I have a pair I bought brand new and two pairs second hand. At first the used ones were uncomfortable and it took about a summer of wearing but the cork readjusted to my feet! They’re as comfortable as my origional pair now(:
I was definitely taking a chance on them but at $15 I figured it was worth a shot. The bottoms had little/no wear on them so despite being very dirty they seemed like they had a lot of life in them and there was potential for them to work. I’d say it took maybe a week of wearing them semi regularly just walking around outside and they molded to my feet :)
Goodness! What an involved process. I clean mine all the time with a dry suede cleaning block ( a big white hard rubber eraser) No muddy mucky wet mess, just dry dirty crumbs. Just takes a little elbow grease and the suede footbed is soft , like new and ready to wear immediately. So much less gross.
Same for me but being second hand I wanted a deep clean! And I’m in veterinary medicine so my hands touch a lot grosser stuff on a daily basis… I’m unfazed by dirt and foot oils 😂
This is a really thorough video that walks through each step. Thanks for providing all of the measurements and the process step by step. I’ll certainly try this technique in the future!
could you have used acetone to remove the original finish from both the foot beds and the straps and then recondition, redye and re polish them as is done with fine dress shoes?
Why am I the only one who gets caked up gunk on my footbeds? In one week I can scrape chunks of the stuff off. Only way I can get it off is to scrape it off. I use the flat end of a manicure tool, but it scratches the footbed. Cloths and brushes don't cut it. How do I clean this crap off my footbeds? It's bad, if I go a month it's over a 1/4 inch thick!
Same here 😢 I bought my first pair and this has been happening all the time. And even when I get them as clean as this- withing 5 minutes of wearing them the bed is gone BLACK again! I love them but I don't think I can go though all this again lol.... plus they absolutely stink when they go black.
I bought them for $15 and free shipping on Facebook marketplace and I agree, they were in rough shape. They looked to be in a lot better condition in the pictures so I had a little more work to do on them than I bargained for. But for $15 and 20 mins of cleaning I was satisfied!
Ohhhhh I don’t think these would have even made it into he cleaning stage with me if they were smelly. I got lucky and they were just dirty! But I’ve been there before!
They came a “little” grosser than I was bargaining for when I bought them used but for $15 I shouldn’t have expected much. But hey, 20 minutes of cleaning with supplies I already had on hand, I’ve got a functional and clean pair of Birkenstocks so I’m satisfied!
As if that’s cheap?? Maybe you should go out, touch some grass, and talk to anyone who doesn’t have the privilege of splurging more than a hundred bucks to avoid CLEANING their otherwise perfectly fine shoes
I think it is quite difficult to buy secondhand birks that will be comfortable as the shoe already adjusted to the previous owner's foot.
Agree. Those will be very much shaped by the previous owners gait regardless of how clean you get them. New footbeds are the only option.
I have a pair I bought brand new and two pairs second hand. At first the used ones were uncomfortable and it took about a summer of wearing but the cork readjusted to my feet! They’re as comfortable as my origional pair now(:
I was definitely taking a chance on them but at $15 I figured it was worth a shot. The bottoms had little/no wear on them so despite being very dirty they seemed like they had a lot of life in them and there was potential for them to work. I’d say it took maybe a week of wearing them semi regularly just walking around outside and they molded to my feet :)
Totally agree! I've been wearing Birks exclusively for probably 20 years.
Goodness! What an involved process.
I clean mine all the time with a dry suede cleaning block ( a big white hard rubber eraser)
No muddy mucky wet mess, just dry dirty crumbs.
Just takes a little elbow grease and the suede footbed is soft , like new and ready to wear immediately.
So much less gross.
Same for me but being second hand I wanted a deep clean! And I’m in veterinary medicine so my hands touch a lot grosser stuff on a daily basis… I’m unfazed by dirt and foot oils 😂
what about if they smell bad
This is a really thorough video that walks through each step. Thanks for providing all of the measurements and the process step by step.
I’ll certainly try this technique in the future!
Glad you liked it!
I’ve also just seen someone use light sandpaper to really get that surface muck off. Then using this technique will be great to lift the grime off.
I don’t think I would want second hand jock straps . Bras . Panties or flip flops . Maybe it’s just me . 😏
Could you put a fan infront of them for faster drying
Good job Sara ☺
could you have used acetone to remove the original finish from both the foot beds and the straps and then recondition, redye and re polish them as is done with fine dress shoes?
I think I’ll try that next go around! Thanks!
Get some suede cleaner and a suede brush to buff out the oils, otherwise just have the footbed replaced by a cobbler
They sell there own cleaning kit that works
For sure but I just wanted to see if I could use items already in my house and I think they turned out pretty good!
Why am I the only one who gets caked up gunk on my footbeds? In one week I can scrape chunks of the stuff off. Only way I can get it off is to scrape it off. I use the flat end of a manicure tool, but it scratches the footbed. Cloths and brushes don't cut it. How do I clean this crap off my footbeds? It's bad, if I go a month it's over a 1/4 inch thick!
Same here 😢 I bought my first pair and this has been happening all the time. And even when I get them as clean as this- withing 5 minutes of wearing them the bed is gone BLACK again! I love them but I don't think I can go though all this again lol.... plus they absolutely stink when they go black.
i think you have to scrub your feet. sometimes with a foot scrubber to get the dry skin off your feet
A lot of work. I have a few pairs of Birks but they never got to this point. I guess I don’t use them as much.
I bought them for $15 and free shipping on Facebook marketplace and I agree, they were in rough shape. They looked to be in a lot better condition in the pictures so I had a little more work to do on them than I bargained for. But for $15 and 20 mins of cleaning I was satisfied!
What do they smell like?
🧀🧅
Dawn dish soap :)
@@saraeads3715 let me buy them
Next stop team Chaco
Funny you say that, because the next one is about adjusting Chacos lol
What happened to your hand ?
I wish I had a cool story but I tripped into a door frame and aggravated the tendons in my finger/hand.
@@saraeads3715 I Hope your tendons are better now
@@user-hd8ej8yx9p thank you, they are! Eventually gave in and went to a specialist who gave me a much needed steroid injection. :)
Omg my Birkenstocks footbeds are literally an entire black footprint and it’s they are soo smelly it’s gross 🤢🤢🧀
Ohhhhh I don’t think these would have even made it into he cleaning stage with me if they were smelly. I got lucky and they were just dirty! But I’ve been there before!
@@saraeads3715 Yeah I ain’t cleaned them as well , I just leave them outside if they get too stinky
Mine do not stink. Because I’m not a freak. I clean my feet 🦶
Yuk! Just buy new Birkenstock footbeds.
They came a “little” grosser than I was bargaining for when I bought them used but for $15 I shouldn’t have expected much. But hey, 20 minutes of cleaning with supplies I already had on hand, I’ve got a functional and clean pair of Birkenstocks so I’m satisfied!
@@saraeads3715 As long as you are happy.
I think you should leave them . I love to see the toes and heel prints in well worn Birks and flip flops ❤🩴👡🥿👣💋
Used birkenstocks?!?! yuck
They are $109. Get a new pair
Trying to revamp and reuse rather than be a part of the throw away culture. To each their own!
As if that’s cheap?? Maybe you should go out, touch some grass, and talk to anyone who doesn’t have the privilege of splurging more than a hundred bucks to avoid CLEANING their otherwise perfectly fine shoes