How to Clean Leather Shoes
Nothing brings an outfit together like elegant leather shoes. If you have a good pair of leather shoes, you can protect your investment by cleaning them regularly. Don’t worry, this is not the complicated process you might imagine. As long as you have the right tools at your disposal, cleaning leather shoes is easy. Keep in mind that leather tends to shrink, dry out and crack when wet, so keep your leather shoes at home on rainy days and don’t use water to keep them clean.
Genuine leather
Remove the shoelaces to protect them during cleaning
If your leather shoes have laces, gently remove them and set them aside. Never use leather cleaners without removing the bands as they are usually made of cloth and leather cleaner and the polish can stain them.
If your tapes are dirty, place them in a mesh bag and throw them in the washing machine to clean.
Remove dirt with soft brush
Lift the shoe with your non-dominant hand and gently rub the brush against the surface of the shoes to remove dirt with the other hand. Brush gently and take your time so the bristles don’t damage your skin. To be thorough, use a brush to draw the seams and soles of the shoes.
You don’t have to clean your leather shoes if they’re already nice and clean. This is a good idea if you just got home and notice that your shoes are scratched or dirty.
Avoid anything with hard bristles, like a wire brush, as you could scratch the skin if you’re not very careful.
Remove stubborn scratches and stains with leather cleaner and a soft brush
Spray a small amount of leather cleaner onto a soft brush and gently scrub the leather surface with the bristles. Apply the cleaner to the leather by moving the brush back and forth as if you were dusting shoes. Keep buffing until the dirty leather returns to its former shine.
Leather cleaner is certainly a unique product, but it is very useful if you want to make cleaning your leather shoes a breeze.
You can use a clean microfiber cloth if you don’t have a soft bristle brush
Avoid using water to clean leather shoes. Water shrinks leather and can dry it out over time, which can make your shoes feel stiff and wrinkled.
Sprinkle talcum powder on oil and grease stains to absorb them. If your leather shoes have a stubborn oil or grease stain, cover them with an absorbent powder such as talcum powder or baby powder. Leave for 2-3 hours to absorb the oil. Gently brush off the powder with a soft brush.
It feels very satisfying to brush off the powder and watch that greasy stain disappear. It works because the powder draws the moisture from the oil or grease out of the skin.
You can also use cornstarch to soak up oil stains, but you need to let it sit for 7-8 hours to fully absorb the oil.
Condition your leather shoes after cleaning to protect them.
Use the same brush or cloth you used to clean your shoes, or buy a new one. Apply the Leather Pants Bead to the leather shoes and spread it out with a brush or cloth. Wait a few minutes for the conditioner to dry, then brush out or remove any dried conditioner flakes. For example, if you have black leather shoes, choose a black leather conditioner.
Polish your shoes with leather polish to make them shine like new again
Take a soft cloth and scrape off a small amount of wax or polish. Rub the surface of each shoe with the cloth in small circular motions. Wipe off any excess polish with a clean cloth until your shoes are evenly shiny and smooth. Avoid shoe polish on the non-leather parts of your shoes.
The shoe shine is optional, but it will keep your shoes looking like new!
