Clean Leather Shoes
Treated leather and suede leather shoes should be cleaned with different products and methods. Clean them every 3 months and condition them once a year. Read more below to learn how to clean leather shoes.
Contents
Steps
Cleaning Leather Shoes
- Find out whether the leather is finished or unfinished. You should look on the shoe tag or on the shoe box.
- Untreated leather requires different cleansers than treated leather. Most leather shoes are treated.
- Remove caked on dirt or stains with a soft brush. Rub the brush against the surface of the shoes until it loosens.
- Rub a clean, dry cloth against the entire surface of the leather shoes.
- Dampen the cloth lightly. Wipe it against the surface of the shoes with the grain of the leather. Only do this with finished leather.
- Treat unfinished leather with saddle soap. It is available in most shoe and tack stores. Dampen a cloth, rub some saddle soap onto it and rub together to get a lather. Apply the lather to the shoes, while rubbing gently. Wipe away the lather. Let the shoes dry completely inside.
- Allow the leather to dry completely, by placing it in open air inside.
- Do not place the shoes near a heater or in the sunlight. Both can cause cracking and discoloration.
- Treat the leather.
- Apply cream polish in the same color as the shoes, if you are cleaning finished leather. Leather polish is available in most shoe stores. Apply the cream polish with a soft cloth. Let it sit for a few minutes, then buff to a shine with a clean soft cloth or soft brush. Add a drop of water to the soft cloth to bring to a shine.
- Apply an oil like mink oil to unfinished leather. This helps preserve the leather. Apply with a clean cloth. Buff with a clean soft cloth.
- Store leather shoes outside of the box. Give them a day's rest in between wearing them to allow them to air out. With these steps, they will last longer.
Cleaning Suede Shoes
- Buy a suede brush at a shoe store. These specialized brushes have a small wire implement and bristle that helps keep suede's natural nap.
- Use a rubber pencil eraser to remove scuffs and smudges on the surface of the suede.
- Brush the shoes all over with a suede brush. Brush in 1 direction.
- Remove stains on the shoes.
- If your suede shoes have got wet, remove excess liquid with a paper towel. Then, allow them to dry naturally. Brush the shoes with a suede brush after they have dried.
- If your suede shoes have grease spots, apply talcum powder to the stain. Rub it deep into the stain. Then, allow it a few hours to dry. Brush with a suede brush to remove the grease.
- Apply a silicone based spray to weatherproof suede shoes. This should be done immediately after they are purchased, and again each year.
- Store suede shoes in the open air. You may want to use a shoe tree. Give them time to air out in between wearing them.
Tips
- Clean patent leather shoes with a mixture of mild soap and water. Wipe them clean with a soft wet rag. Apply a silicone based polishing product to return the shine.
- Do not apply silicone-based weatherproofing or products to treated leather. They have been pre-treated and they will likely discolor the product.
- You can substitute wax polish for cream polish on leather shoes. The cream polish helps maintain shine and leather condition longer.
Things You'll Need
- Soft brush
- Soft cloths
- Water
- Cream polish
- Saddle soap
- Mink oil
- Suede brush
- Rubber eraser
- Talcum powder
- Silicone-based weather-proofer
- Shoe tree
Related Articles
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