How to care for leather and suede shoes

You have undoubtedly heard the time-worn dictum that a man or a woman dyes shoes. It’s a cliché, but true. The right shoes are the best investment a wardrobe can make. Pick the right pair, treat her well, and she will be your long-term companion. In this shoe care guide, we've compiled a list of ways to care for two types of shoes, leather and suede, each with its own characteristics. Learn how to take care of leather and suede shoes without any hassle. Go!

Leather shoe care

In the shoe world, Jason Markk is synonymous with quality shoe care. “I've been with shoes on you since childhood,” he said. “Keeping it clean was imperative.” Mark had a moment of enlightenment while cleaning his sneakers in 2006. He knew he could do better. So he hired a chemist and developed his own shoe shiner. This marked the beginning of what is now a ten-year, well-established shoe care brand and a successful L.A. store dedicated to bringing customers' footwear back to life.

Jason Markk Shoe Cleaners

Many people are attracted to high quality leather shoes because they only get better with age. But without proper care, shoes won't last long. Markk explained how best to take care of leather shoes. Read on for advice on how to best keep your leather shoes in good condition.

Clean your shoes

You will need a bowl of clean water, a microfiber towel, brushes, and a shoe cleaner. Remove the laces. Dip the brush in water, apply a small amount of the solution and start brushing. When the solution foams, wipe the shoes with a clean microfiber cloth. Repeat until the surface is clean and then air dry.

Use wooden blocks

Once the shoes are clean and mostly dry, use cedar wood to keep them in shape. This will also allow excess moisture to evaporate.

Wooden pads are much better than analogues made from other materials

Store shoes in a cool dry place

This is very important: direct sunlight, moisture and heat will damage your shoes, so you need to leave them in a closed, cool and dry place (even if you did not save the box in which you purchased).

Always clean by hand

Always clean your shoes by hand to help them last longer

It goes without saying, but Mark was determined about this: 'Never throw your leather (or any other) shoes in the washer or dryer!' The amount of water and agitation will destroy it from the inside.

Buy new laces

New laces will refresh the look of your shoes

New laces can make all the difference. Old laces can ruin the look of even the most well-groomed shoes.

Polishing leather shoes

Shoe polishing is a necessary part of proper care and keeping a pair of leather shoes or boots in good condition. Polishing moisturizes and protects the leather from moisture, prolonging the life of the shoe. There are several methods for polishing leather shoes, the method described below is borrowed from the army walls, so believe the shoes will shine brighter than fire.

Gather the necessary materials and get ready

Get everything you need to polish your leather shoes

You will need:

• Shoe polish
• Horsehair brush
• Ordinary shoe brush
• Cotton pads
• Fabric (any fabric will do, but suede is better)

Find an old towel or newspaper to spread over the areas where you will be working. Shoe polish has the uncanny ability to smudge all over the place, even if you're very careful.

Clean your shoes

First, remove dirt and dust from your shoes

Use a horsehair brush or damp cloth to remove dust and dirt from the surface. If you have to wet your shoes to clean up the dirt, let them dry before you apply the shoe polish.

Apply shoe polish

Thoroughly smear shoes with shoe polish

Apply a generous amount of shoe polish with a regular brush or rag. The shoe polish is not as important as the color – match it closer to the color of the shoe. Make sure you cover your shoes well, especially at the seams. Wait 15 minutes for the shoe polish to dry.

Remove excess

A thin film of shoe polish should remain on the shoe

Brush all shoes vigorously using a horsehair brush. The essence of this is to get rid of excess shoe polish, leaving only a small film on the surface.

Buff with a cloth

The final stage of polishing. After that, the shoes will shine

Using a suede cloth, wipe the shoes to give them even more shine, while breathing on them for a mirror shine.

Pay special attention to the heel and toe

Once you've made sure the entire shoe has been covered and brushed, it's time to focus on the toe and heel for that extra shine. Dip a cotton ball in the water and squeeze out the excess to keep it slightly damp. Apply shoe polish to it and wipe the heel and toe area in a circular motion. Wait, it will take a while for it to dry. You can repeat this step until you get the desired result.
That's it, now your shoes shine like never before. In order not to forget anything, here is an illustrated cheat sheet for polishing leather shoes.

Illustrated crib for polishing leather shoes.

How to care for suede shoes

“Do whatever you want, but get off my suede shoes,” Elvis hummed in Blue Suede Shoes.

And the king had a good reason for that: suede is very difficult to care for. If your favorite suede shoes need care, use this practical guide to bring them back to life.

Suede shoes look stylish and sophisticated

Get the tools and accessories you need

If you want your suede to look great, you need at least a suede brush and suede protective spray. Depending on the damage, you may also need a suede eraser, pads, brush, sponge, and cornstarch.

Prevent stains right from the start

The best way to protect suede shoes is not to wear them until after they have applied a protective layer against water and stains. It will protect the material and make cleaning easier. Remember to apply protection every time you clean.

Use a brush

The suede brush is a versatile tool that can fight most stains

To remove dirt and scuffs, use the suede brush in the same direction. This will lift the fluff and remove dirt. If scratches remain, repeat back and forth several times until they disappear. If that doesn't work, scrape the area with a knife to raise the nap. If it still won't budge, take out the suede eraser and rub it into tough stains

Use special paint

Apply suede paint periodically to help renew it. Depending on the tone of the shoe, the ink can be colored or colorless.

Store your shoes properly

Store suede shoes only in a cardboard box, away from sunlight and batteries. And under no circumstances put it in a plastic bag.

Each suede stain is treated individually

Stains on shoes are not uncommon, especially on suede ones, so stock up on the necessary funds and be ready to use them

So, let's look at typical pollution and methods of dealing with them:

• Dirt stains: Once the dirt has dried and hardened, use a brush to remove the remaining dirt particles, always moving in the same direction.
• Water stains: This sounds paradoxical, but the outside of the shoe should be slightly soaked. Apply with a sponge or dry cloth to the outside, absorbing excess water and ensuring even moisture everywhere. Fill shoes with paper (don't use newspapers – ink seeps into shoes) or a wooden block and let them dry overnight. This will help keep the shoe in shape. Once the shoes are dry, lightly brush them using your much-loved suede brush.
• Oil stains: First try attacking the stain with a suede brush, brushing vigorously back and forth. If not, kick out the brush and repeat. If the stain stays in place, don't despair – try sprinkling it with cornstarch. Let it sit overnight, then shake off any starch from the surface. If the stain persists, I would like to express my condolences: perhaps it will remain there.
• Ink: If the stain is still wet, blot it with a rag. Then wipe with a cloth dampened with alcohol. If already dry, sanding is a common method followed by a suede eraser.
• Wax and rubber: Place your shoes in a thin plastic bag and place them in the freezer overnight. This will harden the wax / gum and will now be much easier to remove with a suede brush.
• Blood: I can't say I've ever spilled blood on my suede shoes, but you know, some people do it (and it's easy to fix)! Use a cotton ball dipped in peroxide until the stain comes out. If the stain stubbornly remains in place, clean it with a soft toothbrush.
• Red wine: Soak a cloth in cool water and wring out. Wipe the stain, brush it off and leave to dry.
• Salt stains: Pour water and about ½ of the vinegar into a container. Dampen a clean cloth with the solution and wipe away the stains little by little. Once you're done, you can return with another cloth soaked in a little water to wipe down your shoes. Then leave it to air dry.

How to take care of shoes – video

Finally

Now that all has been said and done, we hope that the guide has helped and from now on you will be more careful with your shoes and clean them like any expert. Knowing how to take care of leather and suede shoes will allow you to keep your favorite or expensive shoes for several seasons.