Leather is well-known for being a luxury material when it comes to shoes and clothing. So, owning a nice pair of leather shoes is a wonderful thing for any wardrobe. Whether you are obsessed with leather or you just have one nice pair on standby, this purchase comes with some essential continuing care aspects that you have to do to keep the quality of your shoes intact. Follow the tips below, and your leather shoes should last for many years.
Clean Them Each Time You Wear Them
Leather shoes, in order to avoid staining, have to be cleaned every time you wear them. If you forget, even one time, your shoes are at risk of looking terrible and being permanently changed for the worse. Stains on leather are notoriously difficult to get out and equally as easy to get in. However, it is inevitable that when you wear them, they will get marked at some point. So, have some basic care set up for when you get back home and everything should work out okay. You’ll need a dry cloth to wipe them down, soap and water for a light layer of cleaning and another cloth to properly dry the shoes after.
Use a Top Quality Polish
Basic cleaning is one thing, but knowing how to polish is another essential step to leather shoe ownership. Using a top quality brand like Saphir shoe polish will increase the longevity of your shoes and give them the treatment they deserve. Try to get a high-quality cloth to match the polish and accept that it will take a few tries to really master the technique too. Polish is a good way of maintaining the leather and keeping it looking fresh.
Store Them Properly
Aside from these two rituals, you have to store the shoes correctly too. Dust bags made specifically for shoes are the general recommendation, and they fit nicely in your wardrobe too. Proper leather must never be thrown casually onto a shoe rack unless you are happy with it being exposed and at risk of deterioration.
Avoid Terrible Weather
Getting leather wet is not ideal, especially if it is for a pair of shoes that you really care about and have made a big investment in. So, while it is not always realistic, try to avoid bad weather when wearing your leather. Rain, snow, and mud are not conducive to positive leather well-being and you will definitely see more rapid signs of breakage if you go out in all weathers with minimal forethought. There are protective sprays and products you can use as a barrier to the elements, but the best protection comes from avoiding these circumstances altogether.
Leather shoes are a beautiful thing to own. Good quality leather lasts an eternity, moulds into the perfect pair of comfortable shoes, and looks amazing too. However, to make all those dreams come true you have to be the one to look after your asset and treat it right. Know the score on looking after leather and don’t forget to store the shoes correctly too. Every little step counts.
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