How To Take Care Of Leather Shoes In 5 Steps

A good quality pair of leather shoes don’t often come cheap, so it’s important to take the necessary leather shoe care steps to keep them looking their best.

With the proper tools by your side, you can maintain your shoes for longer or breathe new life into them - just by giving them a bit of elbow grease every once and awhile. 

If you’re on the hunt for new ways to look after your leather shoes but aren’t quite how to get started, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a step by step guide for those wondering how to take care of leather shoes. 

Leather Shoe Care Essentials: What Do You Need?

Before you establish your own leather shoe care routine, there are a few things you’re going to need:

• Shoe Polish
• 1 x Welt brush
• 1 x Buffing brush
• 1 x Polishing cloth 
• 1 x Clean rag.

This Loake Shoe Care Kit is a great time-saver, containing everything you’ll ever need to keep your leather shoes in tip-top shape. 

How To Take Care Of Leather Shoes 

Prep The Shoe 

The first step of your leather shoe care routine is to spend a few minutes preparing your shoes. 

Since they’re just going to get in the way, start by removing the laces and place them off to the side for now. 

Next, insert a shoe tree - this will make it easier to get into the deeper nooks and crannies as you clean and polish. The Loake Shoe Tree is perfect - with aromatic cedar wood and brass detailing.  

Remove Dust And Dirt

Before you polish the shoes, it’s important to remove any specs of dirt or grime from the surface - after all, it’s always better working with a clean canvas. 

Use a clean cloth and a spritz of water to give the shoes a quick wipe over with a clean rag - then let the shoes air-dry before applying the polish. 

Apply Shoe Polish

There are many different ways you can apply a quality polish to your shoes, whether it’s with a polishing cloth or with a small brush. You can use whichever you feel you have more control over.

Gently massage the polish into the leather with a cloth or small brush, moving in a small circular motion. 

When you’re applying a cream polish, be sure not to overdo it - less is more. Afterwards, let the shoes air-dry for about 5 to 10 minutes. 

Now that the leather has absorbed the polish, it’s time to buff off the excess with a larger buffing brush.

Using larger strokes and moderate pressure, the polish will smooth-out while the friction between the bristles and polish will create a stunning shine. 

Finishing Touches

Remove any excess polish with a clean rag while ensuring the surface is looking nice and even.  After letting them dry for another 10 minutes, re-lace your shoes. 

Before you know it, your shoes will be looking as good as new. 

Why Should You Polish Your Shoes?

At this point, you may be wondering if the whole leather shoe care process is worth it. Other than a shiny shoe, what are you getting out of the process?

There are plenty of benefits that come hand in hand with regularly maintaining your leather shoes. For example, cleaning and polishing regularly will extend the life of your shoes, make them more durable against scuffs, and prevent the leather from breaking down. Over time, this will save you from having to buy shoes as frequently, putting more money in your pocket. 

If that’s not enough, a clean, polished set of shoes completes the professional look - especially since the process makes your shoes look brand-spanking new. 

How Often Should You Clean Your Leather Shoes?

How regularly you clean your shoes will largely depend on how often you’re wearing them. 

For example, if you’re rocking your leather shoes every day of the week, you may need to give them a touch up every 7 days. Otherwise, for shoes that are only worn every once and a while, you can get away with cleaning them every month. 

By taking these proper leather shoe care steps, you can ensure your shoes are getting the love they need to last you over the long haul. 

Aside from leather shoes, click here for the other must-have essentials of every man’s wardrobe.