USE AND CARE

How do l wash my KEEN sandals?

All KEEN water sandals (both leather and synthetic webbing uppers), like our Newport, are machine washable on a gentle cycle. We’ve taken great care to develop leather uppers that will not crack, shrink, or stretch when washed.

* Remove any loose dirt or debris before putting them in the wash
* Throw them in the washing machine with mild detergent on a gentle cycle with cold water. We recommend washing them alone or with non-delicate items.
* Allow them to air dry, do not put them in a dryer.

For sandal styles that are not machine washable, like the UNEEK, we recommend hand washing with room temperature water and a mild detergent. You can use a soft cloth or sponge to gently scrub the sandals. Allow sandals to air dry.

All KEEN shoes are treated with Eco Anti-Odor, a pesticide-free odor control using natural probiotics. If you still find that your shoes smell funky, there are a few things you can do.

* Clean – Some of our shoes are machine washable, like the Iconic Newport, but for other styles we recommend removing the insoles and handwashing them with a gentle soap, letting them air dry out of direct sunlight.

* Baking Soda - Sprinkle baking soda inside your shoes and let it sit overnight. This will absorb the moisture and neutralize odor. Shake it out the next day.

* Charcoal – Set charcoal packs inside your shoes to draw out the odor.

* Freezer - Put your shoes in a plastic bag and freeze them overnight, the cold will kill the bacteria.

The smell is from a primer used during production. It is non-toxic and perfectly safe, but if the rubber smell isn't going away and bothers you, some fans have shared they have masked the smell with various non-toxic odor eliminators or fragrances. Please be aware that spraying or adding fragrance to shoes could cause discoloration or staining. Many of our shoes can also be machine washed, check the product page to confirm.

No, your waterproof KEEN shoes are ready to go out of the box! We use a KEEN.DRY waterproof membrane inside, and PFAS -free water repellency outside for protection from the elements.

If you’d like to give your KEEN shoes a little extra attention, we recommend these steps:

* Clean - Remove dirt with a soft brush or cloth, for a deeper clean use cold water and mild soap or detergent.

* Dry - Allow shoes to dry at room temperature, avoiding direct heat sources.

* Extra Protection - Waterproofing is not necessary at first. But after some wear, we recommend treating your shoes with a silicone-based, PFAS-free waterproofing spray like Nikwax to keep them protected and stain-free. Durable water repellency treatments often contain PFAS “forever chemicals”). KEEN has been PFAS Free since 2018 and is working to help the industry transition to safer chemistry. More information on PFAS and what we’re doing can be found through our PFAS Free Portal.

* Storage - When you're not using your shoes regularly, store them in a cool, dry place and use shoe trees or stuff them with newspaper to help maintain their shape.

We've carefully selected durable, ethically sourced leather uppers. If you're getting outside often in your KEEN shoes (and we hope you are!), they won't always be scuff- and dirt-free. Depending on usage, we recommend cleaning and conditioning your most worn shoes every other season.

1) Start by removing your laces and soaking them in soapy water. Then wipe down your shoe with a soft cloth to remove any dirt or dust. If you want a deeper clean, you can also use a leather cleaner or saddle soap (we recommend this one from Otter Wax).

2) Next, apply a leather conditioner (we use Otter Wax) to prevent cracking and keep your leather soft.
Now your KEEN shoes are ready to wear! If you’re putting your leather shoes away for the season, we recommend stuffing them with old newspaper and storing them in a warm, dry place.

1) Clean – Start by brushing off any dirt using a soft brush. Then use a suede cleaner bar (we’ve found an eraser also works) to draw the stain out from the shoe. If stain persists, wet a damp cloth and rub out the staining. Allow suede to dry and use the brush to restore the suede’s nap.
2) Restore – Use a suede brush (or any soft bristled brush) to restore the soft velvety texture by following the grain and applying soft pressure.
3) Protect - Lightly mist footwear with a suede-specific waterproofing spray – we use one from Nikwax – in a sweeping motion. This will provide a shield against dirt and moisture while maintaining texture and breathability.
4) Store - If putting away for the season, store in a warm, dry place. If possible, use a foot form to retain the original shape

We recommend cleaning these products with mild soap and cold water. To remove excess dirt or to spot clean, use a stiff brush or soft cloth. Let shoes air dry without heat.

Wool Footwear Care

1) Brush - Lightly brush wool shoes with a soft-bristled brush or cloth to remove any dirt or dust on the surface.
2) Spot Clean - If they are really soiled, use a spot-removing foam, then brush them.
3) Hand Wash - If you need a deeper clean, you can handwash them with a mild wool detergent in cool water, soaking them, rinsing them, then allowing them to air dry away from direct sunlight or heat sources. Please do not put wool shoes in the washing machine.
4) Waterproof (as needed) – If you are wearing your wool shoes in damp or wet environments, you can apply a wool-safe water repellent spray.
5) Store - To help retain their shape, stuff them with newspaper or a clean towel.

For canvas, we recommend brushing the shoe with a damp sponge or soft-bristled brush to remove loose dirt. Stains should be treated immediately with a gentle cleaner. Like wool, we do not recommend machine-washing.

After extended use, we recommend you remove the insoles, wash by hand using a gentle detergent, and then let air dry without heat. Please do not machine wash.

We've carefully selected leather uppers designed to last. Then again, if you're wearing your shoes daily, they won't always be scuff and dirt-free. We recommend using a nubuck leather cleaner and conditioner like Nikwax or Saddle Soap. These products can be found online and at most footwear retailers.

Delamination happens when the glue that bonds the upper to the outsole begins to fail. If your KEEN shoes are within the warranty period, please follow the instructions on our Warranty Page.

To continue our detox journey and 6 Classes Approach to chemical management, we are actively working to eliminate harmful solvents and solvent-based adhesives from our shoes. Here are some water-based solutions: Weldbond, Evo-Stik Resin W or Barge All-Purpose TF cement.

We include printed instructions on how to replace your KEEN bungee laces below.

Bungee Lace Kit Replacement Instructions

We've also created a video to help walk you through the steps here:
www.youtube.com/bungeelacereplacement

If you live near one of our KEEN Garages you can also bring your KEEN shoes in to have the bungees replaced by one of our staff members for free.

KEEN does not offer lace or bungee replacements through our website or Garages. We recommend checking your local shoe retailers for laces and using locklaces.com for bungee replacements.

Sometimes, the insole will rub on the bottom of the shoe and make a squeaky noise. To fix this, we recommend removing the insole, choosing one of the following options, and reinserting the original insole.

* Rough up the edges and bottom with medium grit sand paper
* Sprinkle a small amount of talcum powder or cornstarch under the insole, which can act as a dry lubricant to reduce friction.
* Using a cotton swab, lightly apply vegetable oil around the edges of the footbed and where it clicks in place.

Leather color transfer can happen when your shoes are new or when they get wet from sweat or water. Making sure you keep your KEEN shoes dry and conditioning the leather can help reduce the potential color transfer.

* Clean the closure: Use a soft brush or an old toothbrush to gently brush away dirt or lint that may be preventing the closure from sticking properly. If it is particularly dirty you can rinse it under warm water with mild soap.
* Reattach: If the closure has come loose from the shoe, you can reattach it using a fabric adhesive or a needle and thread.
* Replace: If the closure is too worn or damaged, consider replacing it. You can purchase hook and loop strips at craft stores, cut them to size, and attach them to the shoes.

* Fabric Shaver: A fabric shaver or razor can remove the pills by gently gliding the blade over the affected area.
* Pumice Stone: A pumice stone can be a great way to lightly buff away pills.
* Wash and Care: To prevent future pilling, wash your shoes according to instructions using a gentle detergent and avoid fabric softeners as they can contribute to pilling.

Dealing with loose threads on your shoes can help maintain their appearance and prevent further damage. Here are some effective ways to handle loose threads.
1) Trim the loose threads
2) Use a small dot of fabric glue at the source of the unraveling
3) For longer threads, use a needle and thread to stitch the thread back into the shoe.
4) In situations where the above guidance wont work, you can try trimming the thread and (very carefully!) use a light to melt the edge. This will seal the edge to prevent further fraying.

Through normal wear and tear, synthetic webbing can occasionally start to fray at the end. This can be quickly remedied with the following steps.
1) Trim back the webbing slightly to remove the frayed ends.
2) Very carefully, use a lighter to slightly melt the freshly trimmed edge. This will seal the edge and help prevent further fraying.
3) Allow to fully cool before using webbing again.

For bigger repairs, it’s often best to consult your local cobbler. They have the expertise to assess damage and provide high-quality repairs. Choosing a cobbler is cost-effective and sustainable as it can extend the life of your shoes.

Footwear cannot be recycled via traditional curbside recycling services. If you are done with your KEEN shoes, and they are still in good shape, we recommend checking with your local donation centers to see if they are accepting footwear. If they are beyond wear, you can check if Terracycle is offering services in your area.

KEEN is building a takeback and resale program right now! Please check back to see if our RE.KEEN platform is live and accepting product from your region. In the meantime, we recommend checking with your local donation centers to see if they are accepting footwear or pass them along to someone in your community.