Shoes don’t have it easy. In the true sense of the word there are always trampled on. They have to walk over hot asphalt or plod through ice-cold slush. And what do they get out of it? They are just put in a corner  - until they go into action again.

They really should be treated to a little "beauty care". It is so simple. Just keep to our tips, then a few minutes daily will be enough to make your shoes shine.

Care right from the start
The art of shoe cleaning
Which care product for which type of leather?

Care right from the start

• Whether slipper, lace-up shoe or buckle shoe, always use a shoehorn. Down-stepped heel caps are ugly and irretrievably destroy the fitting quality.
• Before you take your shoes off, loosen all laces, so that the foot can easily slip out of the shoe. It does not take much longer, and is much more comfortable and gentler to feet and shoes.
• Shoetrees keep your shoes in form, smooth the walking pleats and relieve the bottom construction. However, please make sure you use the correct shoe size, as otherwise, the shoe will lose its form.
• A shoetree is particularly practical, when shoes have become wet trough rain or snow. Alternatively, they can be stuffed with newspaper. Don't dry your shoes too close to the radiator, and under no circumstances on top of one. This makes the leather hard, brittle, and breakable. Such damage cannot be repaired by any care product. Shoe with leather soles should be placed on their side for drying.
• Clean your shoes regularly. It is best to wipe or brush them after each use, so that they don’t lose any of their shine or their velvety surface.
• Take your shoes in time to the shoemaker, in order to have worn heels replaced for example. Thereby you avoid damage that is more serious and you will save money in the end. 
• Give your shoes a rest: at least for the same time as they have been worn. Even better, let your shoes rest for 24 hours, giving them the opportunity to dry thoroughly.

The art of shoe cleaning

• The fundamental principle is: First cleaning, then protecting. Only clean leather can be treated with suitable care products. You probably do not put cream on your face before you washed it either.
• Dust and dirt is best removed with a cloth and/or lukewarm water; leather that is more robust can be cleaned with a brush. Roughout leather should be cleaned with a rubber or abrasive brush.
• New shoes should be treated with a care product before they are worn for the first time, whereby the choice of care product depends on the type of leather. Incorrect care products can cause serious damage, not only in case of delicate leather types.
• If you want to refresh the colour of your shoes, it is advisable to use a product, which is a shade darker than the existing colour. 
• Apply care products evenly and thinly with circulating movements, otherwise the leather gets smudgy and doesn't shine properly any more. Avoid too much rubbing when you apply the product, as you might otherwise damage the upper leather.
• A product should work in for 15 minutes; after that, shoes can be polished with a soft cloth or a soft polishing brush (best is a horsehair brush).

Which care product for which type of leather?

Patent leather
• Patent leather can be wiped clean with a wet cloth. However, don’t use normal shoe polish, as it would leave streaks on the leather. Patent leather should always be treated with special patent leather cream. Don’t impregnate your patent leather shoes, as the surface of the leather has been treated with a foil like layer.

Smooth leather
• It is recommended to impregnate your shoes with a smooth leather spray (if possible not in closed rooms) before you wear them for the first time. Depending on the leather, a tube cream (for high quality smooth leather), a lotion (for soft and delicate leather resp. bags) or a wax paste (for  tough and oil-tanned leather) should be used as care product.

Roughout leather
• Roughout leather is the general term for velours and Nubuk leather and is more delicate than smooth leather. A product containing wax would clog up the fine hair on the surface. We therefore recommend special Nubuk / Velours leather sprays for care and cleaning purposes. Colour can be refreshed with a special liquid leather dye. Stains can be removed with a rubber brush or a special  sponge.

Textile shoes
• Textile shoes get dirty very quickly and don’t look their best once they have been worn several times. Treat these shoes with a special textile spray before you wear them for the first time. Should they get dirty after all, carefully wash your shoes with clear or slightly soapy water.