By Mrs. Mathis
Image by Steven Lilley
Remove dirt by cleaning with a leather cleaner made specifically for smooth leathers. You can use saddle soap or a smooth leather shoe cleaner.
Shoe cleaners come in gels, foams, sprays, liquids and creams. Many leather cleaners come with an applicator top, or you can use a soft shoe brush to aid in removing dirt from the surface of the shoe. This will also help to remove dirt from any cracks in the shoes.
After cleaning, let the shoes dry for a few minutes and begin shining the shoes with a soft cotton cloth – either a shoe shine cloth, or even an old t-shirt, as long as it’s soft and made of cotton.
There are a number of rumors and theories about cleaning leather shoes. Some say that leather shoe cleaning is difficult, and should be left to professionals. Others maintain that anyone can learn how to clean leather shoes. While it is true that cleaning shoe leather is a skill that takes some practice, we all want clean leather shoes, so it is worth the effort.
The first step in cleaning leather shoes is to remove any dirt that may have attached itself. You can do this with a dry, soft toothbrush. Take your time and be gentle so that you don’t scratch the leather. After you’ve brushed the shoes, wipe them off with a barely damp cloth to remove any remaining dust.
Next you want to condition the leather to keep it from drying out. While there many products on the market that are specifically designed to clean leather shoes, I have had great success with oil or lanolin based face cream that is designed to be left on the face overnight. I have also used a good quality hand lotion for cleaning shoe leather.
Obviously, the final step in leather shoe cleaning is to polish your shoes with a good quality leather polish. You can find these at any department store and should simply read and follow the instructions for success.
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