Shoe Care

How to Care for Leather Shoes Properly

You should care for your shoes BEFORE their first use! "Why doesn't the manufacturer do that?" you might be thinking. They do – but care products are volatile. So: read the care instructions and spray or wax your shoes before wearing them for the first time.

Even more important is giving your shoes thorough treatment AFTER wearing them. We humans also take care of our own skin: we protect it from the sun, cleanse it, or use moisturisers to prevent ageing. Leather is skin too, tanned and thereby preserved in its complete structure – and therefore in need of care.

Shoe care has three goals:

• All materials on the shoe are treated from the outset to be water-repellent (hydrophobic). This hydrophobic treatment diminishes over time and must therefore be renewed.
• Modern footwear is water vapour permeable to ensure a good foot climate. This function must also be maintained.
• Shoes are largely made of leather. This requires regular "nourishment" to keep it supple and retain its shape over time.

It is therefore advisable to spend a few extra euros on care products at the time of purchase. For high-quality shoes, this adds little to the overall cost and pays off quickly: you save time and money by not having to think about a new pair anytime soon. Because properly cared-for shoes last longer!

• Preparation: Remove the footbed so it can dry and air out. If you also want to wax your shoes, remove the laces.
• Basic mechanical cleaning: Loosen and remove heavy dirt under running water with a brush; clean the sole of dirt and stones.
• Hygiene: If needed, you can also clean the inside of your shoes with lukewarm water and a brush. This will not damage the lining. For leather linings without GORE-TEX®, you may use mild soap; for linings with GORE-TEX®, use water only. The footbed can also be washed.
• Drying: Never dry shoes directly in the sun or on heat sources such as radiators or stoves. Wet leather is very sensitive to heat and can easily "burn" (i.e. become brittle, hard, and cracked). Shoes with a wet lining should be stuffed with newspaper to dry (remember to remove it afterwards!). Dry shoes kept on wooden shoe trees will retain their shape perfectly.
• Spraying: Best done when the shoes are not yet completely dry. The pores are still open at that point and the impregnation penetrates deeper. Cordura can only be sprayed, while leather also requires regular waxing.
• Waxing: Leather requires regular wax as "nourishment", including on GORE-TEX® boots or the leather trims on Cordura shoes. Apply wax with a sponge or cloth; don't forget the tongue!
  Caution: Do not heat wax when applying to GORE-TEX® shoes! It will penetrate too deeply and reduce breathability, diminishing wearing comfort.
• Note for suede leather shoes: Waxing will change their appearance. The leather becomes smooth and darker. This may affect the look, but it is a completely normal and harmless process! The leather receives nourishment, will not become brittle or cracked, and the seams will be more durable.
• Hooks, eyelets and rubber welt (weather protection trim): Protect hooks, eyelets and the rubber welt with wax or Vaseline to prevent corrosion and drying out. The rubber welt can also be treated with deer tallow to prevent drying – please avoid oils. Afterwards, polish the shoes.

You can find the right care products for your shoes under Shoe Care.

Source: L. Meindl GmbH & Co. KG

Download: Shoe care.pdf [approx. 144 KB]