Birkenstock Repair in 5 Easy Steps

Birkenstock repairs can be done at home by following 5 easy steps. In this video, shoe cobbler Teri Edmonds reveals her tips and tricks to make a used Birkenstock look new again. The best results can be achieved using the supplies listed below. Enjoy!

Supplies Needed:

Step 1: Clean Uppers

Cleaning the uppers to the Birkenstocks is easy when using Lincoln EZ suede cleaner. Shake the bottle before opening and add 1/4 cup to a dish. Apply the cleaner with the suede brush and bring it to a lather. Wipe off excess with a dry towel or paper towel.

Step 2: Disassemble Shoe

Disassembling a Birkenstock can be easy or hard depending on the condition of the shoe and age of the glue between the cork and the soling material. If the glue is dry and old, it is likely the sole will come apart easily, as demonstrated in this video. Advanced sole removal instructions are provided in a video “Removing Birkenstock Soles” and a link has been included.

Step 3: Glue Upper to the Footbed

Using the original glue pattern as a guide, liberally apply contact cement to the strapping material of the Birkenstock. Next, apply the freshly glued strap to the sole where it will be fixed permanently. The glue should still be wet, but the objective is to establish a clean line where the glue is supposed to go. Wait 15 minutes and assemble the straps to the cork. This should be enough drying time to get a strong seal.

Step 4: Glue the Soling Material and Cork

Apply glue to both the cork footbed and the soling material and let dry for 20 minutes.

Step 5: Assemble and Trim

Once the glue has dried, the parts need to be assembled. Carefully aligning the sole to the cork footbed will make this project easier. Hammer these together and look around the edges to make sure the entire shoe is glued and sticking together.

Trim the excess sole using a sharp razor knife. Slow and safe is the key here. The closer the trim is to the shoe means that less finish sanding will be necessary.