Expert tips to help you care for and clean your leather shoes
Expert tips to help you care for and clean your leather shoes. Proper leather shoes cleaning not only makes your shoes look good but will help to prolong their life.
Without proper care and treatment, leather dries out and eventually dries out. This leads to cracking, leaving your shoe an unsightly mess.
In order to maintain your shoes appearance, here’s our guide on how to keep your leather shoes clean and conditioned. This is a guide on how to care for smooth leather and not suede or nubusk.
Cleaning Your Shoes
Before cleaning your shoes, make sure you and your work surface are properly protected. Lay out old newspapers, wear gloves and work in a well-ventilated area. Many shoe products contain chemicals that can be harmful to humans and animals.
Remove any loose dirt using a soft bristle brush and pay attention to cracks or crevices. Use a leather cleaner that is specifically made for smooth leather. Work it into your shoes and let them dry. After cleaning, shine your shoes with an old cloth or t-shirt.
Conditioning Your Shoes
Conditioning leather shoes softens and moisturises the membrane, stopping it from drying out and cracking. Choose a conditioner made for smooth leather shoes. Natural ones absorb straight into the material and are a better choice.
Rub a small amount onto your shoes, covering the whole area. Wait a few minutes and wipe any excess off with a cloth.
Polishing Your Shoes
Shoe polished usually come in liquid, cream or paste form. Liquid shoe polish dries quickly, but you are limited when it comes to colours and durability.
Shoe paste lasts longer but can be messy and hard to work with. For an easier application and longer wear, go with a cream.
Apply your polish onto a small section of your shoe to test and match it. Then, rub the polish onto your shoe using a soft cloth and allow to dry.
Polish Toxicity
Certain shoe polishes contain chemicals that can be absorbed into your skin. If you do opt for using a shoe polish, use gloves, work in a well-ventilated area and do not drink alcohol while working. This can increase the effects of chemical irritants.
Shoe polish needs to be handled as hazardous household substances and disposed of properly. Rags and clothes used for polishing your shoes should be contained in a sealed plastic bag and disposed of as you would toxic paints.
Protecting Your Shoes
Weather proofing your shoes will protect them from water and other elements that can break down the natural material.
However, different weather proofing products do different things so choose carefully. If you spend a lot of time in wet conditions and a smooth finish is of little concern, choose a beeswax product over a protective spray.
This will place a shield over the surface of your shoe. If you care about the appearance of your shoes, a protective spray will do the trick.
Additional Tips
- This may seem obvious but remove your shoes laces before you start cleaning your shoes.
- Condition new leather shoes, even before you wear them. This will ensure you get the best protection from the start and will save you time in future cleanings.
- Don’t try and change the colour of your shoes with shoe polish. Consult a shoe repair shop as you risk ruining your shoes if you do it yourself.
Expert tips to help you care for and clean your leather shoes
