How To Properly Maintain Your Favourite Shoes Made Of Leather

Everyone has a favourite pair of shoes, and if yours are made of leather, then there is a need for you to maintain them so that they last you as long as possible. With proper care and maintenance, your favourite shoes can last you longer than you ever expected. The following is just some advice on how to best give them the care that they deserve.

Every day that you wear your leather footgear, make sure they stay clean. By doing so, you ensure many more years of wear in them than you ever expected. Upon arriving home, remove traces of dirt and mud on your footwear with a soft cloth that is damp. Air-dry them thoroughly before storing them away.

When your shoes get soaked because you get caught in stormy weather, it is best that you dry them out as much as you can by pat drying them with a dry cloth, both inside and out. To ensure that the insides become dry, stuff them with newspaper. The newspaper will quickly absorb the water. Change the newspaper if you find it appropriate to do so, depending on how wet your footgear is.

Leather cracks easily when it becomes wet or dry. So, once in a while it is advisable to rub some emu oil or lanolin into the leather. Rub thoroughly in the cracked areas and massage the oil in with a dry, soft cloth. You may also brush the leather into shape with a soft shoe brush to ensure no dirt clings and that the oil spreads over the surface well.

You may find that you will need to wash your leather footwear once in a while because dirt may accumulate on them. The best thing to use in this case is saddle soap. Don't scrub the surface, but rather apply the soap with a wet cloth and spread it carefully, making sure to clean away unwanted dust and dirt. Remove excess suds with a clean wet cloth gently and air dry the shoes thoroughly. You may apply newspaper to the insides to absorb excess moisture.

After washing them, it is proper that you condition the leather to prevent it from over-drying and cracking. Lanolin is a good follow up to the washing. Massage it in thoroughly with a soft cloth to ensure that the leather stays soft and supple.

Every week, try to polish your leather footgear with special shoe polish that is of the leather color, or clear, and be attentive to worn areas like the toe area. Brushing the surface will help you get rid of all excess dirt as well as to spread the polish. It is best to buff them to give them that extra shine before you wear them.

When storing your footwear, put them in a cool dry place, away from any kind of moisture and dust. You may opt to place them on cedar or any wooden shoe tree so that they keep their shape and stay aired and dry. Keeping your favourite shoes made of leather is a great investment in the long run because they will last you for many years and keep your feet comfortable as long as you are using them.

By: Tobi Schultheiss

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