Caring for Leather Shoes

There’s no way around it - when it comes to your prized leather footwear, you’ve got to take care of it. Not only does caring for leather shoes keep them looking shiny, smooth and tip-top from the shoebox, it ensures they last much longer. So if you put the time in to care for your orthotic-friendly shoes now, they’ll serve you better in the long run. With our top tips for leather shoe care below, your footwear is able to retain its appearance, performance and longevity. That way, you can wear them that little bit longer. In fact, with the proper care, a pair of leather shoes can last many years, not just seasons - your feet (and wallet) will thank you.

Wearing your leather shoes

They say there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. That extends to your footwear. Lesson one - pay attention to the weather when maintaining leather shoes! Getting the correct dress code for the weather means making the right shoe choices if you want your footwear to last. When it rains, swap your open-toe sandals and slides for something covered.

Aside from your feet not getting drenched, it offers another benefit that relates to the lifespan of your leather shoes. When soft leather gets very wet from rain or snow, it can absorb extra moisture, becoming susceptible to cracking as it dries out. Avoid this as much as possible, particularly in winter when it’s better to opt for a more durable boot in these types of weather conditions.

Caring for leather shoes also involves getting your technique right when getting your shoes on in the first place. When you put on your leather shoes, always use a shoe horn. This may not apply to your slip-ons, wedges or flat sandals, however, any sneakers, loafers and closed-heel shoes really deserve to be put on with a shoe horn. A shoe horn quickly and simply enables your foot to glide smoothly into your shoe, without putting undue stress on the heel of your shoe (which can potentially distort the shape and create creases in the leather). Thus, it retains the original shoe shape and prolongs its lifetime - the ultimate leather shoe care hack.

Storing your leather shoes

You’ve come home after a long day and kicked your shoes off. Stop right there! Instead of leaving your shoes like that, store them away as if they were a piece of jewelry. It’s really essential for maintaining leather shoes. Incorrect storage of your shoes can alter their shape, diminish the quality and reduce their lifetime. No one wants to see their leather loafers out of shape. No one. Storing your shoes properly thereby determines the lifetime of your beloved shoes and we swear by shoe trees. A shoe tree is a device that is placed inside your shoes during storage in order to keep them in shape. It holds the shoe in its correct position when you aren’t wearing them, preventing them from bending out of shape and smoothing out any wrinkles or creases that were created when walking. Shoe trees are vital for extending the life of your shoes, making them look less worn and allowing them to remain as perfectly fitting shoes. If you opt for cedar wood shoe trees, they also help to absorb moisture and odor from your shoes. When leather gets wet, it needs to dry out before being worn again. During summer, it’s pretty much inevitable that your feet will get hotter than usual and sweat that bit more, so if you’re wearing your leather flats or Mary Jane shoes without socks, wooden shoe trees can also draw out the moisture of damp leather to keep it smelling fresh, while keeping your shoe shape in the correct position. An alternative DIY option is to stuff your shoes with newspaper to prevent any sagging or crease marks.

During storage, it’s also important to keep your leather shoes out of direct sunlight and heat as this can lead to drying and cracking. It can also affect the color of the leather, so this is an important step when caring for leather shoes. We also like to store our collection of shoes separately on a shoe rack instead of stacking them on top of one another (it’s healthier for your shoes and tidier). Shoe bags or shoe boxes are also great options and can be used in tandem with your shoe trees.

Cleaning your leather shoes

For leather to remain looking soft and supple, it needs to be cleaned regularly. It’s a non-negotiable for leather shoe care. Just like your skincare routine, your leather shoes have their own regimen which includes cleaning, moisturizing and protecting. A shoe brush is a tool you can use for removing any dust from your shoes or a rag is something you’ll have around the house that you can use to quickly wipe down your shoes, dust them and then buff them with polish (a separate rag should be used for each stage in order to avoid polish transferring onto the shoe during the cleaning process).

Our trick over the years has been to use an old t-shirt, cutting it into separate pieces of fabric. Using a rag, you can apply leather cleaner to your shoes, which can be purchased at most shoe shops. This will remove any particles and dust to prepare the leather surface for moisturizing and polishing. Not cleaning your leather shoes is a revere faux-pax! Maintaining leather shoes means cleaning them! It nourishes the leather and maintains the leather’s optimum condition and suppleness so they look as good as the day you bought them.

Protecting your leather shoes

There’s a wide range of shoe care products out there. After cleaning, leather shoe care requires conditioning, polishing and protecting. Leather is supple and soft, but dry leather can feel rough and affect the breathability of your shoes. Use a leather conditioner to moisturize your loafers and leather boots as necessary. This will revitalize the leather and preserve its natural oils for a whole new lease of life. Once your shoes are prepped, it’s time to polish. A polish can cover up scratches and scuffs while restoring the original intensity of a shoe color, taking it from dull to shiny. This step involves applying polish to the shoes with a rag or shoe brush then buffing to shine. It’s also quite a meditative process. Some shoes could then use protective sprays that work against the elements such as weather, stains and dirt. It’s also a good idea to spray your shoes with a waterproof shoe care spray as soon as you purchase them (before your first wear) for longevity.

Resting your leather shoes

Shoes, even your most precious pairs, are meant to be worn, however they need a little bit of rest, just like yourself. Revere shoes are hard working and designed to last, but instead of wearing your shoes daily, it’s best to alternate. Shoes need time to dry out so it’s not ideal to wear the same pair every day - instead, rotate! This is the perfect way of caring for leather shoes.

Not only does it preserve your beautiful footwear, it’s an excellent habit for optimal foot health and your gait, especially when you’re on holiday, constantly on your feet and walking for miles. By rotating your shoes, the pair you wore the previous day has ample time to fully dry out between wears, ensuring they last longer (and preventing pain as you’ve packed two pairs of comfortable travel shoes).

When combined with a shoe tree, the wood draws out this moisture even further and reshapes the shoes to their original condition.

Buying proper leather shoes

Shoes are one of the most important purchases for your wardrobe (and body alignment). To carry out leather shoe care, you need proper leather shoes in the first place - ones that are good for your feet. Properly made footwear that supports your feet can help prevent injury, absorb shock and alleviate foot pain. Always look out for a footbed that’s contoured to the natural curves of the foot in order to support you and prevent injury and pain. Our footbeds are built with arch support and many are removable so you can insert a custom orthotic. If you choose footwear with a flat insole or flimsy shoes, you run the risk of injury and you’ll also have to replace them sooner. A pair of well-made shoes with quality leather will serve you better in the long run, not only in terms of value for money, but for your foot health. You won’t have to replace them as quickly and that’s one step to maintaining leather shoes.