Caring for Quality Footwear: A Guide
Making the Most of Your Investment, Step-by-Step
When you buy quality shoes, you are investing in your health. The better you care for your new shoes, the longer they will last and the more likely you are to maximize your return on that investment.
As with any fine leather product, proper care of leather shoes is essential to the upkeep of appearance, comfort and wear. Instead of wearing the same pair of shoes every day, consider alternating them with another pair from your wardrobe. You’ll find in the long run that doing so will prove to be less costly, as each pair will wear longer and feel better.
Some shoes made with genuine full-grain leather are handcrafted for comfort. Briar marks and other leather imperfections are characteristics of natural hides. You’ll find no attempt hide or replace them with dyes and stains. Such marks add to the natural beauty of full-grain leathers.
Here are some guidelines to help you make sure you’ll get the most from your footwear.
Croc
- Spray a small amount of patent leather cleaner directly on the shoes.
- Wipe with a dry rag to provide luster.
Fabric
- Use a nylon bristle brush, such as the SAS Nubuck Shoe Brush, to lightly brush away dirt from the fabric. Wipe with a damp cloth or rag.
- Make sure the shoe is dry before lightly coating it with water repellent.
Full Grain
- Apply shoe cleaner.
- Wipe with a damp cloth or rag. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 as necessary.
- Allow the shoe plenty of time to dry.
- Apply a wax polish or soft leather cream polish in the appropriate color to the newly cleaned areas. Allow for the shoe to dry once again.
- Buff polished areas with a clean soft rag or shoe brush in order to create luster finish.
Laminate Foil
- Gently rub the shoe with a damp cloth or rag to remove dirt.
- Allow the shoe plenty of time to dry. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 as necessary.
- Wipe with a dry rag to provide luster.
Laminate Nubuck
- Gently rub the shoe with a damp cloth or rag to remove dirt.
- Allow the shoe plenty of time to dry. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 as necessary.
- Ensure the shoe is dry before lightly coating with water repellent.
Laminate Suede
- Gently rub the shoe with a damp cloth or rag to remove dirt.
- Allow the shoe plenty of time to dry. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 as necessary.
- Ensure that the shoe is dry before lightly coating with a water repellent.
Nubuck
- Use a nylon bristle brush, such as the SAS Nubuck Shoe Brush to lightly brush away dirt.
- Spray Suede/Nubuck leather cleaner on shoes. Use scrub cap from cleaner to loosen excess dirt.
- Wipe clean with a soft dry rag and let shoe dry.
- Make sure the shoe is dry before lightly coating with water repellent.
Oily Nubuck
- Use a nylon bristle brush, such as the SAS Nubuck Shoe Brush, to lightly brush away dirt.
- Spray suede/Nubuck leather cleaner on shoes. Use the scrub cap from cleaner to loosen any excess dirt.
- Wipe clean with a soft dry rag and let shoe dry.
- Make sure that the shoe is dry before lightly coating with a water repellent.