There are few simple pleasures greater in this world than an excellent pair of exotic boots. Elephant skin boots are a rare commodity in today's world, and having a pair in your possession is sure to turn heads and make a lasting first impression.

If you're lucky enough to have a pair in your possession, you're one of a blessed few. However, that means that your ownership of these boots is going to come with a lot of responsibility.

Boots made of any kind of high-quality exotic skin are going to require a great deal of maintenance to keep them in shape. You certainly don't want to ruin them by failing to perform proper boot maintenance. That would be a grave waste and mistake.

What do you need to do to care for your new elephant skin boots? Read on and we'll walk you through the basics.

Dealing With Dirt

A quality pair of elephant boots can be hard to find, so it's safe to say that you'll want to treat them with as much care as possible.

No matter how careful you are with your brand new boots, they are bound to get a little dirty. After all, you’re wearing them to walk over the ground, it would be silly to think you could get by without ever getting them dirty.

You’ll notice that after a few trips out with your new boots that they will be quite dirty.

The first element of boot maintenance you’ll need to learn is how best to get this dirt off. The best tool you can have at your disposal is a simple horse-hair brush.

This will help you to get out the dirt and dust that settles in the otherwise hard-to-reach crevices of your boots.

See if you can get some leather lotion at the store for doing basic cleanings with your boots. Try to secure something that is wax-free to help protect the skin of your new boots.

You’ll find that during dry weather seasons you’ll need to clean your boots more often than during the colder, wetter months.

Restoring Sheen and Shine

One of the benefits of elephant leather is that is about as resistant as can be.

It can stand up to sunlight better than most other forms of leather. However, it still inevitable that over the years that you have your boots, they will dull in appearance.

You can help slow this process by keeping your boots out of the sun when unnecessary.

If you want to keep your boots looking as fantastic and fresh as possible, you’ll need to put in a little elbow grease. The best thing you can do is purchase a leather conditioner, as these will both protect and enhance the appearance of your boots.

There are many high-quality leather conditioners available on the market. You’ll need to do a little research and see which product is right for both your boots and your budget. We like Bickmore Cream polish, personally.

Once you’ve picked out a product, applying it to your boots shouldn’t require too much effort.

Applying Leather Conditioner

First, before applying, ensure that you’ve cleaned both boots of existing dust and dirt. Following this step, grab a clean cloth and dispense the conditioner you’ve purchased onto it.

You’ll want to ensure you’re putting the lubricant on a cloth and not directly onto the surface of your elephant skin boots.

If this is your first time using this product, it might be advisable to only apply the conditioner to a small area on your boots. You can step away and return in an hour or two to see the results.

If you're happy with the appearance of this small patch, you can then apply the product to the rest of the boots. When you apply the product, don’t use too much pressure and apply in slow, circular motions.

That should help to produce results that you can be truly happy with. You can use a second clean cloth to buff the boots for the best possible appearance.

Additional Advice & Tips

If you follow the above steps, you should be able to care for your new elephant boots with relative ease. There are a few more small things you can do to best care for your new footwear.

Caring for leather of any sort is going to take some work, and elephant leather is no different. That being said, leather has been a fashion staple for thousands of years, so there's no reason you shouldn't be able to keep up with this long tradition.

If you want your boots to have a long healthy life, you shouldn't put them next to heat to dry. Keep them away from artificial heaters and allow them to dry naturally.

It's also a good idea to give your boots rest in general. Unless you're doing very little in them, it's a good idea to skip at least a day after wearing your boots. This gives them an opportunity to air out and get a break.

Caring for Elephant Skin Boots

So, you've gone ahead and purchased a pair of new elephant skin boots. Congratulations! The above information should help you understand what steps you'll need to take to make sure your new exotic skin cowboy boots will stay in optimal condition.

Interested in purchasing more exotic boots? Check out our selection for great options at great places.