Leather shoe care at home

Leather shoes are always beautiful and stylish, but only if they have a decent appearance. How to care for leather shoes at home? - One of the most common questions from consumers. This is really very important and only with proper care the shoes will retain their color, will not stick, will not deform, will not dry out and will not become covered with cracks, scratches, which means it will last much longer. Therefore, do not neglect the tips presented in this article - this is only for the good of you and your shoes.

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Care Rules

For natural leather, dampness, as well as street dirt and dust, are a real enemy. But the most destructive effect for the skin is possessed by reagents that are used for ice and heavy snowfall. Getting on the surface of the shoe, they literally corrode the structure of the material, which can be seen in the very fast loss of color and the appearance on the surface of distinct bands and stains. It is problematic to remove them. That is why it is desirable to rinse off such substances as quickly as possible.

But that's not all! Learn the main rules that make up the complete care of shoes at home.

Washing and cleaning

Returning home, it would be advisable to wash the shoes, because if you leave the contaminated skin for several days, then the spots can then not be washed off. This is due to the fact that the more time passes, the more pollution is consumed, which in the future will only have to be covered with special creams.

Leather shoes cannot be washed a priori. But there are always some exceptions to the rules, therefore, in this regard, you should rather focus on the type of shoe. For example, shoes can sometimes be completely washed, but you can hardly do the same with boots or boots without consequences. Although to a large extent everything depends on quality.

Important! We talked about the features and rules in detail in the article "Wash the winter boots".

Therefore, in order to properly perform cleaning and provide quality care for leather shoes at home, you need to take a damp cloth, which is first washed with a sole and a heel. Next - wipe the entire surface of the boots, then wipe them dry.

Important! If after you have wiped off - there are spots or stains, you can try to remove them in the most gentle way, although it will take some time. To do this, moisten the sponge in soapy water and rinse again.

Drying:

1. Unfasten as much as possible leather boots that need to be dried or other leather shoes, or if you have, insert special struts.
2. Then pull out the insoles and if they are not made of genuine leather, you can easily dry them on a battery.
3. If the shoes are completely wet, then shove some crumpled newspapers or napkins inside - they will pick up moisture.

Important! If this is white skin, in no case put inside the newspaper, as the printing ink can print and thereby ruin the shoes.

But the big minus is that leather products dry for a long time. So, for example, wet shoes dry in the spring and autumn for about 24 hours, and in the winter for up to two days.

What is absolutely impossible to do?

1. Dry using heating media such as a battery or heater.Leather shoes are allowed to dry only at room temperature (newspapers or napkins can be inserted to absorb moisture). But in order not to spend a lot of time on this process and ensure the durability of products for a long time, you cando-it-yourself shoe dryer.
2. Subject to constant exposure to moisture, as moisture deforms the material and stretches it.
3. Use bleach, acetone and other aggressive solvents for cleaning, as they destroy collagen fibers.
4. Apply silicone to grout joints, which interferes with the removal of moisture. If you still need to carry out minor repairs of shoes, boots or sneakers, use special glue for shoes.

In no case should we forget about such an important topic as caring for leather shoes at home, because non-observance of certain rules, as well as a careless attitude to things can affect the fact that they will become unusable.

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Suede and Nubuck

Care for leather shoes, namely from suede and nubuck has a number of its features:

• Stains and dirt should be removed only with a special rubber brush, and already with dry shoes. If you do this on wet material, you will only aggravate the situation and widen the spots.
• In order to protect against moisture, use a special spray.
• So that the pile does not get off - it needs to be combed as if with special hard brush for suede from the wire.

Important! To understand why there are differences in the rules for the care of shoes made of such materials, read about what is the difference between suede, leather and nubuck.

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Faux leather

Ignoring the fact that artificial leather is inferior to genuine leather in many respects, its main advantage is the fact that it does not allow moisture to pass through. This allows you to wear it in rainy or snowy weather, and not be afraid to catch a cold. All you need to remember about how to care for leather shoes:

• Wash it with soapy water, then rinse with clean water.
• Do not forget to process the cream on a silicone basis.
• Faux leather athletic shoes can be washed in warm water with shampoo.
• And dry at room temperature.

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Care products

Caring for leather shoes is not as difficult as it might seem. The main thing is to choose the right care products and be able to use them. The range of prices and variations of this product is incredibly large, so that everyone can choose their own care, as they say, affordable.

The only thing to consider is the material, because an improperly selected cream can not only not bring benefits, but also harm.

Important! Specialists argue that the amount of 10 percent of their initial cost should go to shoe care products.

For an attractive look and longer wearing a new pair of boots or shoes made of leather, it is worthwhile first to apply several important components:

• water repellent;
• cream, clearly selected by the color and material of the shoe.

Such a simple procedure will help you to prolong the life of new boots at times.

Important! Since often after drying, smooth leather boots become stiff, it is advisable to use impregnating wax, which is sold in many colors, for example black, brown, and for fair skin. It is recommended to cover such delicate shoes with cream every day.

Also, in addition to the question of how to care for leather shoes, the question is quite common how to apply these funds? The answer is simple - use natural brushes for this, and after the entire cream has been absorbed, polish with velvet.

But do not forget that there are many different sprays, foams and creams for care, and what is suitable for what, we will now figure it out:

1. Cleansers (foam or shampoo) - help remove dirt and stains.
2. Care product (cream, emulsion) - help soften and restore the skin.
3. Means against moisture (polish, spray) - protects against moisture penetration.
4. Antiseptic (deodorants) - eliminates unpleasant odor, and also serves as an antibacterial agent.

Important! Consider the material features of your boots and shoes when choosing a kit for the care of leather shoes at home:

• Waxes and creams are categorically not suitable for suede and nubuck - they only pile the pile and completely ruin it.
• Sprays - the most convenient for use on shoes of any format and material.
• Creamy polishes are suitable for smooth, natural and artificial leather.
• Foam is better for suede and nubuck, and shampoos - for the care of shoes made of smooth leather, it does not matter - artificial or natural.

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Important rules for the care of leather shoes:

1. Use a colorless cream to care only for light or white skin, and for a darker type, use the appropriate cream in dark colors. Failure to comply with this rule may result in tarnishing of the product and acquiring an unappealing appearance.
2. If necessary, repair shoes in a timely manner.
3. Products made of smooth leather should be treated with a water-repellent spray with a periodicity of once a week.
4. If you have white mold, use glycerin or refined gasoline.
5. Do not put on shoes patent leather boots at temperatures lower than -10 degrees, and also above 25 degrees.

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End of season care

Not only that, with such a topic as everyday care for leather shoes, there are many nuances, you should not forget about special care at the end of the season. It will be much easier for you if you gradually remember what you need to do:

• Use a stiff brush to clean the surface of dirt and dust.
• If the contaminants are strong, rinse with water, but do not let water get inside.
• Wipe with a cloth until dry.
• Apply a special cream and let it soak for a while.
• Then polish to a shine and apply a water-repellent spray.
• Next, fill the shoes with newspapers or special pads so that the shoes do not deform, and fold them into cardboard boxes or use other ideas and places for storing shoes.

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So, we really hope that this article will help those who did not know how to care for leather shoes at home. We tried to reveal all topics, answer the most popular and frequently asked questions. If you adhered to all the rules and instructions, and also listened to our advice, your shoes will always remain attractive, and will also serve you much longer than you might expect.