The longevity of a pair of leather shoes depends a lot on the care taken in their maintenance and the way in which they are cleaned. In this article you will learn how to clean and maintain your leather shoes to keep them for a long time.

How to take care of your leather shoes?

We agree that choosing the best formal shoes for men in India for all types of use cases is tough given the variety of best-selling brands that are available; but cleaning them is simple. You just need to ensure that you use the right materials and follow the instructions to the T.

The material you will need:

• Pair of shoe trees
• Scraper brush to dust and remove dirt from your shoes. It can be used with smooth leathers as well as nubucks and suede leather;
• Shining brush made of horsehair to make your shoes shine;
• Cleansing milk;
• Nourishing cream that protects the leather. Products based on beeswax or shea oil are very effective;
• Pure cotton pad;
• Shoe polish;
• Horsehair palot brush to spread the shoe polish evenly.

1. Before starting:

• Remove the laces so that they don’t get dirty and the eyelets don’t become soiled.
• Put shoe trees in the shoes to better apply the products on places marked by the folds and to attenuate them.

2. Dust:

• This precaution is essential to avoid trapping dirt. Rub vigorously with the scraper brush.

3. Clean:

• The rule common to all shoes is to first clean them with a damp sponge or a brush to remove dirt before care or waxing.
• If you regularly apply shoe polish, apply cleansing milk. This will prevent the leather from getting dirty and cracking as it ages.
• To clean, use a cotton pad soaked in cleansing milk. Pass the product in concentric circles to make it penetrate, paying special attention to the folds of wear. Don’t forget the edge of the sole and the heel (if they are leather)

4. Nourish:

• With a cotton pad apply a little nourishing cream in a circular manner. Rub vigorously to the ensure that the product penetrates the leather.
• Apply it everywhere (sole, shank, and heel). Here too, insist on the folds of wear to iron and reduce them.

5. Wax (optional)

• Do you find that your shoes do not shine enough? Use a shoe polish that will shine your shoes. Using the palot brush, distribute the shoe polish in all corners. The shoe polish does not penetrate the leather and stays on the surface.
• After waxing, it is recommended to waterproof your shoes with a suitable product that will protect them from the rain.

6. Wait about ten minutes

• Polish in a quick motion with the buffing brush. For even more shine, rub the leather with sheep’s fur after the brush.

7. Don’t forget the interior!

• If you maintain the upper part of the shoe, you should not forget the inside. Clean it with soapy water and deodorize.

Maintenance frequency – How often should you clean your shoes?

It depends on the use of your shoes.

• If you use them regularly, clean your shoes every two weeks.
• For occasional use, clean them once a month or every 2 months, just before wearing them.
• If you use shoe polish regularly, it is advisable to clean the shoes after every 3 polishes.

Tips to keep in mind when cleaning leather shoes

Maintaining your leather shoes is good, but it is not always enough. Some rules must be followed:

• Let your shoes breathe. Avoid wearing them for 2 consecutive days to eliminate the humidity caused by perspiration. Leave them to air dry for at least one day. This will prevent the shoe linings from getting damaged too quickly.
• Do not throw them in the back of a cupboard. Remember to store them aligned straight or ideally, in their shoebox. It is recommended to use a wooden shoe tree to keep them in their original shape.
• If your shoes get wet, avoid using heat to dry them. In contact with heat, the leather will crack or shrink. Favor the ambient air and clean them with a newspaper.

How to maintain different types of leather?

A shoe made of smooth, oily or patent leather is not maintained in the same way. It is therefore necessary to adopt the right actions and use the appropriate products.

For Smooth leathers

Choose a shoe polish that is slightly darker than the color of the leather because if it is lighter, it will bring out any signs of wear on the shoe. Spread the shoe polish in circular motions. Wet the cloth beforehand with a drop of water. Then polish as a final touch with a soft cloth.

For Oily leathers

Being less fragile, they need less maintenance. Nourish them with special fats or lanolin-based creams.

For Nubucks, suede leathers and suede leather crusts

For these shoes we forget the classic shoe polish. A suede brush or an eraser is enough to clean them. We then spray a renewing spray that will revive the colors of the shoe.

For Patent leathers

The goal is to preserve their shine. Use special or silicone-based sprays and forget about waxing or other waterproofing. Polish your patent shoes with a damp cloth with a little white vinegar. They will shine brightly.