Shoe care 101 (updated)
Shoe care, books and other little things
Intro
Taking care of shoes and leather goods is a lot like taking care of your skin; you have to cleanse, nourish, and seal it all up gently. In between, you, of course, want to protect your shoes from the environment, and there’s something for that, too.
This is the five-part regimen I cannot recommend enough, and I have been using it to maintain my leather goods for over 15 years.
Shoe cleaning and maintenance essentials
1. Cleanser
Smooth leather cleanser
Réno’Mat is a smooth leather cleanser that removes dirt and stains.
Suede cleanser
I have used Saphir products for 15+ years, and there just isn’t a better solution on the market. This suede cleaner does the trick, even on the softest suede.
2. Nourishing
Renovateur
Renovateur is a conditioner that not only keeps current shoes hydrated but breathes new life into older or neglected leather. I’m not pitching this as a revolutionary product, because it has been around for ages, and everyone who cares about leather, even if they don’t polish them, at least applies Renovateur regularly to keep the leather fresh and prevent cracks from dryness.
3. Shoe cream
Paté de Luxe is the reference shoe cream. It also contains nourishing oils but less of them, and thus is best suited for frequent use. There will be direct links to different colors.
Shop black - Shop dark brown - Shop mid brown - Shop light brown - Shop grey
4. Wax (smooth leather only)
Shoe wax
Once you are done cleaning, hydrating, and applying some shoe creme to your shoes, you can apply a layer of wax to seal it all in and protect your shoes from the elements. You can also go a step further and apply a mirror shine to your toecap and heels. Tutorial
5. Protection
Super Invulner - protective spray
Saphir Super Invulner spray is a water and dirt-repellent spray that is also safe for fabrics. I use it on shoes with textile parts on the upper, and very light-colored sneakers. I have also applied this to overcoats, “f*ck around and find out”, and it does not affect the fabric at all.
This isn’t a lotus effect like you would see on products from a TV infomercial, but a light layer of coating that will wear off over time.
Shop on Amazon - Shop at Skolyx - Shop at Care of Carl
6. Shoe trees
Shoes trees help to dry shoes after a long day of wear and maintain their shape over time. They are essential to prolong a shoe’s longevity. Most are made from cedar wood, while beech wood isn’t uncommon either.
Shoestrees on Amazon USA (US7.5-13) - Shop Amazon EU (EU34-50)
Watch video about shoecare - Watch the video about shoe trees
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