Leather shoes are among the finest things you can treat yourself to. A natural material that looks luxurious and is extremely comfortable. And when you give them regular care, they will serve you well and look superb for a very long time. We will share with you how to properly care for men's leather footwear.
When caring for leather footwear, take into account what kind of leather you are dealing with. Smooth natural leather calls for a different approach than brushed leather such as nubuck or suede.
Before you step out in your new leather shoes for the first time, give them a moment of attention. Special creams and waxes will take care of both nourishing the material and its shine. Apply them with a sponge or a soft cotton cloth. After a short drying period, brush them thoroughly with a special brush. For the first application of cream we recommend repeating the procedure up to three times. Caring for your shoes before their first outing ensures better resistance to water and dirt, and also significantly extends their lifespan.
For footwear made of brushed leather, choose special products designed specifically for that material. Never use creams – you could damage the leather beyond repair.
Spray impregnation is suitable for all kinds of leather. It prevents water from penetrating and dirt from settling in. Every subsequent care and cleaning will then be easier.
Regular reapplication of impregnation keeps them dry
Even when your footwear is resting in the shoe cabinet waiting for a new season, it is still ageing. The leather slowly dries out and the impregnation evaporates. That is why it is essential to reapply the impregnation from time to time. Reapply it whenever you feel that the surface of the shoe is starting to absorb drops of water. Manufacturers of impregnation products state that liquid impregnation should be repeated every 14 days. For wax and paste impregnations, reapplying once every 6 weeks is enough.
Clean dirty shoes as soon as possible. With impregnated footwear it is simple. Usually it is enough to tap the shoe and the dirt will slide off the surface. Wipe larger amounts of dirt with a damp cloth. For brushed leather a special rubber eraser for suede and nubuck will come in handy. With a small block and gentle strokes you can remove most stains.
A natural leather sole requires special care
Shoes with a sole made of natural leather are primarily intended to be worn indoors. Especially in summer, however, you will certainly want to wear them outside as well. The moment you are no longer just walking from the car to the office and back, we recommend having the shoes finished with an additional rubber sole. This will extend the life of the sole even when bad weather catches you out. If, however, you want to preserve the benefits of flexibility, lightness and breathability that an un-resoled natural leather sole offers while still wearing them outdoors, you will need to treat the sole with a special, very strong impregnation. That way you will prevent it from soaking up moisture and extend the life of the shoes.
Whenever possible, limit walking in the rain. Avoid puddles altogether. Leather footwear must be dried on shoe trees and slowly, ideally for at least three days. Never put leather shoes on a radiator to dry – they could crack. Once completely dry, apply a nourishing cream and re-impregnate them.
The shoe tree is your best friend
Are your leather shoes not currently on your feet? Then they should be on shoe trees. The best shoe trees are made of cedar wood. Their size follows the size of the footwear. A quality shoe tree helps preserve the original shape of the shoes and gently draws out moisture.
The ideal solution is to keep several pairs of leather shoes in the cabinet and rotate them regularly. While you wear one pair, the other is resting at home on its shoe trees.
Wearing shoes all day leaves its mark not only on the outside. Perspiration does its share of work. That is why you should air your footwear regularly. Cedar wood shoe trees also help remove excess moisture. You can also add a special shoe deodorant, but only put the shoes on after it has dried. So if you are in a hurry in the morning, apply the shoe deodorant the evening before.
Learn how to put shoes on and take them off properly
Yes, even small children learn how to do it. Unfortunately, we adults often forget and slip our shoes on without using a shoehorn. An even worse offence is taking shoes off the so-called "shoe against shoe" way. You can ruin the heel counter or scratch the leather.
Do not wait until a small hole grows into the proverbial shark. Take those few minutes and bring your shoes to the cobbler in time. The repair will then be smaller and can be completely invisible. On top of that, you will save money.
Think about maintenance already when buying leather footwear. Get yourself a shoe cream, a new brush, impregnation and shoe trees. Good shops will offer you everything you need. We will be glad to advise you on choosing shoes and caring for them properly at Blažek stores.
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