If you love leather shoes and want them to stay shiny and looking like new for years to come, it's important to clean them regularly, especially during times when there is ice or snow on the street. In addition, once a month you should use a product suitable for moisturizing and polishing the skin to make it soft and shiny again. Leather shoes are generally treated at source and made waterproof, otherwise you can use a protective waterproofing spray. When you put them back in the shoe cabinet, do it properly so that they keep beautiful over time.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Clean the Leather Shoes
Step 1. Remove dirt with a soft cloth
Wipe your shoes with a clean, dry cloth to remove as much dirt and grime as possible. Try to scrape off excess mud and salt, being careful not to scratch the skin.
Step 2. Apply a cleaning product with a soft brush
If the bottle has an applicator, use it to spread the product on your shoes. Alternatively, you can use a cloth or a brush with very soft bristles. Massage the cleanser into your shoes in gentle circular motions. If you want to use a leather soap, dilute it with a little water.
- Soaps for cleaning leather are suitable for all types of leather, raw or treated, with the sole exception of suede, nubuck and patent leathers.
- Treated leathers can be cleaned with any type of mild detergent, including laundry detergent suitable for fabrics such as wool and silk.
- It is best to avoid using polishing sponges as they can contain chemicals that are harmful to the leather of the shoes.
Step 3. Remove salt stains with vinegar and water
Dilute the vinegar in the water in a ratio of 1: 2. Gently scrub the mixture into the salt stains using a soft brush or cloth. If necessary, re-moisten them with the water-vinegar mixture to completely remove the stains.
- The salt leaves a white residue on the shoes.
- This method also serves to eliminate any accumulations of wax.
Step 4. Let the shoes dry at room temperature
Wait until the leather is dry and fed, buffed, or waterproofed before placing your shoes in the shoe cabinet. Do not try to shorten the time by drying them with hot air so as not to damage the skin.
Let them dry for at least 15 minutes or preferably overnight
Method 2 of 4: Polish the Leather Shoes
Step 1. Remove the laces from the shoes
It is essential to be able to nourish and polish even the portion of leather that is normally covered by the laces. If you are cleaning a pair of laced shoes, remove them one after the other by gently sliding them through the eyelets.
Step 2. Hydrate your shoe leather frequently
Don't let too much time pass before you hydrate them again. Skin inevitably tends to dry out and could crack if you don't keep it properly hydrated. Apply the moisturizer in small circular motions using a soft, clean cloth. Remove the excess product after spreading it all over the shoe.
If you live in a place where the air is very dry or the climate is harsh, for example where sidewalks in winter are often icy and covered with salt, you should use the moisturizer frequently, for example every 5-10 times you wear. the shoes. In places where the weather is milder you can use the shoes 15-25 times before reapplying them again
Step 3. Apply a protective wax once a month
Spread it on your shoes a little at a time with small, gentle circular motions. The advice is to apply the wax using a soft cloth or a horsehair brush. Spread it on all the leather parts and then wipe off the excess product.
- A product based on natural beeswax offers good protection for shoes.
- Make sure that the color of the wax reflects that of the leather of the shoes. Test it on a small, inconspicuous area of the shoe to make sure it is the right color.
Step 4. Make your elegant shoes shine
It is said that the refined man can be recognized by his shoes. To make them shine, stretch a cloth over your fingers, moisten it slightly and rub it on an area of the shoe after applying the wax. Keep scrubbing until the leather is very shiny and repeat until the entire shoe shines.
Generally the effect of the wax lasts for a week
Method 3 of 4: Waterproof the Shoes
Step 1. Use a waterproofing product based on beeswax
Natural beeswax provides effective protection against the elements. Apply the product to the shoes using a clean cloth or brush and scrub with small circular motions. Remove any excess and let the shoes dry.
- Apply the waterproofing product approximately once a season.
- Some products include an applicator that you can use to smear waterproofing wax on the leather of the shoes.
Step 2. Use pure beeswax to save
Melt it with a wax heater and apply it to your shoes with a brush. It will dry quickly and form an unpleasant layer, but you can use a hairdryer or a heat gun to melt it again. After melting it with hot air, rub it on your shoes with a brush.
- Beeswax has been used as a waterproofing agent for centuries, before modern products were invented.
- Reapply the wax about once a season.
Step 3. Try using a spray waterproofer to get your shoes shiny
Spray products create a thinner protective barrier than beeswax based ones, so shoes stay shiny. Hold the bottle about 15-20 cm away and spray the product evenly. Wait until the shoes are perfectly dry before wearing them again.
A spray waterproofer has a shorter lifespan than beeswax-based ones, so you'll need to reapply it several times during the cold or rainy months
Step 4. Put the galoshes over your leather shoes to protect them from the rain
If it is a particularly expensive pair of shoes, the best solution is to protect them with galoshes, especially if you are forced to walk for a long time in the rain. This way you will be able to almost completely protect them from water and salt.
Galoshes come in many shapes and styles, so fear not, you'll be able to find a pair that fits your taste and look
Method 4 of 4: Safeguard and Store Leather Shoes
Step 1. Give your shoes a break between wearing them
The skin tends to absorb moisture from rain, sweat and dew. Wearing them every other day will allow the shoes to dry.
If you want to wear leather shoes every day, buy more than one pair to be able to switch between them
Step 2. Use a shoe tree to keep your shoes in shape when you're not wearing them
Leather shoes can lose shape if they don't have support, particularly if they're completely wet. Buy a shoe tree and slip it into your shoes when you're not wearing them. In addition to keeping them in shape, it will absorb moisture allowing them to dry faster.
- The shoe tree is a support in the shape of a foot that is inserted into the shoes when you are not wearing them. Cedar wood shoe trees have the ability to absorb moisture, so they are preferred over plastic ones.
- Rolled up newspaper is useful for absorbing moisture, but it is not as effective as a shoe tree for keeping shoes in shape.
Step 3. Clean your shoes or have them cleaned before putting them away at the end of the season
If you will not wear them for a few months, clean them before putting them in the shoe cabinet, otherwise the dirt will stick to the skin and it will be much more difficult to remove.
Have your shoes cleaned by a professional for an excellent result
Step 4. Store your shoes in a breathable fabric bag
The skin needs air to get rid of moisture. If you close your shoes in a plastic bag, moisture will get trapped inside, so it's important to use a bag made of a breathable fabric.
Common shoeboxes don't allow enough air passage to keep the skin dry, so it's best to use a fabric bag
Create a Disinfectant Spray
Create a spray disinfectant that kills germs and odors from shoes. Buy a spray bottle at the grocery store or reuse an empty one and be prepared to mix a mild hand soap with a scented detergent (powdered detergent is fine too), an inexpensive perfume, and a hand sanitizer gel.
Combine and mix the ingredients. Pour the hand soap into the bottle, filling it up to ¼, then add a tablespoon of laundry detergent, a generous dose of perfume (to make the mixture less sticky and cover bad smells) and a teaspoon of hand sanitizer gel to eliminate germs from shoes.
Shake the bottle and that's it, the leather shoe disinfectant is ready. Regularly clean them of dust and dirt and apply spray disinfectant.
Advice
- Do not use leather shoes on very rainy days to prevent them from getting soaked in water.
- Many of these tips also work on second hand shoes, with a little effort you will be able to get them shiny again and no one will know that you bought them in a thrift store.
