How to polish shoes? How to clean them?

Taking care of your shoes is not just a "duty"... it's a pleasure!

This simple and quick ritual will not only allow you to always have well-maintained shoes that last longer, but it can also become an enjoyable routine.

Small gestures for shoe care.

First of all, it must be said that small daily gestures can make a big difference.

For example, the daily use of the shoehornprevents that unpleasant wear and deformation of the heel of our shoes that often happens when we force our foot in to put them on.

If the shoehorn is a convenient and useful tool that we recommend you use when putting on your shoes, the shoe stretcher or boot stretcher is another essential accessory for the proper preservation of your footwear.

The shoe stretcher, preferably made of aromatic cedar wood, absorbs excess moisture from the leather and hide during the night, which absorb the heat and sweat from your foot during the day, ensuring natural preservation of the shoes over time. The spiral metal spring with which these forms are made serves to maintain the correct tension of the upper, safeguarding the fit, appearance, and therefore the elegance of the shoes.

The boot stretcher, on the other hand, functions to keep the leather shaft of your boot always well "stretched" and impeccable even after a long period of disuse. Easy to insert without effort, thanks to the practical spring, the boot stretcher will keep the leather of the shaft under tension when you are not wearing it, promoting optimal preservation and longer durability. It can be used in combination with the shoe stretcher.

Polishing leather upper shoes.

To polish your leather shoes, whether they are sporty or elegant, you must first clean the upper from common dust and dirt residues caused by daily use. For this operation, use a dry cloth and a clean bristle brush. Once the dirt has been removed from the upper, proceed to apply polish of the corresponding color to the upper itself.

We recommend using a quality polish, a cream that is a natural "restorer" for the leather of your shoes, and a soft bristle brush to avoid scratches or abrasions. Use a small amount of polish at a time. For colored leathers, be very careful to find the matching color; otherwise, use neutral polish. With the brush, spread the polishing cream evenly over the entire surface of the shoe, applying light pressure but gently. Make sure the entire surface of the upper is covered with polish, then let the shoe "rest" for a few minutes, allowing the polish to penetrate the pores of the leather.

After a few minutes, holding the shoes firmly in your hand or between your knees, brush the leather vigorously (but not excessively...) to remove any superficial polish residues. Repeat this operation until the leather surface has absorbed the polishing cream evenly and completely. At this point, take a cloth (cotton will work perfectly) and rub the upper vigorously to achieve the "shine" effect of shoes looking like new.

Remember that in these polishing operations you can also include the visible part of the leather sole, the heel, and the welt (if present), which will benefit equally from the treatment.