Footwear Pittsburgh PA

Investing a bit of time every month in thorough shoe care may be the best thing possible with reference to the protection of footwear investment. Along with frequent visits to repair shop around the corner, the best shoes in one’s wardrobe will last far longer than expected. Most people think shoe care is the occasional polishing of shoes. This is not so as it goes much deeper than this. Shoe care can be broken down into a process involving four straightforward steps: cleaning, conditioning, followed by polishing, then weatherproofing.

For leather shoes, the first step involves surface cleaning with any approved leather cleaners in order to get rid of surface dirt. It is just like washing a car before the application of wax. The application of conditioner is important for the softening and lubrication of the leather, giving a brand new look and feel. Polishes are made using pigments and dyes necessary for the renewal of color and effective scuff covering. Wax is the second ingredient of polish. It helps in not only shining the leather, but also protecting it from the elements and other external conditions and factors. The last component is conditioning agents, necessary for moistening and renewing leather. There are three basic types of shoe polish: liquids, creams and pastes. Incidentally, the order in which they have been stated indicates the ease of application from the easiest to hardest. Nevertheless, application ease and wax content are inversely proportional. In addition to this, the higher the wax content, the higher the polish’s staying power. Creams are quite popular since they come in various fashionable colors. Weatherproofing then seals the deal. Even though polish offers a certain degree of sealing, it is insufficient for oily, muddy and wet environments.

Preventative maintenance is the surest way of keeping nubuck and suede in prime condition. Immediately after purchasing, the first step to caring for the investment made is to apply a stain and water repellent designed for the stated materials. On noticing that water no longer beads up, spray the surface of the shoes again with the repellent. Use either rubber-tipped or plastic brushes frequently to bring back the natural nap of the nubuck and suede, simultaneously removing surface dirt prior to it setting in. However, the utmost care is necessary when caring for nubuck as it much softer when compared to suede and is damaged very easily. Oiled nubuck requires regular use of nubuck conditioners to replenish the material’s oils. All stains on these materials must be removed immediately they are spotted. Solvent-based cleansers give best results. The next best thing to use is and oil block. Such a block abrades leather in such a way that it removes stains, at the same time bringing back the nap. Naturally, nubuck requires less aggressive blocks. If the shoes are seriously stained, take them to shoe repair professionals.

Brookville YMCA

814-849-7355
125 Main Street
Brookville, PA