How to Care for Vintage Looking Leather Shoes

Vintage-looking leather shoes require special care.

Vintage-looking leather shoes---whether they are loafers, oxfords, mules or pumps---require special care. To extend the life of these shoes and protect the supple leather skin, you will need to clean and condition the shoes regularly. With shoe designers producing more vintage-inspired shoes each season, these expert shoe repair tips will help your leather shoes resist water spots and survive scuffs or stains.

Things You'll Need

• White cloth
• Liquid soap
• Shoe polish
• Vinegar
• Soft-bristled shoe brush
• Old toothbrush
• Leather moisturizing cream

Instructions

1. Clean shoes weekly to maintain the leather. Remove any loose dirt with a brush. Mix warm water with a teaspoon of liquid soap in a small basin. Dip a clean white cloth into the soapy solution. Wipe the shoes down. Let dry.

2. Remove salt stains with a solution of 10 parts water to 1 part vinegar. Dip a cloth in the solution and wipe off the stains.

3. Apply conditioning products, such as a shoe cream, made specifically for leather. Dip a white cloth into the cream. Rub the cream into the leather using a circular motion. Cover the entire surface of the shoe. Let the shoes dry away from heat.

4. Polish your leather shoes with a clear or paste cream polish. Rub the polish into the leather shoe. Buff with a soft-bristled shoe brush.

5. Fill in heel scratches and scuffs with polish. Using an old toothbrush and polish, touch up the sole and edges of the heel. You can also use edge dressing to fill in scuffs on the heels of your vintage-looking shoes.

6. Dry your shoes in a well-ventilated area. To avoid drying out of the leather, select a cool area to complete the drying process. Let shoes dry for a minimum of 15 minutes.

Tips & Warnings

• For shoe colors other than black or brown, apply a moisturizing cream one shade lighter than the leather shoe to prevent darkening.

• Treat exotic leather skins---lizard, alligator or snakeskin---with a cream that conditions and cleans.

• Never use wax products to shine vintage-looking leather shoes. These products may cause the shoe leather to crack.

References

• Stretcher: Shining Leather Shoes
• Tipking: 22 Tips to Keep Leather Shoes Shiny and Comfortable