appropriate spray.
In Addition To Regular Care
- Flexibility: Leather stretches and moves to conform to the individual's foot but still retains sufficient shape to provide support.
- Durability: Leather resists heat, cold, punctures, tears and other stresses so well that is used in many safety applications where other synthetic materials fail.
- Comfort: Leather "breathes", allowing air in and moisture out. A natural insulator, leather protects against extreme temperature and humidity.
- Beauty: Leather comes in variety of tones, textures, and patterns. The luxurious "feel" and pleasing scent heightens the appeal of the leather.
- Longevity: With proper care, leather will retain all of its inherent qualities for years to come.
Leather is a classic that is always in demand and with proper care, will last for years to come. Without it, the flexibility, durability, comfort, beauty and longevity is diminished. Bickmore recognizes the need for both quality products and consumer education.
Just the Facts
Leather is a natural material made from the hides of any animal. No two animals are the same and neither are their hides. Natural marks add character and appeal to the leather.
As leather goods are worn and exposed to the elements, many of the essential oils the leather tanners put into the leather wear away. When oils are not replaced several things occur: drying, cracking, and hardening of the leather are three of the most common results of improper care.
For Smooth Finish Leathers
We recommend cleaning, conditioning and protecting your leather frequently. By doing this, the natural lubricants lost during wear are replaced.
Without these measures, deterioration caused through wear can lead to swelling, mildew, and the eventual stiffening of the leather.
Unprotected leather is susceptible to spotting or staining from water and other liquids. We recommend that all new, smooth finish leather items be treated with Bickmore Gard-More.
If the Item to be treated have been used, it is recommended to first clean them using the Bick-1 Cleaner. Apply Bick-1 to a clean, slightly damp cloth, creating a foam that will trap and lift the dirt and stain out of the leather. Allow the leather to dry thoroughly.
Use one or more applications of Bick-4 conditioner rubbed into the leather to soften and replace the essential oils lost during wear and cleaning.
If the leather color is not what it once was, a light application of Bickmore Creme Polish in a similar color applied with a cloth followed by buffing will enhance the leather color and create a beautiful shine.
To continue protecting the leather, follow up with several light applications of Bickmore's Boot-Gard or Gard-More spray. This will put up a protective barrier between potential stains and your leather.
For Suede & Nubuck Leathers
New Suede and Nubuck items need to be protected by a light application of Boot-Gard or Gard-More. To clean these types of leathers, we recommend Suede and Nubuck Cleaner by Bickmore. Followed by light applications of the appropriate spray.
In Addition To Regular Care
- Always use shoetrees and boot trees.
- Allow all leather items to dry naturally and slowly.
- Remove all salt stains as soon as possible.
- Avoid excess heat, moisture and dryness to prevent mildew growth and cracking.
- Never use products made for smooth leather on suede, nubuck, roughout or Apache leathers.
- Never use household chemicals such as alcohol, turpentine or mineral spirits to clean leather.
- Mink oil or other animal fats can darken leather and turn rancid, causing stitching and leather to rot.
For Email Newsletters you can trust
Answers To Frequently Asked Questions:
How should a Lucchese boot fit?
The boot should fit securely to the foot. Boots should not fit loosely or tightly, but the fit should be snug. The Roper has a more forgiving fit, but the same principles still hold true.Instep: Unlike shoes with laces, a boot has only the instep to hold it securely to the foot. Consequently, proper fit in the instep is of utmost importance. Boots should not fit loosely or tightly; the fit should be snug. The snugness is governed by the instep fit and the width of the throat. If the instep is too tight, go to a wider or larger size.
Ball: When you walk or run, you bend your foot at its widest part, which is called the ball. In a quality boot, you will find a steel shank between the insole and the outsole that extends from the heel to the point where the ball of the boot begins. If the boot is too short for the foot, the ball of the foot will sit too far forward and force the toes into the toe box.
Heel: A boot must slip slightly in the heel. There is nothing to prevent the heel of the foot from riding up slightly because of the way a boot is constructed. When the boot is new, the sole is stiff. As you wear the boot, the sole is "flexed." With time, most of the slippage will disappear. If the instep is too loose, the boot will slip excessively in the heel. To remedy this, you may need a more narrow width to shorten the circumference of the throat and thus lessen the slippage without cutting down on the length of the boot. Slight slippage is necessary to obtain a proper fit.
CJ's Lucchese Boots is an authorized reseller for the Lucchese Boot Company through it's physical locations and via the internet. Usage of names, trademarks, service marks, logos and icons in describing various products such as leather boots, shoes and belts made and/or distributed by the Lucchese Boot Company including Lucchese Classics, Lucchese Exclusives, Lucchese 2000, 1883 by Lucchese, Lucchese Cowboy, Lucchese Cowgirl, Charlie 1 Horse and Resistol Ranch is for informational purposes only. No indication of ownership, affiliation or endorsement is intended by CJ�s Lucchese Boots in the usage of the exclusive trademark names of the Lucchese Boot Company and/or Hatco, Inc..
- LUCCHESE USA BOOTS
- LUCCHESE INTERNATIONAL BOOTS
- LUCCHESE SPECIAL SERIES BOOTS
- ACCESSORIES
- LUCCHESE BELTS
- STORE SPECIALS
888 354-2750
727 943-8275
