There comes a morning in late September when you look at the sandals by the door and realise the season is over. Mine always go away in worse condition than I'd like: the footbed darkened in two perfect heel-shaped patches, cork edges dusty and slightly pale, a suede strap shiny where the buckle has rubbed it for four months. All of it is fixable — and the ten minutes you spend now is the difference between opening the box next May with pleasure or with resignation.
The one rule: never soak them
Cork-footbed sandals are built in layers, held together with adhesive, with a cork and latex core sealed at the edges. Water is the enemy of all three. That means no washing machine, no bucket, no long soak in the sink and no dishwasher, whatever anyone on the internet says. Everything below uses a damp cloth or a barely-wet brush, never a submerged shoe.
Heat is the second enemy. Once they're clean, they dry at room temperature, away from radiators, hot windowsills and direct sun — all of which shrink and crack cork and can warp the shape you've spent a summer moulding to your feet.
The footbed: gentle abrasion, not scrubbing
The suede-lined footbed absorbs what your feet leave behind, which is why it darkens where you press hardest. Start dry: a suede brush or a clean, stiff-bristled toothbrush, worked in small circles, lifts a surprising amount. Then make a thin paste of a mild soap and a little water, apply it with the brush to the darkened areas only, work it in lightly and wipe away with a barely damp cloth. Don't flood it.
For stubborn marks, a suede eraser or very fine sandpaper used with a light hand will take the top layer off. Be sparing — you are literally removing material, so a few passes, check, a few more. Finish by brushing the whole footbed in one direction so the nap looks even rather than patchy.
