How To Care For Your Shoes

Paul Smith's recommended advice on how to take extra care of your new shoes and prolong their life. Whether leather shoes or suede shoes, rubber soles or boots, we hope this guide will help you get the most out of your shoes.

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Basic Shoe Care

Brush away any surface dirt with a clean soft brush on a regular basis. There are also particular types of brushes such as a suede brush that will work for certain materials and are a helpful part of anyone's shoe care kit. After extended use of the brush, use a damp cloth with warm water and a very mild soap if required.

Before you polish your shoes ensure they are dry and wipe them over with a dry soft cloth to remove surface dirt. Always use a shoehorn when putting on your dress shoes; this avoids damage to the heel area.

Basic Shoe Care

Brush away any surface dirt with a clean soft brush on a regular basis. There are also particular types of brushes such as a suede brush that will work for certain materials and are a helpful part of anyone's shoe care kit. After extended use of the brush, use a damp cloth with warm water and a very mild soap if required.

Before you polish your shoes ensure they are dry and wipe them over with a dry soft cloth to remove surface dirt. Always use a shoehorn when putting on your dress shoes; this avoids damage to the heel area.

Protection

Leather uppers are a porous and breathable material and are not naturally waterproof - using a protector spray will help give the leather a waterproof coating to help combat bad weather.

Never use liquid polish applicators as they can contain chemicals that destroy the leather’s surface. Please note that most treatments can alter the colour and appearance of the leather slightly.

We recommend testing new products on an inconspicuous area first, when you get a new pair.

Polishes & Treatments

Before wearing your suede shoes or nubuck leather shoes use a preventative water and stain repellent spray, this should be regularly applied. Use a gentle suede or nubuck shoe brush to remove any dirty marks and to restore the nap.

Using a beeswax polish will help maintain the moisture levels and appearance of leather shoes which will help prevent cracking or creasing (not recommended for nubuck or suede uppers).

On high shine, patent leathers or brush off leathers we don’t recommend using a polish. Instead use a soft, dry and clean cloth to buff the surface using circular motions to bring up the shine.

If Your Shoes Get Wet

Open footwear fully, remove the insole and laces and allow them to dry naturally over 48 hours at room temperature, never use direct heat on the shoes, as this can cause permanent damage to your shoes.

When storing your shoes, use a wooden shoetree or stuff with newspaper. Placing your shoes in a well-ventilated area will help to absorb the inside moisture and help the shoes to keep their shape. Avoid wearing shoes on consecutive days to allow the perspiration to dry out fully.

Leather Soles

On the first few wears with leather soles we recommend that your shoes are worn in dry conditions and on outside surfaces like pavements. This will harden the sole and give it a rougher finish which helps improve the soles performance giving it better grip.

Regular maintenance is important too, do not leave shoes too long between repairs, and always use a recommended quality shoe repairer, at a shoe repair shop that you trust. Also be aware that a wet leather sole will wear out twice as quickly as a dry leather sole.

However, with our recommended steps above, you can take good care of your Paul Smith shoes, and keep those new shoes as close to their original state as possible and looking brand new wherever you may go.

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