Kelly's Cork Renew Sealer (2.2 fl oz) - Waterproof & Protect Cork Surfaces w/ Brush Applicator - Water Based Formula Dries Clear, Prevents Drying & Breaking Down of Sandles, Shoes, Fishing Rod, Coasters

Love love love this stuff! I bought a pair of old Birkenstocks from the thrift store at my local Air Force base for $1, and they were pretty gross. I scrubbed them hard with powdered oxiclean, dish soap, and pretty much anything else I could find. I watched cleaning videos for old Birks, and you can totally restore the suede footbed by using sandpaper and completely sanding off the shiny toe/heel footprints! Anyway, the finish on the cork was peeling and I might have scrubbed a bit too hard with my bristle brush as well, because some little chunks of cork were falling off. I need something to seal the cork. So, I bought the Cadillac brand (green bottle) and it did almost nothing. I was super frustrated, and bought this, which looked more like the stuff they used in restoration videos I’d watched - it looks like a thin white Elmers glue. And it WORKED!!!! Perfectly shiny, seals in the cork! The bottle says it waterproofs unlike the other stuff I got. If you put it on as thick as my picture, it’ll puddle a bit as it dries, so it’s best to do two thin coats instead. You can see the difference between the two brands in my pic.

This cork sealant is fantastic! I purchased it after seeing it recommended by a licensed Birkenstock shoe repairman in the r/birkenstock sub on Reddit. He said it's what they used in the shop to do cork repairs. I used it on my Bostons and it made them look fantastic! This does make the cork shiny, but I actually really like the way it looks, and I'm planning on using it on my much newer Milans soon.

WOW! This product is fantastic! Take note that this review will be a bit different than the others because I don’t own Birkenstocks shoes (heck, I never heard of them before!). But what I do have is “cork art” and this product is the best thing since sliced bread!! My dad (who recently passed) was an artist and one of the things he made for each of us is some sort of carving out of cork. For instance, he made a whale for me because I funded an Alaskan fishing trip… something he always wanted to do. The carvings are very special to each of us and it was important to find a way to preserve them. I came across this product and thought I would give it a try. Boy, am I glad I did!! Of course, I tested it first on a spare cork and found it was exactly what I was looking for. It not only waterproofed the cork, it also gave it a beautiful shine!! It is so picture-perfect that I ordered it for my mom, sister, brother, niece and nephew so they can use it on their carvings.A few things to note in response to some of the negative comments:1. Some people asked about an odor. I found no odor at all.2. Someone complained that the brush was stiff… it is. But I found that the brush needs to be stiff in order to get into the crevices of the cork. I did not find this to be a problem at all and the brush bristles did not come out on me.3. Someone said the product stayed sticky and I found the same thing but only for about a day. It dried completely and it is not sticky at all now.4. A few comments that the bottle wasn’t new, that the brush was missing or that the product was dried up. My bottle was new, it had a brush and it was not dried up so these were not issues for me.5. A couple comments on it peeling off but I don’t see this as a problem since the art will be on the wall and not getting worn.In summary, I am very satisfied with this product as it relates to sealing and protecting a special memory of my dad!

This is the best brand of cork sealer I have ever used (and, amazingly, the least expensive as well). Goes on smooth, dries clear, does the job it was meant to on Birkenstock, Haflinger, Stegmann and other high quality cork foot bed shoes. Really extends the life of the shoe, and makes them wearable in the rain with no issues. I have been wearing cork soled shoes year round in the Seattle rain for many years, and cork seal makes a huge difference. One bottle should last for at least 10 pair of shoes (or redoing the same pair of shoes 10 times after the seal eventually wears off). A tiny investment in time and money to greatly extend the life of your very expensive cork soled shoes. You will be glad you used this.I recommend putting on two coats (let dry in between), when the shoes are brand new. After that, check the cork every 6 months or so to see if it needs a recoat. If the cork is looking dry or dull, slap on another coat. It goes on sort of milky, but dries clear. This is actually a plus, as you can easily see where you have already applied the product.

Not a bad price. This is a white liquid that is applied with a brush. It dries clear. Works perfectly. I have one complaint. When I first got it open, there was a plastic piece on the top that had a small opening that kind of restricted the amount of fluid pulled out on the brush. It was helpful. The second time I opened the bottle, it was gone, and had apparently gotten stuck up inside the lid. This made application of the product a little messier, but once I got the hang of it, not bad. I just think if you design a functional piece, it should actually function. Would still recommend. Pics show one of my attempts at application, and then the dried product.