How to Clean Leather Shoes

Have you ever learned how to clean your leather shoes and maintain them? As we know, leather is a textile made by tanning and treating a raw animal hide, or rawhide. Although they are durable, they need careful protection. If there is no regular maintenance or wrong maintenance, the service life of leather shoes will be greatly shortened. In this article, you will learn more tips on how to clean leather shoes.

How to clean leather shoes?

Fill the shoes

First, untie the laces, then stuff the toe with old newspapers, and make sure to stuff them until the surface of the leather shoes is firm so that they can be more fully maintained. Of course, if you have shoe plugs at home, you can use them completely. It’s even easier.

Clean up the dust and dirt

First, use a soft polishing brush to clean up the dust and dirt on the surface of the leather shoes. Then use a side brush with some water to clean the seam between the sole and the upper.

Then use a cotton rag to carefully check and wipe, do not have excess water and dirt residue on the surface of the shoes, otherwise, the leather may be scratched during maintenance.

Polish shoes

Generally speaking, shoe polish is divided into colored and colorless. Colorless shoe polish is suitable for most shoes. And colored shoe polish has the function of complementary color. If the surface of your leather shoes has signs of fading, you can choose colored shoe polish of the same color as the leather shoes.

Wrap the polishing cloth around your finger, then stick some paste shoe polish and apply it in a circular motion on the shoe surface until the polish spreads evenly. Here you must have patience. After finishing, the shoes will show a matte texture.

Then use a dry side brush or toothbrush with some shoe polish to brush the seam where the sole alternates with the upper. After finishing, it rests for ten minutes to let the shoe polish fully communicate with the shoes.

Or you can pick up the horsehair polishing brush and frantically wipe the shoes back and forth to make the original matte texture of the upper, back to glossy texture.

Then take a cotton rag to wipe the shoes with excess shoe polish to clean them.

Dry and lace up your shoes

After maintenance, let the shoes dry for 10-20 minutes, remember not to put them in the sun, and then you can lace up your shoes.

After cleaning, how should we maintain the leather shoes? Here are three ways you should know.

How to maintain leather shoes?

Daily maintenance

The daily maintenance of leather boots refers to the skills that need to be worn but not worn. It is common to rub shoe polish on the surface of the shoes. It can not only make the shoes shiny as new, but also keep the shoes clean. However, it is not advisable to use shoe polish frequently, generally 1-2 times a week.

Use maintenance

Leather shoes should also pay attention to maintenance the use, such as not wearing more than three days. You can wear other shoes alternately. Then do not wear them when the weather is bad, such as rainy days, snowy days, and so on. It is easy to get the shoes damaged and dirty.

Storage skills

Pay attention to storing leather shoes when you don’t wear them often. You can clean them first, and then stuff the shoes with paper balls to keep the shape fixed. You can put some desiccant and then put it in a ventilated and dry storage environment. However, you need to take it out every 2-3 weeks for sunshine.

What is the best thing to condition leather with?

Leather conditioning is a daily care process that restores moisture to the leather and strengthens it for the future. Regular conditioning can greatly improve the appearance and durability of your leather goods.

• Leather creams — provide moisture with the least change in color and are great for aniline leathers
• Leather oils — Natural oils like lanolin and neatsfoot can help soften the leather
• Leather waxes — Waxes don’t moisturize as well, but they do provide more waterproofing

What can damage leather shoes?

The following can lead to leather damage, which people easily ignore.

• Exposure to sunlight
• Extreme changes in temperature
• Do not clean stains at once
• Too heat
• Use improper cleaning agents, such as harsh soap, chemicals, and detergents.

How to clean leather shoes FAQ

1. Is leather breathable?

Breathability is one of the special properties of leather. However, breathability varies, depending on the type of leather. Sensitive, porous aniline leathers are significantly more breathable than heavily pigmented automotive leathers. Higher is the breathability of cowhide and suede.

2. What can I do when leather shoes have scuff marks?

Wipe the surface of the shoe with a soft cotton cloth and use a cream or wax-based polish. Wash your shoes in warm water once a month, then condition or polish them.

3. Does water ruin leather?

Water can cause staining and make leather move dyes leaving streaks and spots. And if the leather doesn’t dry quickly enough, it could even start to rot.

4. How to dry wet leather?

The best method for drying wet leather shoes is to let them air dry naturally for 24 to 48 hours.

5. How often should you care for leather?

Vacuuming and wiping the leather upholstery is recommended every two to four weeks, depending on how heavily you use it. Conditioning should be done annually. Too much conditioning can end up making the leather gummy and grimy.

How to clean leather shoes conclusion

Using the right way to clean your leather shoes can make them look like new. How to care for leather shoes is also an important part. We can do it from daily maintenance, and use maintenance and storage skills. The different methods you can employ to care for your leather shoes. Follow the above tips for the best results on your shoes.

Learn more shoe tips in Sizzey!