How To Care For Leather | Editorial

How to clean leather shoes & boots

Keep your collection in tip-top condition with the help of the Dune London leather shoe care guide

Caring For Your Leather Shoes & Boots

Footwear specialists, we pride ourselves on creating quality shoes and accessories that our customers love to wear, for a long, long time.

To make sure they last, look after your leather, by using our range of Shoe Care products

TIP 1:

Not only does a good shoe polish add a protective layer, repelling dust or water, but it restores colour and hides scuffs and blemishes. We recommend our nourishing Cream Polish.

TIP 2:

Clean your leather shoes after each wear using a microfibre cloth. This is important as it will help to prevent any dirt or grime from seeping into the leather.

TIP 3:

Allow leather to dry naturally. DO NOT be tempted to place shoes near heat. We recommend using our Universal Protector.

The importance of proper leather shoe care

Taking care of your leather goes beyond mere aesthetics; it also protects them from cracks, discoloration, and premature aging. Proper care not only ensures your leather shoes, boots and bags will look their best but also enhances their appearance and longevity.

What makes leather a preferred material for shoes and boots?

Leather has a number of very special, natural properties: It is breathable, heat-insulating, stretchy, tearproof and abrasion-resistant and acts a barrier against moisture evaporation. It is also robust, making the shoe more stable and functional.

Understanding the different types of leather

Leather has four basic grains or qualities; those are full-grain leather, top-grain leather, genuine leather, and corrected-grain leather. Higher grades of leather are often stronger, however, full-grain and top-grain leather will become more flexible and wear well over time. The weight of leather can also affect the thickness and some high-quality leather can still be quite soft.

How to clean leather shoes and boots

To clean your leather shoes, brush off any mud, dirt, or dust from your shoe with a brush. This will help to prevent any dirt or grime from seeping into the leather. Aim to polish/ treat leather every six weeks. Not only does a good shoe polish add a protective layer, repelling dust or water, but it restores colour and hides scuffs and blemishes. Opt for a moisturising cream base or an ultra-protective and a shine-inducing wax.

How to store your leather shoes

Allow leather to dry out for at least 12 hours after each wear. Damp leather is more prone to stretching, scuffing, creasing and staining. Store leather shoes and boots in a dust bag. Dust can sneakily work its way into leather overtime, which leads to staining and degradation. A quality dust bag should protect them and allow the leather to breathe.