Your leather shoes are an investment, but no matter what you do, they are bound to get dirty and scuffed. Once you buy them, you must also retain a schedule to clean them. If left unattended, leather shoes could crack, fade, and become unusable. However, the process of maintaining leather can be tedious, and regular DIY methods and solutions may end up damaging your expensive footwear.
The need to care for your leather shoes
Leather is a high-end material that requires high-end maintenance. It is sensitive to dirt, oils, and other moisture on your person and in the environment, which breaks it down over time. Overexposure to water and the usage of harsh chemicals can only strip your footwear of its natural oils and damage it.
How to clean your leather shoes?
First, understand your leather fabric – is it hard or soft like suede? Most expensive leather shoes carry the manufacturer’s instructions. It is best to check for this before you begin the cleaning process. Suedes are prone to water- and oil-based stains. That is why you must use a specialised leather cleaner that covers the entire surface of your shoes.
Now, you know that you need a leather cleaner. Spot-test it before you use it on the entire surface of your shoes. You must get a product that suits all types and colours of leather. Find the hidden section of your footwear and apply a bit of the cleaner. Wait to see if there’s a reaction after it dries fully.
Instantly remove stains from shoes. Immediate cleaning is always the best defence against stains. The sooner you clean it, the better because leather is absorbent, and when you spill something on it and let it set, it is the hardest to remove.
You can use various types of cleaning methods depending on what best suits your leather shoes. Some of them are:
- Apply a conditioner, wait for some time, and buff it with a cloth.
- Use a cream or wax polish to reduce scuffs – wax helps resist water.
- Since leather is not naturally waterproof, use a leather spray for protection
- Brush your shoes regularly after usage to prevent dirt buildup
Shoe Cleaning Services in Dubai with Laundrybox
While cleaning your leather shoes at home may seem easy, it can lead to loss of shape and integrity and harm your footwear. It is best to turn to professional shoe cleaning specialists, such as Laundrybox, who perform restorative treatments for your expensive leather boots and other designer footwear to maintain them.
