For this we need
(cleaning from dust and dirt) or (cleaning from shoe cosmetics deposits)
(milk for cleansing, nourishing and restoring the skin)
(cream wax for basic polishing and color restoration. Colors: neutral, black, dark brown, dark blue)
(wax from 7 natural ingredients, polishing and shine)
Natural horsehair.
Natural horsehair.
(water-repellent impregnation)
Due to the busy schedule of life in a metropolis, we often miss important details, such as the condition and shine of our own shoes. However, it is in business leather shoes that you will attend one business meeting after another throughout the week.
We have created especially for the modern gentleman simple instructions, following which you can become a shoe care professional right now. Having tried most of the shoe care and shoe cosmetics available in the world, for this instruction we have selected the best of them: French Saphir products, a company with more than a century of history. Its products are made only from natural ingredients, such as beeswax, mink oil, lanolin oil and jojoba oil. Follow our instructions and try shoe care from genuine leather at home:
Step 1. Cleaning from dirt
Care leather shoes must certainly begin with cleaning. To prepare the couple for more deep cleaning and restoration, you first need to remove visible dirt: to do this, simply go over the entire shoe with our natural horsehair brush
- If there is dirt, dust or other natural pollutants on your shoes If there are traces of street dirt, stains, salt deposits and other natural pollutants on your shoes, clean them with Saphir Etalon Saddle Soap. To apply the soap you will need a smudge brush. Dip the bristles of the brush into a container of water and grab a small amount of soap. Use the brush in a circular motion over the shoes until the entire surface is covered with soapy foam solution. Wipe the surface with a cotton napkin (or an old cotton T-shirt) and let the shoes dry. Ideally, let the shoes sit overnight.
- If there are deposits of a chemical nature on the shoes If you want to remove care products accumulated on shoes or, as often happens, deposits of low-quality shoe cosmetics, we recommend using Saphir Reno’Mat. Apply a small amount of product to a napkin wrapped around your finger and wipe the dirty areas in a circular motion. Saphir Reno'Mat will effectively dissolve chemical deposits such as silicone residue or old polishing wax.
Which Sapphire product should you choose? For professional care of leather shoes, it is worth having both products, but if you have to choose, take Saphir Etalon saddle soap.
Step 2. Restoring shoes
In case of relatively minor contamination, as well as if comprehensive care has been carried out recently, we recommend immediately starting cleaning with Saphir Leather Lotion. Apply a small amount to your shoes or a cotton cloth tied around your toe. Rub the sapphire product into your shoes using circular motions. Do not forget to periodically change the working area of the napkin, as during cleaning there will be traces of dirt, previously used creams or waxes on it. This is fine.
Leave the shoes on for 10 minutes and then use our brush to move them from side to side. A slight shine will appear on the shoes, as the lotion contains natural wax.
Step 3. Polishing shoes with cream
The next step in the instructions is initial polishing. For this purpose, you should choose high-quality shoe polish made from natural ingredients. Cheap creams containing silicone and rubber contribute to the formation of deposits and can seriously damage leather shoes. One of the best primary polishes in the world is Saphir Pommadier. This cream wax contains only natural ingredients for natural shine, as well as high-quality coloring pigment to restore the color of leather shoes. To apply the cream evenly, use our applicator brush. Dip the brush into the jar of cream and grab a small amount of cream. Using rotational movements, evenly distribute the cream over the surface of the shoe. You can also use a cotton napkin for application. Ideally, let the shoes sit for one hour, but if this is not the case, 5 minutes will be enough for most of the cream to be absorbed into the shoes. Once the cream has dried, brush the surface of the shoe with a natural horsehair brush. Use a firm, side-to-side brushing motion and light pressure. Repeat the process 2-3 times until a matte shine appears.
Step 4. Finish polishing the shoes
If you are satisfied with the matte shine after the previous step, then you can skip this step. However, if you want to get a Mirror Shine effect (shining effect), then Saphir wax is ideal for this. Using a cotton cloth, grab a small layer of wax (the less the better!) and apply it to the front of the shoe in a circular motion with light pressure. One polishing cycle lasts 60-90 seconds. Please note: if wax gets into areas where shoes bend when you walk, unwanted white cracks will appear (if this happens, clean the area with Saphir Reno’Mat). Allow the wax to dry completely and soak in, then use a buffing brush to go over the shoe in a side-to-side motion using light pressure. Repeat the cycle until desired gloss level is achieved. When applying wax, we recommend avoiding shoe bends where the leather is prone to cracking.
Additionally: impregnation of shoes from water and dirt
Just one last touch left to complete professional care for shoes. To subsequently protect your updated pair from the unfavorable urban environment, Saphir Super Invulner shoe impregnation is ideal. Saphir water-repellent spray will reliably protect shoes made of suede, nubuck or leather from rain, snow, as well as from the penetration of dirt into the material. Use 1-2 times a month and this silicone-free shoe impregnation will help maintain appearance shoes on long years. At this point, care for leather shoes can be considered complete.
The Rendez-Vous shoe and bag care service consists of free care master classes conducted by the company's specialists in Rendez-Vous stores throughout Russia. Bring your shoes or bag and we'll show you how to properly care for them!*
THE UPCOMING MASTER CLASSES WILL BE HELD IN RENDEZ-VOUS STORES:
- MEGA Belaya Dacha(Moscow, 1st Pokrovsky pr-d, 5).
Period: - Fashion Season (Moscow Gallery)(Moscow, Okhotny Ryad st., no. 2).
Period: from November 27 to January 12. Thursday-Sunday from 10.00 to 22.00. - Metropolis(Moscow, Leningradskoe sh., 16a, building 4, Sector 10-03).
Period: - Chocolate(Moscow, MKAD 2 km, no. 2).
Period: from November 27 to January 12. Wednesday-Sunday from 10.00 to 22.00.
*One pair of shoes (both new and shoes with history) or a bag purchased in Rendez-Vous stores is accepted for restoration and cleaning. Shoes and bags made of textiles, nubuck and suede are not accepted for cleaning. The service is provided free of charge to all Privilège card holders and is provided on the condition that the product is added to the card.
Rules for conducting master classes on care
If you have just bought shoes, we will carry out the initial treatment and tell you how and how to care for them.
If you brought your shoes with you, we will clean them and repair them if necessary. The master will tell you and show you how to properly care for your shoes in the future.
If you come to the store wearing shoes that require care, we will conduct the master class on a special chair, where you can sit comfortably and watch the cleaning and care process. Your shoes will be transformed right on your feet!
We use Avel cosmetics for skin care. Since the 1920s, the company has been producing a line professional means Saphir brand care products, 100% made in France from natural ingredients. The line includes shades and compositions for exotic, finely tanned and finely colored leathers.
Reading time: 6 minutes. Published 12/17/2018
It is believed that a pair of shoes should last at least 3 years. Not everyone can achieve this result, because boots and shoes deteriorate due to rain, slush and dirt. To extend the life of your favorite shoes, you need to properly care for them and choose high-quality care products.
Choice of cream
When purchasing a shoe care product, you need to decide which type is best.
There are clear and colored creams on sale. The second option is indispensable in cases where there are scratches or abrasions on the shoes that need to be masked.
- Water-emulsion cream. Used mainly in spring and summer. This product is quite soft, which simplifies the treatment of shoes. The main advantage of the cream is that the shoes will not be deformed. The composition does not protect enough from moisture, but gives a beautiful shine. The product is available in tubes.
- Cream based on organic solvents. Ideal for rainy weather. The product must be applied in a thin layer. Once the treated shoes are dry, you can begin polishing them. Such care guarantees the absence of cracks. Moreover, the cream corrodes dirt, repels dust and provides excellent moisture resistance. This product has a subtle waxy smell.
To check the quality of the cream, just study its texture. If lumps are present, this indicates the presence of poorly purified chemicals in the composition. As a result, the protective film will turn out to be uneven, which means you can forget about moisture resistance.
The entire mass should be homogeneous and have the same shade. If peeling is noticeable near the walls of the container, this indicates a leak in the packaging.
You should not constantly use sponges for express cleaning. They add shine to shoes, but do not mask scuffs. It is worth noting that the shine will disappear after a few minutes, and the resulting film will attract dust.
Thick fat cream not suitable for expensive leather shoes. The product will saturate the surface. Light-colored shoes may stain. In this case, you should prefer a water-based, non-greasy cream.
Other means
The following shoe care products are often found on sale:
- Colored aerosols. Designed for patent leather and suede shoes. The products straighten suede hairs and restore the original shade.
- Balms and milk. Helps remove small scratches from the surface of patent leather shoes. These products also make shoes soft and shiny.
- Oils and shampoos. With their help, any shoes will look like new. You need to be careful when using such products. Careless application will most likely result in a damaged shade.
To care for your shoes you will need special tools. These are sponges, brushes, velvet cloths and shreds.
The owner of leather shoes should have a soft sponge, a natural bristle brush and a soft shred to add shine. Bring back freshness
Sponges, abrasive and rubber brushes will help.
Material-specific care
To make shoes last longer, when choosing care products you need to consider what material they are made of.
Leather
Immediately after purchasing leather shoes, you need to soak them protective agent, providing wear and moisture resistance. Subsequently, the procedure is repeated monthly.
Leather shoes are cleaned 2-3 times a week in several stages:
- removing dirt;
- drying;
- cleaning;
- polishing
Large lumps of dirt are cleaned off with a brush, and then the surface is wiped alternately with a damp and dry soft cloth. If the shoes are heavily soiled, you can gently rinse your shoes with warm water. After this, shoes or boots need to be wiped.
Heating devices are not suitable for drying shoes. Shoes should simply be placed in the room. To prevent the procedure from harming the material, you should put newspaper inside to absorb excess moisture.
For cleaning autumn and winter shoes Organic solvent based products are suitable. They form a thin film, so you don't have to polish your shoes. For summer shoes, you should choose a water-based cream.
Aerosol will be the best choice for shoes made from several pieces of leather. It is important to remember that you need to apply the cream 10 hours before going out.
Nubuck
Without proper care
quickly lose their attractive appearance. To avoid this, regular treatment is required.
Nubuck shoe care products can be used when the shoes or boots are completely dry. You will also need special brushes.
When choosing creams, you need to pay attention that the packaging is marked “for nubuck”. Products designed for smooth skin are definitely not suitable.
Varnish
Holders
you'll have to forget about the brushes. To care for shoes, only soft cloths and velvet are suitable.
This coating is considered very capricious, so shoes should not be worn often. Also, it should not be worn in cold or rainy weather.
Universal remedies are not the best choice for patent leather shoes. Such creams can corrode the varnish layer. Only water-based products are suitable for this material.
Suede
If your shoes are made of suede, you should buy special shoe care products.
To remove heavy dirt, you will need a regular brush, and to treat shiny areas, you will need a brush with a rubber tip. Colored aerosols are suitable for everyday care and adding rich shine.
After the purchase suede boots must be immediately treated with a moisture-proofing agent.
Suede is great for frosty, dry weather. Shoes made from this material are very soft and warm. It should not be worn in rain and slush, otherwise stains and streaks will appear on the suede.
Standard care for suede shoes is carried out as follows:
- You need to brush off dust and dirt from your boots.
- Glossy areas should be carefully rubbed with an eraser.
- If the shoes have heavy pollution, the brush must be moistened in a soap solution with the addition of ammonia in a ratio of 5:1. The suede is then washed with cold water to which a small amount of vinegar has been added. 1 tsp. enough for 1 liter of water.
- To polish shoes, use a lint-free soft cloth. It is also worth holding the boots over steam so that all the fibers straighten out.
Rules of care
There are several general rules that will help maintain the original appearance of the shoes:
- Before applying any cream, the surface of boots or shoes must be cleaned of dust and dirt with a dry microfiber cloth. The cream is applied to the dry surface with a special brush. When it is absorbed, you need to polish the material with a soft natural bristle brush.
- For shoes different shades You need to get separate sponges and brushes.
- To remove dirt from heels or soles, take a wet flannel cloth.
- Membrane shoes can only be treated with special products that do not clog pores.
- Rubber boots and sneaker soles should be washed with soapy water. You will also need a microfiber cloth and a brush.
- Water-repellent agents are used to impregnate shoes. It should be remembered that different compositions are suitable for nubuck and leather. It should also be taken into account that some waxes and creams have a water-repellent effect. IN in this case no additional impregnation is required.
- Shoes need to be cleaned regularly. For achievement maximum effect The cream should be allowed to absorb into the surface.
The color of the cream should match the shade of the shoes. As an exception, it is allowed to use more light shade. It is strictly forbidden to apply a product of a darker color.
- It is necessary to choose only high-quality products, for example, salamander shoe care products. Such creams and aerosols slow down the aging process of the skin. For complex materials it is worth selecting appropriate compositions.
- To prevent cracks from appearing on your shoes, you should use shoe trees when cleaning.
Modern shoes are very capricious. If it is constantly exposed to water, dust, dirt and temperature changes (and there is no other way), then it can quickly become unusable. Or rather, you can still wear the shoes themselves, but they will look pretty bad. To prevent this, experts recommend implementing proper care at least twice a week. IN otherwise, you will have to buy a new pair in a shoe store in a month or two. And shoes, as you know, today have a fairly high cost. What exactly is proper care? modern shoes, we will tell you in this article.
Among the elementary rules, we would like to note the prohibition of removing a shoe from one foot using the other. As for the donning process, the use of a horn is highly recommended. However, these are small things compared to what truly proper care involves, which includes cleaning, drying and scrubbing. Additional measures include polishing and impregnation, which we will also discuss below. website
1. Shoe cleaning
If your shoes are very dirty after going outside, it is recommended to rinse them with cold water within a minute after you enter the room. That is, dirt should not be allowed to dry on the surface. By the way, washing should be quick so that the shoes do not get wet. If the contamination is not too severe, you can clean it with a brush, or wipe the surface first with a damp and then with a soft, dry cloth. Leather shoes should never be washed in washing machine, especially using any detergents with chlorine bleach.
Suede and nubuck are very difficult to clean. It is recommended to do this in an extremely dry condition. Dirt is removed using special iron or rubberized brushes. They will help you ensure that your nubuck or suede shoes look neat and fuzzy. If the dirt is on the heel and sole, it can be removed with a damp flannel.
2. Drying shoes
If the shoes are wet, it is recommended to dry them at room temperature. It is strictly forbidden to dry shoes on a radiator, as well as using other heating and heating devices. In order for shoes to retain their shape, they must be stuffed with paper when wet, or special spacers must be used. If you do not want the dried shoes to harden, lubricate the surface with Vaseline immediately after drying. After a couple of hours, apply additional shoe polish and rub with a brush.
Heavily wet leather shoes should initially be wiped dry with a soft cloth. Felt boots are dried at high temperatures, but not more than 90 degrees. For felt shoes, the maximum is 50 degrees. We recommend buying two pairs for one season. This will help you dry the raw material naturally, in room conditions. As for rubber shoes, they are an isolated space inside, as a result of which the insoles must be thoroughly and regularly washed, and the shoes themselves must be disinfected from the inside. By the way, to the question of insoles. If you wash your insoles regularly, you can really extend the life of your shoes, boots, boots, and more.
3. Shoe cleaning
Shoes should be cleaned immediately after going outside, and not before leaving the house, since dried dirt can become embedded in the fabric. If you use a special product for care, carefully read the instructions for its use. Gels, creams and other cleaning products are applied with a sponge or brush. In this case, the surface must be dry. The product is evenly distributed over the entire surface, after which you need to wait from 5 to 30 minutes (depending on the product) until the composition is absorbed and completely dry.
Since the cream does not disappear during use, after using the product several times, it is necessary to wash your leather shoes with warm soapy water in order to get rid of old layers of cream. In addition, this will allow you to clean your shoes from dirt that was hidden under the cream. It is not recommended to wet leather shoes frequently. In winter and autumn, leather shoes should be lubricated with cream every day. Frequent lubrication will extend the life of your winter boots and also help them maintain their elasticity and softness. Remember that a high-quality cream must have water-repellent properties, which is additional protection against premature aging.
If you have different colored shoes and want to apply to different areas different means, you can use an old toothbrush for this. Light shoes cleaned with special colorless creams. It is not recommended to use products such as Vaseline, sunflower oil and baby cream for lubrication. Especially if the skin is soft. Using these products will cause your skin to become dull.
It is recommended to clean shoes made of suede or nubuck using aerosols, impregnations, rubber bands and creams designed specifically for shoes made of nubuck and suede. The manufacturers themselves insist on this. Once the dirt is removed from the surface, wipe it with a suede cleaning stone, or treat it with a special product. After this, let it dry and “comb” in one direction. Remember that it is not recommended to clean suede shoes with water, as the material may deteriorate. Make it a habit to treat your suede shoes with a water-repellent treatment once a month for added protection.
If shiny areas are found on suede shoes, they can be restored with fresh white bread crumbs or table salt. It is also recommended to use the “sulfur” surface of a new matchbox. You can straighten the lint on suede using steam from boiling water. Just hold the shoes over the pan for a while. If the suede is brown, you can use it to clean it. coffee grounds. Once the grounds are dry, all that remains is to simply wipe with a dry brush. If your black suede shoes are very worn, you can improve their appearance by smoking them over a candle.
Shoes made of textiles and synthetics are cleaned with a soft sponge. Sports synthetic shoes suitable for hand wash warm water (about 35 degrees), using laundry soap and a soft brush. After the shoes are washed, they must be thoroughly removed from the cleaning composition by rinsing. If you find the appropriate label, you can wash it in a washing machine, but only on the delicate cycle. Synthetic and textile shoes should not be washed using detergents containing chlorine bleach.
Plastic colored boots can be cleaned with Vaseline, which will help protect them from cracks and acquire a beautiful shine. Black satin shoes are cleaned with a cotton swab that needs to be soaked natural coffee. If we talk about felt boots, they are cleaned with sandpaper and a stiff brush. Shoes made of felt are cleaned with bran, talcum powder or dry sawdust. Patent leather shoes are treated with Vaseline, and if they are not used for a long time, they should be stored in old stockings. If you want to freshen up old leather shoes, rub them with orange zest or milk and turpentine. If leather shoes are too dry, warm water will help restore their elasticity. Keep the shoes in water for a while, then wipe them dry, lubricate them with glycerin and stuff the inside with paper to maintain their shape. Rubber shoes are rubbed with glycerin or refined sunflower oil.
If the shoes are new, and you want to give it shine, wipe its surface with a piece of lemon, then treat it with a piece of velvet cloth. If you don't want your feet to sweat or, God forbid, to become covered with fungus, periodically treat the inner surface with a disinfectant.
As for sole care, you will have to use special products for soles or regular oil, which lubricates its surface. This will help the sole remain elastic at all times, which, as you can imagine, will dramatically increase its durability. Sole treatment is especially recommended after walking in heavy rain.
4. Polishing shoes
Shoes are polished so that they acquire bright color and shine. For polishing, you can use special soaked sponges, aerosols, wax, creams, etc. Apply the product to the shoes and then polish with a brush. As for the brush, ideally it should be made of natural bristles. After brushing, use a polishing cloth, which can be purchased at a shoe or fabric store. To ensure perfect polishing, you can use water during the process. A small amount of water is applied to the polished shoes, smeared with cream, after which a cotton cloth is taken, with which the shoes are rubbed in a circular motion. For greater comfort, wrap a piece of cloth around your finger. At the end of the procedure, remove small particles from the surface of the shoe with a soft brush. This will help achieve maximum shine.
5. Impregnation of shoes
Shoes are impregnated so that they become water-repellent. As a consequence, the impregnation agent must also be water-repellent. Make sure your wax, gel or shoe polish is labeled as such.
6. Shoe storage
Storing shoes can be either short-term (everyday) or long-term (seasonal). In the first case we are talking about storage between daily wear, and in the second case we are talking about storage between separate seasons.
In addition to temporary classification, shoe storage is divided according to the conditions and method of storage into open and closed. Open storage involves the process of keeping them either in special boxes or simply on the floor. Closed storage involves the use of cabinets, mezzanines or closed boxes.
Before sending shoes for long-term storage, it is necessary to prepare them accordingly. This is the only way to achieve storage efficiency and safety. It is best to store in places away from sunlight and moisture. Remember that ultraviolet radiation can trigger oxidation in cells, especially if they are made of polymer materials. Thus, artificial rubber becomes covered with a hard crust when exposed to sunlight, rubber can crack, and plastic can age.
Moisture has the most impact on shoes Negative influence. Thus, boots made of synthetic and natural rubber may lose their elasticity if stored for a long time in a humid environment. Genuine leather shoes also change their properties. When storing, it is worth considering not only sun and moisture, but also the biological environment, which includes living organisms such as mold and insects. Particularly harmful is mold or mildew, which causes significant destruction. Natural shoes may be completely damaged by moths or carpet beetles. Fortunately, getting rid of all these living creatures can be quite simple. It is enough to periodically ventilate the places where your shoes are stored. By the way, everyday storage requires separate drying of insoles, which must be removed.
To ensure that your shoes, shoes and boots are stored in proper conditions, we recommend purchasing a special cabinet. Shoes can be stored here both daily and seasonally. To separate shoes according to storage conditions, there are separate sections. Such cabinets are made of wood or metal. The size of the closet is selected both according to the number of shoes stored and the available space in your apartment.
A shoe cabinet must have holes for good ventilation. If you don’t want to spend money on a closet, you can simply store your shoes in the hallway, on a rug, although for large quantity This option is not suitable for shoes. If you have a desire, make a small cabinet with shelves from wooden blocks, chipboard, plywood and wire, the diagram of which can be easily found on the Internet.
If you are going to send shoes for long-term storage, use shoe boxes, cabinets or closed mezzanines for this. But do not forget that shoes need to be prepared before storage. How to do it? First of all, clean it of dirt, wash it, dry it, rub it with a special product, and then ventilate it. So that no one appears inside nice smell, disinfect the inside of your shoes using disinfectants or a cotton swab soaked in vinegar essence. In the latter case, you need to place the tampon inside your shoes and wrap the shoes themselves plastic bag and tie it tightly. After 12 hours, remove the shoes from the bag and remove the cotton wool. fight with unpleasant odors can be carried out using potassium permanganate or hydrogen peroxide. Cotton wool soaked in these products should be used to wipe the inside of the shoe. There is no need to leave the cotton inside, as in the previous case.
Shoe zipper repair
Choosing shoe care products
If you are a lover of good shoes, then you undoubtedly know that they need good care. This article will focus on quality shoe care products. Shoes made exclusively from smooth leather. Suede, nubuck, dermantin, patent leather shoes that's a completely different topic.
Of course, initially, leather was not intended to at some point become a material for making shoes. And the most natural state for it, which allows it to retain its properties, is to cover the body of an animal. In this state, the skin receives various nutrients and everything it needs. Thanks to this, it remains elastic and durable, and even has the ability to recover.
The skin that is removed from an animal is devoid of all this. It will retain its properties for some time, but without proper care it quickly loses its properties. Caring for leather shoes has two purposes. Preserve its properties, as well as give it a beautiful appearance. Unfortunately, not many people really take care of their shoes. For many, care is limited to using a wet cloth to remove dirt. Others use tubes of cream and a sponge. There are also those who use cream, which is sold in any shoe store as a related product. For the most part, this is all that Russian offline offers. The best of the presented products are a couple of products from SALAMANDER. Here is a simple arsenal of such tools:
This “maintenance” of shoes takes no more than 5 minutes. However, this is not at all what shoes need. Personally, my desire to take good care of her only arose when I started buying quality shoes.
So, what does leather need that has become your favorite pair of shoes? Much depends on the time of year and operating conditions. However, regardless of all this, the skin needs the nutrition that it previously received from the animal itself. These are various fats and other components of metabolism. Without this, the skin dries out and cracks. In extreme cases it looks like this.
Even women sometimes use various moisturizing creams to keep the skin on some parts of the body soft and elastic. Used for shoes various oils and fats. As a rule, it is believed that oils are intended for more favorable operating conditions, and fats are intended for aggressive environments and more severe conditions. The oils look like ordinary machine oils. It has a pleasant smell and is quickly absorbed by the skin. You can apply a few drops directly to areas of the skin. Then they need to be ground. I prefer to do this with two fingers, some use a cloth or a brush.
When all the shoes have been treated with oil, you need to give them time to dry. You can then repeat the process again. Fat can be used in a similar way. It is thicker, but absorbs just as well when rubbed. I use fat for winter shoes, due to the abundance of reagents on the roads and low temperatures. This treatment, regardless of oil or fat, nourishes the skin. It becomes soft, does not crack from drying out and acquires water-repellent properties. Important reminder: If your shoes are not black, they will darken slightly after this treatment.
You cannot buy such protective equipment in our stores. True, there are several online stores selling shoe cosmetics, but most often the choice is limited to a couple of manufacturers. One of which is invariably French SAPHIR (I have nothing against it). Big choice as always, it offers with a lot of offers from American manufacturers. For example, here are the oils
Here are a couple of examples of shoe grease.
Here is a video to show you how to properly apply the product to shoes.
There are other manufacturers of similar protective equipment. By the way, production is usually “made in USA”. It is enough to carry out such treatment 1-2 times a year. At the beginning of the season, the same can be done at the end. This allows you to minimize the impact of the environment on the leather of your shoes. It also makes it much easier to remove dirt and prevents getting wet. Even if you accidentally step into the mud, it won't take long to remove it. Most often, it is enough to rinse with tap water.
However, this is not all your shoes need. By the way, I will say that I practically do not use creams, neither colored nor colorless. Manufacturers of high-quality shoes dye leather so that the dye penetrates deep into the leather, and small scratches do not disturb the color. Although if more serious damage has occurred, or there is a need to restore color, the use of a colored cream may be justified. And most likely even necessary.
For everyday care and beauty, you can use shoe conditioner. They also have protective properties. But they are intended for regular care. However, it is not necessary to apply it every day. Or after every shoe wear. I do this as needed. Conditioner is a cream-like liquid. Apply directly to the shoes and rub with a high-quality brush, and finally add shine with a piece of cloth.
A few words about brushes. It must be horsehair too. The vast majority of Chinese brushes are made from synthetic materials. Hair falls out, and they also cannot rub the product evenly and smoothly. Naturally, one brush is not enough. You definitely need to have a small brush to clean the stitching areas of the sole and upper leather part. Here good producers shoe brushes. These brushes are thick and their bristles are very soft.
I also use leather wax. It has high water-repellent properties. If oil and fat are more protective internal structure skin, the wax remains in a thin layer on the surface. Moisture and along with it salt and other reagents do not penetrate and do not destroy the surface of the skin. I think wax is especially necessary in winter. This is worth mentioning separately. Surely this picture is familiar to everyone.
I generally hate these divorces. But removing them with a wet cloth will not solve the problem. Salt crystals have already penetrated deep into the skin. And sometimes, having removed the stains with water, after drying the picture repeats. This is especially noticeable on suede shoes. But even if it was possible to remove the salt, the skin is already damaged. I can’t show you a photo of this, but on closer inspection you can see it. It changes color and no longer looks like a smooth, monochromatic material. The boundaries of salt stains will be clearly visible. And this is where wax comes to the rescue. It is applied with a shoe brush or a piece of cloth. It covers the surface with a thin layer. After which it is easy to polish it with cloth, which will give it shine. However, it is important to try to avoid contact with an aggressive environment. Try not to mix snow porridge on the sidewalks. Because salt, with prolonged contact, will corrode the wax, and then the skin. To protect shoes from reagents, the best results are achieved by prevention using fat, as well as applying wax to the surface. If you come from the street where your shoes came into contact with reagents, be sure to wash them under water. Do not leave your shoes unwashed until the morning. Otherwise, the salt will do its job, and no means will protect your shoes. If the salt has done its job, then this product can remove it.
However, this will not restore damaged skin.
There are many more various means. These include creams and various skin impregnations. Each manufacturer tries to present their product in a special way. Although many of them are not very different from each other. There is no need to write about all this in detail. Of course, if you are a fanatic about shoe care, then you probably know a bunch of other wisdom on this topic. However, for most this will be unnecessary.
Which stores are worth visiting? Naturally, this is only the USA and Europe. No China. In addition, stores with inexpensive delivery to the Russian Federation are especially interesting. Unfortunately, these funds are not cheap anyway. And with expensive delivery, their use becomes completely expensive. Most stores do not ship outside of the US at all. Here is a pleasant exception. Excellent store with a good selection and inexpensive delivery
There is another way to purchase shoe care products relatively inexpensively. When I buy any product without direct delivery to the Russian Federation, I use intermediaries, I can add 1-2 funds to the package. This will not affect the shipping cost much.
Here is an educational video from a famous shoe maker. An example of regular shoe care.
So you should pay enough attention to shoe care. Of course, if you bought it at the nearest KARI store, then there is no need for this. These shoes won't save anything)) However, if your shoes are from the category "MADE IN USA" or something similar, then be sure to get good means to care for her. Then the shoes will serve you for a long time and will delight you with their appearance.
