Caring properly for shoes made from different materials

Buying fashionable designer shoes is only the start. You also need to learn how to look after them properly. Otherwise the money you spent is thrown to the wind, shoes are not cheap, after all… And the pleasure of the purchase turns into disappointment. At that point there is little pleasure left. The shade of leather shoes can grow dull, and the nap can be ruined by incorrect cleaning. And the harshest sentence of all for shoes is letting water in, which the buyer then blames on poor quality from the manufacturer.

So, how do you care for shoes properly, to avoid passing a "death sentence" on a favourite pair of shoes or boots? Our guide covers it in detail.

Nubuck shoes – care and the first clean

Before you buy shoes made of nubuck, you should understand that caring for them will not be simple. Such shoes are made from cattle hide; they have a barely noticeable nap, finer than that of suede. They look glossy and beautiful, and the leather is very pleasant to the touch as well.

To stop nubuck shoes from turning into "blotting paper", you need to treat them the first time. A special colourless impregnation is suitable for this. It is produced mainly in aerosol form. It is important to understand here that the manufacturer gives no guarantee for how you treat shoes of this class. You need to apply the treatment three times, waiting each time until they are completely dry.

What not to do with nubuck shoes:

• Wiping with a wet sponge or cloth

• Using smooth-leather wax

• Wearing them in heavy snow and slush

• Cleaning with a stiff brush

After a walk, you need to wait for them to dry if the shoes got wet, then clean off dust and dirt with a soft brush. And only then use a colour-restoring aerosol.

Suede shoes – treatment and storage

Suede shoes should be treated before wear with a special water-repellent aerosol. Every day you need to check your shoes or boots for any dirt. Suede tends to attract particles of dust to itself. But the footwear is very comfortable and is one of the favourite purchases of women all over the world.

Unlike nubuck, suede barely lets water in, so it can be worn even in snowfall, but we still advise treating it before you put it on for the first time!

What you should not do:

• Wipe it with a damp cloth

• Clean it with coarse brushes

• Store or put it on while the shoes are still damp

Every day you need to clean dust off the shoes, otherwise in the first week the suede can lose its colour. Use a rubber brush for cleaning. A lint roller for clothes also works well for drawing out dirt. With a sponge, apply a special foam and wait about 5 minutes for the dust to be drawn to the surface. All that remains is to wipe it with a dry brush. If the shoes have lost their colour, use a colour-restoring aerosol in the shade of your footwear.

Leather demands attention

By visiting any online shop you can pick out a pair of leather shoes for yourself; they are not that expensive and noticeably practical. Unlike other materials, smooth leather does not tolerate heat. So you must never place leather shoes by a radiator, and certainly not on a heater.

To clean leather you will need a special cleaning product. To protect it from temperature swings, moisture and salt, the leather should be cleaned in good time. Then you must apply a wax cream polish and buff the item. The final stage is impregnation. With designer shoes it is always specified which type your footwear needs.

Patent leather shoes and how to care for them

Next comes the most temperamental material of all. Patent leather does not like temperature swings, especially heat. So if such shoes get wet, you should wait for them to dry. Dry flannel cloths or a rag will help speed this moment up.

To keep the patent finish from drying out, you need to moisturise the shoes. Petroleum jelly, glycerine or castor oil are suitable for this. After applying the product, wash the shoes with a warm soapy solution and wipe them dry. Nothing more needs to be done for patent leather shoes always to look glossy and elegant.

Dangerous for patent leather

• Storing it in the cold or near a heater

• Treating it with creams, sprays and other products, including foam ones

• Constant wear – in frost, slush or heat

General rules for caring for designer shoes

The care and cleaning products we have described will help extend the "life" of expensive shoes. Designer shoes rule out the option of constant wear, as they quickly lose their shape. If it so happens that daily outings cannot be avoided, you should care for the shoes properly. After coming home, dry the shoes in a ventilated room, place a shoe tree inside or stuff them with newspaper — this will help even out the shape and rid them of moisture inside. The main care lies in treating the surface with special products, but, as we have already said, each option has its own.