How To Clean And Care For Leather Shoes

Maintaining a nice pair of leather shoes can seem intimidating, but it’s actually a lot easier and quicker than you may think! If you already have an old pair hiding in your closet somewhere, consider this a quick refresher course that will inspire you to get them out of the closet and onto your feet!

And if you don’t have a pair of leather shoes at home, consider this: we purchased the shoes shown in these photos at a thrift shop for $5. No kidding! And with just a little know-how and a dash of elbow grease, we took these neglected shoes from blah to beautiful! Talk about a bargain. :-)

Related: How to Clean Leather Furniture

How To Clean And Care For Leather Shoes

You’ll need:

Step 1 – Cleaning

The first step in revitalizing your leather shoes is to clean them up a bit. Dirt, grime, scuffs, and spots can be cleaned with a mixture of one cup of lukewarm water, and a tablespoon of gentle laundry detergent. Dip a clean, soft cloth in the solution, and gently clean the exterior of the shoes.

Step 2 – Polishing

Next, remove the laces from the shoes, and gather your polishing supplies. You’ll need shoe polish suited for leather, a polish brush, and a clean, soft cloth. Use the polish brush to apply a thin layer of polish to the shoes. You want enough polish that it dulls the color of the shoes, but no more than that. Let the shoes sit for a while until the polish dries.

Once the polish is dry, take your soft cloth and buff the shoes to a nice shine. For an even shinier finish, apply another thin layer of polish, and drop a few drops water onto the shoe. Don’t wait for this layer of polish to dry. Instead, buff it with a soft cloth immediately.

Step 3 – Replace the Laces

The final step is to replace the old shoelaces with a nice, new pair. It may seem silly, but you’ll be amazed at just how much better a new pair of shoelaces will make those shoes look!