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Leather shoes can be an investment for years, but to do so, you need to take care of them the right way. How to take care of leather shoes? It’s easy, check it!
Impregnation is the basis for the proper care of leather shoes. Thanks to it shoes can easily “cope” in any conditions, even during snowy and rainy days. Impregnation should be carried out before the first step in new shoes, and then repeated after each cleaning. A good shoe treatment will help protect your shoes from damage and make the leather soft and supple. Some waterproofers also protect shoes from deep dirt. Wait for the product to dry after it has been evenly applied.
Regardless of whether your shoes are made of grain leather, nubuck or suede, they should be dried before cleaning. It is worth to fill them with special inserts or newspapers. They will absorb moisture and prevent deformation of the footwear. Next, use a dry brush to remove dirt from the surface of the shoe. After that, you can proceed to the next stages of cleaning.
Grain leather shoes should be polished with a good quality polish matching the color of the shoe. A good choice is cream polish, which is more concentrated than the one in the tube. Using a brush, rub the polish into the shoes in circular motions and then wipe them with a slightly damp cloth. If we want our shoes to shine, we will need a wax. It is applied on shoes with a cotton cloth, gently polishing each layer. After the wax is absorbed, sprinkle the shoes gently with water, polish again and apply another coat of wax.
For suede shoes, if the dirt is light, you can clean the shoes dry by brushing “under the hair”. However, if further cleaning is necessary, wipe the shoes with a damp cloth.
Nubuck leather dirt can be removed with a special rubber. However, if you have to deal with greasy stains, it is worth sprinkling talcum powder on the shoes and then thoroughly combing it out.
If there are stains on your leather shoes that cannot be removed according to the above tips, leather shoe paints can help. After using them, shoes look like new. However, the condition is proper preparation of the leather. The shoes should be cleaned properly, and after dyeing, the shoes will regain their shine and color. Paints for leather are adjusted so that shoes do not lose their resistance to damage and weather conditions. Ideal for taking care of leather shoes will be angelus shoe paint.
Shoes made of patent leather are not ideal for winter. However, if they are worn in low temperatures, it is a good idea to put them on several minutes before leaving the house, and after entering back to a warm place, do not take them off for about half an hour. This will alleviate the effect of the rapid temperature change, and the skin will not crack.
Apart from proper cleaning and impregnation, it is equally important to store leather shoes properly – preferably in boxes or cotton bags to protect them from dust. It’s also worth to buy risers, i.e. special inserts whose task is to keep the upper in its original shape. They also absorb moisture and unpleasant smells. Shoe deformation may also be prevented by using a shoehorn. This will protect the back part of them.
Main photo: Terje Sollie/pexels.com
