How to Clean Leather Shoes

Mark Twain said, "The finest clothing made is a person's skin, but, of course, society demands something more than this." Shoes, vintage, trendy, classy and especially, leather shoes are the answers to his statement. Leather shoes are always the most treasured accessories, for every piece is a piece of work, in itself. Leather is like wine. The older it gets, the finer it becomes. Thus, caring for leather shoes is essential if you want to make them last long. And who doesn't want to own a pair of antique leather shoes?! They are a priceless bounty. Let's see how to clean leather shoes at home.

Tips to Clean Leather Shoes

Leather shoes must be cleaned as soon as they get soiled. Even if they are not soiled, they must be cleaned at least once a month. If they are left untreated, leather shoes are most likely to grow fungus on them and get spoiled forever. Cleaning leather shoes will be extremely easy with these tips and techniques.

Clean with Cloth
With a very soft cloth (preferably muslin cloth), clean the dirt and debris that has deposited itself on the outer and inner parts of the shoes. If your shoes has laces, brooches or sequins, remove all of it (if possible) and carefully dust very nook and cranny of your shoe.

Clean with Cleaner
Make a mixture out of 1 teaspoon of saddle salt and water. Dip the cloth in the mixture and wipe your shoes clean with it. The other alternative is a commercial leather shoe cleaner. You will also find other shoe cleaners in the market. So, buy a product, which is the most suitable.

Clean with Vinegar
In case your shoes are stained, get rid of them immediately. Stains on leather shoes can be removed with a solution of white vinegar and water. Mix equal parts of both and dab in on the stain, as many times as required, till it vanishes. This will remove salt stains from the shoe.

How to Take Care of your Leather Shoes

Now that your leather shoes are completely cleaned, you need to store them well, so that they remain in a good shape, till the time you use them again. Shelving your leather shoes, is the perfect way of storing them. Shoe bags, made out of light soft fabric, is best meant for storing leather shoes. You will find these at a nearby shoe store. Place your shoes in these cloth bags and place them on the shelf, to keep them away from dirt and dust.

If leather is left untreated, it tends to get dry. This leads to cracks, making the texture flaky and causes it to fall apart. To avoid all to this, pamper your leather shoes with good quality of shoe wax and oil. Polish your shoes with these at least once every six months, to keep the leather in good condition.

So, these were some of the ways to clean leather shoes. Lastly, if you store your shoes well and keep them away from grime and slime, they will last longer. Just keep them clean, to treasure them forever!