Give your favourite pair of shoes a day off often; this allows them to air out, which dries out moisture so the leather lasts longer.
Always allow shoes to dry at room temperature, away from a heater. Heaters cause leather to become brittle, and can also damage the adhesives.
Do not store your shoes in boxes over long periods; prolonged storage can cause certain footwear materials to deteriorate, particularly in humid climates.
When applying a chemical to a product, always do a pre-test in an inconspicuous area before applying to the entire surface area.
With the right supplies your shoes will last longer, feel better and always look their best.
Polishing and Dirt Removal Tips
To remove dirt, wipe gently with a dry cloth first to remove dried-on dirt and dust. Dampen the cloth with warm water and wipe again. Allow leather to dry away from direct sunlight and heat sources (like heat vents) that can dry out the leather.
Use a high quality cream polish that matches the shoe colour to buff the shine.
Avoid liquid shoe polishes and silicone sprays.
To remove dirt, wipe gently with a dry cloth first to remove dried-on dirt and dust. Then apply a cleaner such as Penguin P100 Instant Cleaner (available at athletic and sporting goods stores). Allow leather to naturally dry away from direct sunlight and heat sources that can dry out the leather.
Apply a leather protector or restorer, which are composed of non-water-soluble compounds like lanolin to help guard against water damage to the leather. (May darken the colour of beeswax leather.)
A patent leather cleaner that contains silicone will return the high gloss.
Apply wax polish to leather shoes with a slightly damp cloth.
Wax polish adds more colour and shine than cream polish.
Suede and Nubuck Care
To clean suede and nubuck products, use a rubber eraser to remove dirt and smudges then brush lightly with a soft brush.
Take care to brush in the same direction; some suedes give the appearance of being two colours when brushed in different directions.
Never use a wire brush on suede or nubuck. (Some suede brushes have a wire in the center, which is specifically made for use on suede.)
Follow up with a silicon spray for water and stain resistance.
The block is used for erasing dirt stains from suede or nubuck. Use a fair amount of pressure when erasing stains and dirt.
