How to Clean Birkenstocks with Birko Flor Uppers

Santa Barbara holds a special place in my heart.  I had the good fortune of living in Santa Barbara over 20 years ago.  When I had the opportunity to revisit this beautiful town, I jumped at the chance. Santa Barbara has a little bit of everything for everyone.   Mountains, incredible restaurants, attractions for the kids, and outstanding beaches.  I knew exactly what I had to pack for my vacation.  Birkenstocks.  

Can I take my Birkenstocks to the beach?

I could hike and bike in Birkenstocks.  Dress up my Birkenstocks for a night on the town.  Wear my Birks for a long day of site seeing.  And use them as my beach shoes.  

You might be wondering why I did not pack my EVA Gizehs.  Simple.  I sold them on Poshmark.  But, the story behind that is another blog.  Years ago my original pair of Birkenstocks spent countless hours exploring the beaches of Santa Barbara.  I knew that I could safely wear Birks to the beach without damaging them.

If you have read my previous blogs, you know that I like to pack light.  For my trip to Santa Barbara, I packed two pairs of Birkenstocks.  I brought my silver Gizehs and my red Mayaris.  Both Birko Flor Uppers and both Original footbeds. 

My Red Mayaris

My Silver Gizehs

I thought about bringing one pair of Original Footbeds and another pair of Soft Footbeds, so I could have the best of both worlds.  But, I knew that I would be going to the beach on a daily basis and did not want to have wet Soft Footbeds.  They would take longer to dry compared to Original Footbeds.  I also opted to keep my leather Birkenstocks at home because I did not want to take a chance of getting them wet with salt water.  I knew that my Birkenstocks with Birko Flor uppers were highly durable and super comfy.  They would be all that I needed for my vacation.

I ended up using my Gizehs for my beach shoes.  Don’t worry, I kept them far away from the water and out of the sun.  Remember, I Love Birkenstocks and I slightly obsess over them.  Thus, I take extra special care of my Birks when I am around water.  My Gizehs ended up being the perfect shoes for me to wear to the beach.  The only issue that I had was that the uppers got dirty.  So dirty, in fact, that the shine of the silver disappeared.  No worries, I took a baby wipe and cleaned them off. 

Here is a video that I made on "How to Clean Birkenstocks with Birko Flor Uppers":

The next time you plan a vacation that involves a beach destination, don’t be afraid to pack your Birkenstocks.  Just don’t get them soaked.  If they do get wet, remember to allow them to air dry overnight.  Do not place the shoes in the sunlight or near direct heat.  And if the uppers get dirty or dusty, just wipe them clean with a baby wipe.  Easy as pie.   

NOTE:  For other tips on how to care for your Birkenstocks, click here.