Caring for genuine leather shoes

By Kiundu Waweru

Shoes can make or break your image. No matter how well you are dressed, the look can never be complete without a well cared for shoe. Most men invest heavily in shoes, buying genuine designer leather footwear that will last. And to ensure that they last without cracks, creases and wrinkles, you have to put your best foot forward and learn some tips on shoe maintenance.

According to a professional shoeshine in Nairobi, you can avoid cracks and wrinkles by wiping your leather footwear with a leather cleaner — turpentine, thinner or petrol. He says thinner is the best choice as it is stronger and will remove any foreign colour, maintaining the original. Then apply cream using a soft cotton cloth. The leather will absorb the cream and after one week, the shoe will be soft with all cracks gone. You can now polish using a shoe brush; then apply cream the same colour as the shoe or neutral. Buff with another brush or soft cotton cloth to shine.

Invest In Shoe Trees

The best way to care for your shoes is by proper storage. Shoes that have not been worn for a while shrink and get creases, losing their shape. To avoid this, invest in shoe trees. These are foot-shaped plastic or wooden devices that you can insert in the shoe. Apart from maintaining the shape, the shoetrees help when applying polish. The leather is stretched thus easier to work with. You can also stuff your shoes with paper when you are not wearing them.

In hot weather, feet sweat and some people have smelly feet. Wearing cotton socks takes care of this as they absorb the sweat. Also, wooden shoetrees, especially the ones made from cedar, absorb moisture and give your shoes an aromatic smell. If the smell persists, buy deodorising foot powder from a pharmacy.

Be sure to have several pairs of shoes, as you need to change to let them breathe and air out. Wipe the leather shoes before storage and store on a wooden shoe rack. Choose the shoe to wear according to the weather.

For cleaning products and accessories, visit the supermarkets and up market shops that sell quality shoes. Also, most professional shoe shiners will advise you on the best way to care for your shoe.