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:
- 1 Tbsp gentle laundry detergent
- 1 cup lukewarm water
- Leather shoe polish
- Polish brush
- Soft cloths
- New shoelaces
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!
And just like that, you’re done! Enjoy your shiny, beautiful, almost-new leather shoes. :-)
Use a clean rag and place 2 fingers under it. Using water dampen the spot where your fingers are. Rub this spot in some shoe polish and then apply to your shoes, polishing in a small circle. Wet the spot from time to time after polish has been applied to the shoes and continue to polish in a small circle without applying additional polish. You will get a high gloss shine.
This technique is known as a spit shine. Served my Navy father well for 30 years, my Navy brother for 20 years, and I used it during my 4 years in the USAF. My platoon sergeant complimented me on the shine.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have red leather shoes. What can I use to polish them?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love polishing my shoes. It always signified the end of a sunday night when I did it with my dad, and it holds the same place in my schedule now I’m a grown up. Thanks for the tips!
– Natalie
Please log in or create a free account to comment.http://www.workovereasy.com
I was born in 1948, to Depression Era parents who knew how to stretch a penny ’til Lincoln smiled … All shoes were leather when I was little, and they all were carefully cared for. A regular part of the week was mom’s shoe-polishing: she’d spread newspaper on the kitchen table, line up all the shoes, and first clean, then polish them all. She used an old kitchen glove to protect her fingers from the polish, and a soft cloth to apply the polish to the shoes (the warmth of your hand encourages the polish to sink into the leather). After it “cured” a bit, she’d buff with another soft cloth. Shoelaces were washed in a soap-lathered hand and rinsed, water expelled by a pinch-and-draw technique, then looped over the dishtowel rod to dry. In the morning the shoes were relaced with clean, dry, unkinked laces.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.A tip: to clean and polish patent/glazed leather, use petroleum jelly. And white polish (for nurses’ service shoes) is/was a white liquid. It didn’t last as long as a good wax-base polish, but you could put a very thin coat of clear shoe polish over it — after the white polish was well set and gently buffed.
I clean my leather shoes with a very soft nail brush or even the tapered side of a denture brush (where sole meets upper, especially); I use a little squirt of my el cheapo, pre-treat shampoo, which does wonders for the leather. And I rinse off with a clean, wet cloth. When the shoes are dry I polish, buff, and relace.
No leather shoes but 2 leather recliner chairs that really need a cleaning, spose the woolite wash would work or hurt? Then what…I’ve tried 2 kinds of leather cleaner and neither worked much.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.As long as you dilute, I am sure it would be fine, always test an inconspicuous area first. Make sure you get all the soap residue off!
You can still use the woolite to clean the entire surface, then wipe dry with a soft cloth. To moisturize, make a conditioner with 2 parts flaxseed oil and 1 part white vinegar. Let dry overnight, and buff in the morning. :-)
Another way to finish off a leather shoe clean/polish is with some pantyhose that you aren’t going to wear anymore. Do a final buff with them – they get that deep down shine perfect.
Good column, especially with fall and winter upon us and all those leather shoes waiting to be worn again.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Can’t wait to try this on my favorite tan boots. They need some TLC.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Excellent info, excellent topics Jillee! Thank You.
One thing I’d wish to be changed: OGT-tv.
It’s great, but it makes my computer go bananas and I’d like to
start the player myself. Not a big fan of an automatic tv.
Best regards from Finland!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Have to agree on the TV auto start. Definitely an issue.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you as always for fantastic information.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Knew most of it except the soap & the laces.
G-d Bless.
This is great info. I have a white leather purse and I would love some info on how to keep it clean.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use the liquid cleaner from COACH but I’ve never used on a white purse. There is also a shoe polish product to keep your leather tennis shoes white which I found @ the grocery store…..any place that has a shoe department. Good Luck!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you. I thought I had to use saddle soap on my leather shoes! I’m going to use the same mild detergent I use for my hand washables. You’re so right about new shoelaces. Although the old ones can be washed, it’s just not quite the same thing.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Wonder if saddle soap would work on my leather recliners?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Seems like it would– we have 1 recliner with dirty armrests I’d like to clean, but don’t want to mess up any of the dark leather dyes…