What are the secrets of a good shoe polish? How to eliminate a stain on his leather shoes? Xavier Aubercy, Bottier in Paris, gives you his tips to make your shoes shine as a new penny.
Are there any things to keep your shoes well, even before maintenance?
First of all, we often advise not to wear the same pair of shoes 2 days in a row because it hit the same time. You must also never let your shoes dry near a heat source, type radiator. This may cook the bite and agglomerates of cardboard which are often used for hard ends and break the shoes. Finally, you have to think about coating your shoes with a chest cream once every 15 days. They hydrate leather, which is essential, especially in times of cold … a bit like our skin!
What is the essential material to maintain your shoes well?
In terms of equipment, you must first have a soft cloth, ideally an old handkerchief or an old cotton pants, and a good polish. To choose your shoe polish, simply go to the simplest: open it, if it smells the beeswax, take it without hesitation. Those who wish can also acquire a raw wood packer which allows shoes to dry on a hard surface after waxing. If you don’t have an impact, opt for newspaper: it’s just as effective. For suede shoes, the ideal is an old clothes brush or a piece of pancake.
What are the steps of a good shoe polish?
The real enthusiasts begin by putting a cedar or beech hire in their shoes because these materials mop moisture and perspiration. Then, we use a horse horsehair brush, we pass a blow on the shoes to remove all the dust. If you don’t have a brush, you can use an old shoe cover or a cloth. Then we go to the shoe polish: we apply it with the tip of the finger with the soft cloth. To give shiny at the end of its shoes, you can add a drop of water to the polish and apply it in a circle. This is called patina. Last step: we let stand a quarter of an hour before passing a soft brush.
Water or fat stains are often difficult to eradicate. How to get rid of it?
For fat stains, there is an extremely effective grandmother recipe. Sommières are applied to the stain before letting it sit for 1 or 2 days. For rain stains, you must immediately remove the excess water using a dry cloth. If traces remain, you can rub the shoe with a potato cut in 2, which will absorb moisture. Then we pass a shot to feed the leather. For the traces left by the snow the approach is the same except that one can start by passing a slightly humidified cloth, this will remove the excess salt or all the accumulated dust.
How to maintain canvas, precious skins or varnished shoes?
For canvas shoes, nothing can be done, if not apply a new sponge slightly soaked in water. As for crocodile shoes or lizard, they should not be waxed because it could damage the scales. However, they can be hydrated from time to time with mink oil, available in shoes or shoemakers. Finally, for varnished leathers, a hint of milk or light cream can be applied using a cloth to maintain and feed them.
