Dirty shoes? How to Clean Suede and Leather Shoes. A simple guide.

 

It all depends on the severity of the mark, stain, or dirt on the shoe. If your suede/nubuck shoes get caught in the rain or get wet, the first thing to do is let them dry in a dry place away from heat sources. Once dry, use a soft-bristle brush (always brushing in the same direction) to restore the material's original vitality.

If the shoes are dry and have more visible marks (mud or similar), simply dab the marks with a slightly damp sponge, without applying too much pressure. It is important to let everything dry away from heat sources and not in the sun.

 

How to clean oil and grease stains from shoes:

There is nothing worse for our shoes, especially on light fabrics, but everything has a remedy! The important thing is to act as soon as possible so that the fibers do not fully absorb the oily substance. Do not use sponges before following this guide or you risk spreading the dirt around:

1. Apply talcum powder or starch to the affected area

2. Place a layer of absorbent paper on top and put a weight on it

3. Leave it to work for at least half an hour

4. After the time has passed, use a soft sponge dampened with water to remove the talcum powder or starch.

5. Let everything dry. If the stain has not gone away or diminished satisfactorily, the process can be repeated, but you risk damaging healthy areas of the shoe as well.

Note: leather shoes are less likely to get oil or grease stains, but it is still possible. If they do not come off with a damp sponge, use a shoe cream in the same color as the leather to cover the damage. Make sure to use the closest possible color or you risk having shoes in different colors! You can lightly blend the area with the sponge so that it is less noticeable. The same applies to scratches on leather shoes.

 

For minor stains on Suede, Nubuck and other delicate fabrics:

1. Rub the shoe with a special soft cloth to remove light dirt.

2. Rub with a soft suede/nubuck brush using circular motions. Do not linger too long on one area or you will damage the fabric!

3. Apply the spray / dry cleaner for Nubuck or Suede to the particularly dirty area.

4. Dab with a soft dry cloth.

 

To clean Leather footwear:

1. Remove the laces.

2. Remove the dirt with a damp cloth. 

3. Wait 5 min for it to dry completely.

4. Apply the protective cream with a special sponge. For black leather, it is advisable to use black shoe cream. For other colors, we recommend a neutral cream because otherwise you risk altering the original color of the upper.

 

How to clean the sole or the rubber:

1. For the bottom part (sole), a brush can be used to remove dirt.

2. For the side rubber, simply use a wet synthetic cloth. Detergents can be used on both sections, but not when the rubber is, for example, white, because the product can yellow or alter the original material.

 

Maintenance for suede and nubuck shoes:

This footwear should be brushed often to prevent dirt and dust from accumulating between the fibers. It is important to use a brush with light bristles if the fabric is light, and dark bristles if the fabric is dark. Always brush in the same direction so as not to damage the nap. After this maintenance treatment, neutral suede protection sprays can also be applied (sparingly), which make it more resistant to water and dirt.

 

Maintenance for leather shoes:

Leather needs to be treated occasionally to maintain its original shine. First clean the shoes with a soft cloth and then apply the neutral cream with the special sponge using circular motions. The cream should be spread evenly over the shoe and left to dry for a few minutes. Quality leather footwear, if treated with care, can last for decades!

 

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Our footwear brands: Tods, Hogan, Balmain, Dsquared2, Saucony, Sergio Rossi, Stuart Weitzman, Church's, Kendall+Kylie, Philipp Plein, Moncler, Atlantic Stars