How to Care for Leather Shoes
You have always trusted your good old pair of fine leather shoes, on all important occasions in your life. Be it impressing your potential employer or finalizing that business deal or meeting your girlfriend's parents, you can always rely upon leather footwear to make an impression. Leather is pretty expensive and if you choose to opt for designer footwear, it might cost you a fortune. Hence, taking proper care of your leather shoes is a must.
Most people think that polishing their shoes daily is enough to take care of them. But, this is not true. You have to undertake a regular shoe-care routine, if you wish to preserve them in the long run. A typical shoe-care routine would involve the following steps.
Cleaning
After using your shoes, clean them with a piece of cloth. This helps to remove that dust particle, which are clinging to the shoe. You can also use a brush to clean the stubborn particles. Make the cleaning routine stricter in the rainy season, because the mud that sticks to the shoes dries up and results in flaking of the leather. If possible, avoid wearing leather footwear during monsoons. Use cleaning solutions like creams, gels, foams and sprays to clean the grime inside the crevices.
Conditioning
You can opt for a good quality shoe conditioner available in the market or you can also use petroleum jelly. Dab some petroleum jelly on the shoe, and wipe it in circular motions with a soft cloth. Condition your shoes, at least once in a week, to retain the shine. Select the conditioner, according to the texture of the leather. Dry the shoes properly, after conditioning.
Polishing
Use a branded shoe polish to shine your shoes. Do not compromise on the quality of the polish. Polish your shoes regularly, depending upon the usage. A fresh coat of polish can completely change the look of old, worn-out shoes. However, if you wish to change the color of your footwear, do not try to do it by using a different shoe polish. You can go to the shoe repair shop and get the color changed.
Storing
If you don't use your leather footwear regularly, you should store them in a proper way. Never put away your shoes, immediately after use. Allow them to dry properly; otherwise, they will be covered in fungus. Dust some talcum powder and cover the inside of the shoe with paper-napkin. Wrap the shoes carefully in a paper, without disturbing their shape and store them in a cloth bag.
Protecting
Leather footwear is likely to catch fungal infestation. To protect your shoes from fungus, always dry them well after you use them. Even if you find your shoes covered in fungus, do not worry. You can always get rid of the fungus. Take a toothbrush and soap solution and clean the fungus from the shoe. Clean the crevices properly and make sure there is no trace of the infestation. Dry the shoes in bright sunlight.
A little care is what you need to make your investment in leather shoes worthwhile. I hope the above tips will help you to preserve your treasure for a long time.
