Caring for Leather Shoes - The Benefits of Proper Shoe Care

Care of leather shoes is not just about making your shoes look good, which would be reason enough to take care of them. It's also about preserving and adding to the life of your leather shoes. To really protect your leather shoes and keep them looking their best, there are four steps to follow.

• Clean

• Condition

• Polish

• Preserve or Weatherproof

General Instructions

The following general instructions pertain to caring for smooth leather shoes, such as man's or woman's leather dress shoes. To do a full and thorough session of leather shoe care, you'll want the following items. Be sure the products you buy are recommended for smooth leather shoes.

• Newspapers

• Gloves

• Soft Cotton Cloths or Rags

• Soft Shoe Brush (optional)

• Smooth Leather Shoe Cleaner

• Leather Conditioner for Smooth Leather Shoes

• Shoe Polish, or a Shoe Polish Alternative

• Leather Protectant (Waterproofing Product)

Cleaning Leather Shoes

Remove dirt by cleaning with a leather cleaner made specifically for smooth leathers. You can use saddle soap or a smooth leather shoe cleaner. Shoe cleaners come in gels, foams, sprays, liquids and creams. Many leather shoe cleaners come with an applicator top, or you can use a soft shoe brush to aid in removing dirt from the surface of the shoe. This will also help to remove dirt from any cracks in the shoes. After cleaning, let the shoes dry for a few minutes and begin shining the shoes with a soft cotton cloth - either a shoe shine cloth, or even an old t-shirt, as long as it's soft and made of cotton.

Conditioning Leather Shoes

Conditioning your leather shoes will help soften and moisturize the leather, and protect it from drying out and cracking. Certain types of leather, and shoes worn in dryer climates might need to be conditioned more often. Some shoe cleaning products will clean and condition your shoes, but if you want your shoes to get the full treatment, or used a product specifically for cleaning, the next step is to condition your smooth leather shoes. Of course, you'll want a conditioner made for the specific type of shoe you're working on. Also, look for a natural conditioner that is absorbed into the material of the shoe, as opposed to a synthetic conditioner that sits on top of the surface. Rub small amounts of conditioner into the shoe, until the entire shoe has been covered with conditioner. After a couple of minutes, wipe any remaining conditioner off of the shoes, as the leather will only absorb what it can.

Polishing Leather Shoes

Shoe polishes are available in liquid, cream or paste. Liquid shoe polish dries quickly, but is not readily available in a lot of colors and does not last as long as the other options. Shoe polish paste is the longest lasting, but is very messy and slow to work with. Shoe polish cream is a great compromise, and is available in lots of colors. Of course you'll need to get the appropriate color of polish for you shoes. Apply the polish to a small, less conspicuous area of the shoe to test and be sure the color is right. Rub the polish into the shoe with a soft cloth, and allow it to dry thoroughly. After the shoe polish is dry, shine your shoes by buffing them with a soft cloth or brush made specifically for shining shoes.

Weatherproofing Leather Shoes

Weatherproofing leather shoes will help to protect them from water and other elements that can ruin the finish and shorten the life of your shoes. Different weatherproofing products serve different purposes, so you should choose wisely. For example, if it is essential that your shoes are waterproof because you spend a lot of time in wet or messy conditions, and a pretty finish is not as is important, a beeswax product would be a better choice than a protective spray. Beeswax products form a protective layer over the surface of the shoe or boot instead of being absorbed into the leather. This provides a better barrier against water, but the additional layers can alter the appearance of the shoes. If the appearance of the shoe or boot is of more importance than the weatherproofing properties, a spray protectant should do the trick. By providing a breathable barrier against mild to moderate wet conditions and dirt, this type of weatherproofing product is virtually invisible on your shoes or boots.