Caring for Leather Shoes - Shoe Care Products and Preparation

Most of the products you'll use for leather shoe care can be found at general stores, shoe stores and shoe repair shops. If you are nervous about working on your own shoes, of course, any shoe repair shop will be happy to clean, polish and condition your shoes for a price.

To do a full and thorough session of leather shoe care, you'll want the following items. Be sure the products you buy are recommended for smooth leather shoes.

• Newspapers
  
• Gloves
  
• Soft Cotton Cloths or Rags
  
• Soft Shoe Brush (optional)
  
• Smooth Leather Shoe Cleaner
  
• Leather Conditioner for Smooth Leather Shoes
  
• Shoe Polish, or a Shoe Polish Alternative
  
• Leather Protectant (Waterproofing Product)

The following pages will discuss these items in more detail, but it is most important that you follow the instructions that come with the products you buy, and be certain to only use products designed specifically for the materials of your shoes. i.e. Do not use these instructions or a product made for smooth leather to clean suede shoes!

Before you begin, you'll want to make sure to you're prepared for the shoe care process. Work on top of newspaper, wear gloves, and work in a well-ventilated area. These precautions are essential, as many shoe care products contain toxic chemicals that can be very harmful - more information on this in the shoe polish section of this article.

Next Section: Cleaning & Conditioning Leather Shoes.