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How to Care for Leather and Suede Shoes
A hand tooled pair of calfskin shoes ties a suit together to create a professional, polished look.
Even if Alden shoes represent a significant investment, you can make them last for decades with
the proper care and maintenance. Shoeshine kits come ready made, or they can be readily
assembled with some old rags, mild detergent, a soft toothbrush, and your choice of polish.
Leather and suede dress shoes are easier to clean than most people think. You do not really have
to take them to a professional shoe cobbler unless they are getting resoled, and you save a
considerable amount of cash by cleaning and shining your own shoes.¹ However, keep this list of
dos and don’ts in mind if you don’t want to accidentally damage or warp the leather materials.²
How to clean leather shoes and boots:
Remove laces and dust – Remove the laces and go over the entire surface with a soft
bristle brush to remove excess dirt. The laces may be washed separately or replaced with
new ones. Contact the manufacturer at Aldens to locate new laces.
Gently cloth wash the leather – For a cleaning solution, combine two cups of lukewarm
water with a small amount of gentle liquid soap. Make sure the soap is PH neutral and
fragrance free. Wash off the entire surface of the shoe using a damp, clean washcloth.
Repeat this process again with a new rag, such as an old t-shirt or a similar material.
Dry with a soft rag – After gently cleaning the leather, wipe the shoes dry with another
piece of cloth. It is important to clean your shoes before proceeding to the next step.
Polish if desired – After the shoes are clean and dry it is safe to recondition the leather
and give it a good polishing. Leather conditioners and polish come in liquids, creams, and
pastes.³ Some people prefer organic oils such as olive or even mink. For that military
shine, spray with a light mist of water and polish, then buff the shoes a second time.
How to clean suede shoes and boots:
Let the shoes dry completely – There is a special way to clean suede shoes, but it is not
impossible. First make sure that the suede Alden boots or shoes are completely dry. Stuff
them with newspaper or tissue paper so that they keep the right shape. Then put them in a
dim, ventilated place.⁴ Never leave leather or suede shoes to dry out in the sun or they
will crack. If you put shoes in the dryer it will damage the leather and the machine.
Clean the suede with a dry cloth – Moving with the grain in one direction, clean the
shoes gently with a dry cloth or suede brush. This process helps remove the dirt.
Go over bad spots with eraser – Rub over scuffs with the brush. If there are any bad
spots, you can go over them with a suede eraser. In lieu of a suede eraser, some people
use a balled up slice of white bread. If you have water spots, you may have to go over the
entire surface of the shoe with a damp cloth, which could cause some weathering.
Brush and apply protectant – Brush the suede in one direction like you are grooming
an animal. Apply a high-quality suede protector to finish cleaning.
It’s not difficult to clean that beloved Alden Indy Boot all by yourself. Many people even prefer
the look and feel that comes with a pair of supple, broken in leather shoes or boots. However this
appearance comes best with time. Proper care and maintenance of fine leather and suede shoes
will make them last longer and save you a lot of money on shoe shines.
Summary:
Proper care and maintenance of Alden shoes and boots will make your investment in designer
dress shoes well worthwhile.
Company Bio:
Since 1956, TheShoeMart has been owned and operated by the Zapatka family for three
generations. TheShoeMart specializes in top quality shoes and boots from the leading designers
and manufacturers. There has been a world class shoe crafting shop at their New England site for
the past 30 years. Visit New England’s Best Shoe Store online at www.theshoemart.com.
Sources:
1. http://www.gq.com/how-to/fashion/200903/polish-one-off
2. http://www.howtocleanthings.com/clothing/shoes/
3. http://shoes.about.com/od/shoe_care/qt/polishing_shoes.htm
4. http://laundry.about.com/od/sportsuniforms/a/washsneakers.htm

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How to Care for Leather and Suede Shoes

  • 1. How to Care for Leather and Suede Shoes A hand tooled pair of calfskin shoes ties a suit together to create a professional, polished look. Even if Alden shoes represent a significant investment, you can make them last for decades with the proper care and maintenance. Shoeshine kits come ready made, or they can be readily assembled with some old rags, mild detergent, a soft toothbrush, and your choice of polish. Leather and suede dress shoes are easier to clean than most people think. You do not really have to take them to a professional shoe cobbler unless they are getting resoled, and you save a considerable amount of cash by cleaning and shining your own shoes.¹ However, keep this list of dos and don’ts in mind if you don’t want to accidentally damage or warp the leather materials.² How to clean leather shoes and boots: Remove laces and dust – Remove the laces and go over the entire surface with a soft bristle brush to remove excess dirt. The laces may be washed separately or replaced with new ones. Contact the manufacturer at Aldens to locate new laces. Gently cloth wash the leather – For a cleaning solution, combine two cups of lukewarm water with a small amount of gentle liquid soap. Make sure the soap is PH neutral and fragrance free. Wash off the entire surface of the shoe using a damp, clean washcloth. Repeat this process again with a new rag, such as an old t-shirt or a similar material. Dry with a soft rag – After gently cleaning the leather, wipe the shoes dry with another piece of cloth. It is important to clean your shoes before proceeding to the next step. Polish if desired – After the shoes are clean and dry it is safe to recondition the leather and give it a good polishing. Leather conditioners and polish come in liquids, creams, and pastes.³ Some people prefer organic oils such as olive or even mink. For that military shine, spray with a light mist of water and polish, then buff the shoes a second time. How to clean suede shoes and boots: Let the shoes dry completely – There is a special way to clean suede shoes, but it is not impossible. First make sure that the suede Alden boots or shoes are completely dry. Stuff them with newspaper or tissue paper so that they keep the right shape. Then put them in a dim, ventilated place.⁴ Never leave leather or suede shoes to dry out in the sun or they will crack. If you put shoes in the dryer it will damage the leather and the machine. Clean the suede with a dry cloth – Moving with the grain in one direction, clean the shoes gently with a dry cloth or suede brush. This process helps remove the dirt. Go over bad spots with eraser – Rub over scuffs with the brush. If there are any bad spots, you can go over them with a suede eraser. In lieu of a suede eraser, some people use a balled up slice of white bread. If you have water spots, you may have to go over the entire surface of the shoe with a damp cloth, which could cause some weathering. Brush and apply protectant – Brush the suede in one direction like you are grooming an animal. Apply a high-quality suede protector to finish cleaning. It’s not difficult to clean that beloved Alden Indy Boot all by yourself. Many people even prefer the look and feel that comes with a pair of supple, broken in leather shoes or boots. However this
  • 2. appearance comes best with time. Proper care and maintenance of fine leather and suede shoes will make them last longer and save you a lot of money on shoe shines. Summary: Proper care and maintenance of Alden shoes and boots will make your investment in designer dress shoes well worthwhile. Company Bio: Since 1956, TheShoeMart has been owned and operated by the Zapatka family for three generations. TheShoeMart specializes in top quality shoes and boots from the leading designers and manufacturers. There has been a world class shoe crafting shop at their New England site for the past 30 years. Visit New England’s Best Shoe Store online at www.theshoemart.com. Sources: 1. http://www.gq.com/how-to/fashion/200903/polish-one-off 2. http://www.howtocleanthings.com/clothing/shoes/ 3. http://shoes.about.com/od/shoe_care/qt/polishing_shoes.htm 4. http://laundry.about.com/od/sportsuniforms/a/washsneakers.htm