Conditioning Your Smooth Leather Shoes

You should condition your leather shoes in order to keep them from cracking and drying.

Prepare yourself for the shoe care procedure before your begin. Work in a well-ventilated area; spread down newspapers; put on your gloves. Take the necessary precautions as the shoes care products contain certain toxic chemicals that could be harmful.

To clean and condition smooth leather shoes, it is important to remove dirt by using a cleaner specifically made for smooth leather shoes. This could be a smooth leather shoe cleaner or saddle soap. These types of cleaners come in different forms, such as foams, sprays, gels, creams and liquids. Some have applicator tops that can be used with a soft shoe brush which will be more effective in removing the dirt, even dirt that is embedded in the cracks.

After cleaning the shoes, let them air dry for a few minutes; then shine the shoes with a soft cotton cloth. This can be a shoe shine cloth or something as simple as an old t-shirt. (Just make sure it is clean, soft and made of cotton.)

You should condition your leather shoes in order to keep them from cracking and drying. If you live in a warm dry climate, you will have to clean them quite often. There are products on the market that both clean and protect, but it is best to use a product specifically for cleaning smooth leather, then use one specifically for conditioning. Natural conditioners are better than synthetics ones because the natural product becomes absorbed right into the shoe material, whereas the synthetic product merely sits on top. Rub the conditioner into the shoe so that the entire shoe is covered with conditioner. Wait a couple of minutes, then wipe the remaining conditioner off of the shoes. The leather will quickly absorb only what it can hold.

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