My Bottega Veneta clogs got wrecked last week after a surprise rainstorm turned my walk home into a muddy mess. Looked like I’d worn them through a swamp. Figured I’d document how I fixed ’em without ruining the leather.
What I grabbed for cleaning:
- Damp microfiber cloth
- Dry fluffy towel
- Toothbrush (soft bristles!)
- Mild hand soap
- White vinegar from my pantry
- Coconut oil for conditioning later
First step: Dry those suckers overnight away from heat. Never use a hairdryer or radiator – heard horror stories about cracked leather. Next morning, dipped the microfiber cloth in water + tiny drop of soap. Gently wiped the whole clog like I was petting a kitten, paying extra attention to the knotted parts where dirt hides.
Found nasty scuff marks by the heels? That’s where the vinegar kicked in. Dabbed it straight onto the toothbrush, lightly scrubbed the stains while singing off-key to distract myself. Rinsed immediately with the damp cloth – vinegar shouldn’t sit on leather long.
The drying game:
Pressed the fluffy towel hard against the leather to suck up moisture. Let ’em air-dry for 24 hours stuffed with paper towels to keep their shape. Important: Left them upright near a fan but NOT in sunlight. Sun = discoloration city.
Finally massaged coconut oil into the leather with my fingers. Used pea-sized amounts and rubbed circles until the color evened out. Boom – clogs looked brand new without spending $50 on fancy cleaners.
Lessons learned:
- Scrub slow. Hard brushing ruins the nappa leather texture.
- Coconut oil > special conditioners. Cheaper and works same.
- If stains don’t budge? Stop. Professional cleaners exist for reason.
Saw a TikTok hack using baking soda afterward – don’t. Tried it on scrap leather and it left ghostly white marks. Stick to the basics.
