Shopping Center

Learning how to clean leather shoes in a few easy steps is simply a matter of having the right information and techniques. Shoes take a lot of wear and tear. Leather will dry out, crack, stiffen and warp through regular usage if not properly cared for and maintained. Knowing how to clean leather shoes is a very important set of skills and knowledge that will literally save you thousands of dollars in the long run, as well as ensure you look your best while you're out strutting your stuff!

According to numerous studies, the first two things both men AND women notice when sizing up someone else is their hair and then their shoes. This statement clearly defines how important it is to maintain your shoes in the best possible condition for any number of reasons, be it professional, social or simple pride and enjoyment in your appearance. Your only two options are to either get them professionally done by your local shoe specialist, or learn how to clean leather shoes yourself.


Now, any self-respecting fashionista has anywhere from a dozen to over a hundred pairs of shoes, so those professional care services can really add up! The only practical option is to learn to do it yourself. Once you have the vital information and technique down, the whole thing is a breeze. Ok, here we go:

First, we recommend using a newspaper or an old utility towel to work on to prevent dripping any soap or conditioner residue on your furniture or floor.

Using a soft bristle brush, remove hard dirt and dust from the surface, seams and in between the stitching.

Next, use a mild hand soap or saddle soap and some filtered water to wipe away stubborn dirt and stains. Don't you excess water or soap. Just enough to dampen the clean, dry cotton rag or microfiber towel.

Let the shoes air dry, away from direct sunlight or abrasive heat sources such as hair dryers or radiators.

If you see any mildew, we recommend a 1 part water and 1 part apple cider vinegar solution. Work it into the area with a clean, dry cotton cloth and let it air dry.

Once the clean leather shoes are dry, the next step is to apply a high quality conditioner to ensure the leather remains vibrant, pliable and looking its best. Based on extensive testing on a wide variety of leather handbags, we highly recommend Leather Honey.

Using a clean, dry and uncolored cotton cloth or microfiber towel, apply the conditioner to the surface, working it into the leather evenly. Although Leather Honey is a natural product with no toxins, solvents, silicone or other chemicals, we still recommend testing it on a small inconspicuous area to ensure no discolorations occur. Naturally tanned leathers tend to darken gradually over time, but this is normal and cannot be avoided with any conditioners.

Let the clean leather shoes rest over night to allow the porous leather to absorb the exact amount of moisture it needs. Any excess will be excreted, so be sure to wipe off any excess residue you find the next day.

After you've finished conditioning, you may want to polish your shoes to a shine. Here is where it gets a little controversial. We do NOT recommend applying shoe polish. Shoe polish is highly toxic and has been linked to nervous system disorders and cancer. If you insist on getting your shoes polished, we recommend taking them to a shoe specialist.

Alternative home remedies for polishing shoes include rubbing the inside of a banana peel all over the surface, then buff it to a shine with a clean, dry cotton cloth (talk about organic!).

You can also apply olive oil to a clean, dry cotton cloth and work it into the leather's surface, then buff to a shine. Neither one will get the high-gloss shine of shoe polish, but both work and are safe for your shoes and for you!

Store your clean leather shoes in a dark, ventilated place and keep them away from dust. A shoe box is the ideal and obvious choice. Don't put them into plastic containers; the leather needs to breathe.

Remember that these techniques are for conventional leathers only. They do not apply to suede, nubuck, vachetta or exotic skins.

Glambrowser Shops:

Handbag Insanity! We're all here, because we're not ll there!

Where outlet prices meet boutique quality products and service.

Glambrowser Shops is where you can find Leather Honey Leather Conditioner, as well as Coach handbags on sale, Michael Kors handbags, Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs, Rebecca Minkoff & mens bags.
Visit us at our trendy designer handbags blog, The GlamBlog, where we write about the latest fashion accessories, what's hot and what your fave celebrities are wearing.