How to Care for Leather Bowling Shoes
How to clean, condition, dry and store leather bowling shoes, how to keep the slide sole in good condition, and which mistakes to avoid.
Tina Mendo
Why leather bowling shoes need a little care
Caring for leather bowling shoes takes little effort. Leather is a natural material: it stays supple and hard-wearing as long as it is kept clean and does not dry out. A minute after each session and a little more every few weeks is enough. Here is how to clean, condition and store your shoes.
After every session
Wipe the upper. Lane dust and oil residue settle on your shoes. A soft, dry cloth removes them before they build up.
Brush the slide sole. A clean slide sole slides more consistently. Use a bowling shoe brush and brush in one direction. Keep harsh chemicals such as solvents away from the sole: they can damage the material.
Let them air. Shoes absorb moisture from your feet. Rather than sealing them in a closed bag straight after bowling, let them air out at home.
Conditioning the upper
Like skin, leather needs some moisture to stay supple. Depending on how often you bowl, apply a little leather conditioner to the upper every few weeks – to the upper only, never to the slide sole, because it would change how the sole slides.
Work the conditioner in thinly with a clean cloth in circular movements, let it soak in, then buff off any excess. Choose a product that suits the type of leather and try it on an inconspicuous spot first.
Conditioned leather stays flexible. Leather that dries out becomes brittle over time and can crack.
How to clean leather bowling shoes thoroughly
If dirt or scuff marks remain, clean the upper every few months with a soft brush, a slightly damp cloth and a leather cleaner. Use water sparingly: too much moisture can damage leather.
Let the shoes dry at room temperature, loosely stuffed with paper if needed. Keep them away from radiators, hair dryers and direct sunlight, because heat makes leather hard and brittle.
Light-coloured leather, such as the white on the BOWLIO Torino, shows dirt sooner and benefits from a quick wipe more often.
Storage
Dry, at moderate temperatures. A ventilated cupboard is ideal. Damp basements and hot car boots are not, because moisture and heat are hard on leather.
Shoe trees. Cedar shoe trees absorb residual moisture and help the leather keep its shape.
Protect the soles. Keep the soles clean in your bowling bag, for example in a shoe bag, so that grit and dirt do not get onto the slide sole.
When the sole is worn
A leather sole wears slowly with use. If your slide stays uneven even after brushing, or the leather has become visibly thin, a cobbler can replace the sole.
What to avoid
- Walking outside in bowling shoes. Grit, dirt and moisture from outside stick to the slide sole and change your slide. Shoe covers help whenever you leave the approach area.
- Water on the slide sole. A damp sole grips and makes your slide unpredictable.
- Household cleaners, bleach and solvents on leather. They can dry it out and discolour it.
- The washing machine. Water, agitation and heat damage leather and adhesives.
- Leaving them in the car in summer or winter. Heat dries leather out, and cold makes it less flexible.
Your shoes touch the approach on every delivery. A few minutes of care keep them comfortable and your slide consistent for a long time.
Further reading: Leather or synthetic bowling shoes · Breaking in new bowling shoes · BOWLIO bowling shoes