Symbols of casual style, leather loafers are undoubtedly among the most popular footwear in France. They’re a sure bet for those who prefer a causal, less formal look. However, to ensure that your leather loafers retain their charm and good looks over the long term, you need to look after them properly. In this comprehensive guide, we tell you everything you need to know about caring for your moccasins.
Cleaning leather loafers: the universal method
Waxing is the best way to clean your leather loafers. This operation restores the shine to your shoes and preserves them over a long period. To wax your moccasins properly, you must first obtain certain tools and follow specific steps.
Essential care products and accessories
To wax your leather moccasins, you’ll need a pair of wooden shoe trees, ideally unvarnished and soft. You’ll also need a soft microfiber cloth and a cleaning brush to remove dirt from the surface and between the grooves of the shoes. In addition to these accessories, you’ll also need :
- shoe polish,
- a palot,
- a dab of cream,
- a shoe protection spray,
- and a polishing glove.
To remove stubborn stains, you’ll also need glycerine soap and water.
Prepare your shoes
The first step in cleaning leather shoes is to dust them. If your moccasins have laces, remember to remove them to avoid dirtying them and the eyelets. Then insert the shoe trees into the shoes and dust them off with a clean, dry cloth. Use a soft microfiber cloth to gently clean the leather surface.
Next, energetically brush your shoes toremove any dirt or mud from the leather surface. This is an important step, as dirt weakens the moccasin fibers, leading to cracks that are generally impossible to repair. Brushing also makes it easier to clean and polish your shoes.
Apply shoe polish to your moccasins
Once you’ve removed all the dirt from your shoes, use the palot to take a generous amount of cream polish and apply it to the surface of your shoes. Make small, even circles , and don’t forget the edge of the sole of your moccasins. This will protect the shoe from stains, revive the color and deeply nourish the leather. If the seams are of a different color, then apply the shoe polish with the utmost care. To ensure that the chosen shoe polish does not cause discoloration, apply it to an inconspicuous area before spreading it all over your shoes.
After spreading the shoe polish over the shoe, use a brush to gently spread it over all areas of the shoe. If the leather is saturated with shoe polish, remove the excess by brushing vigorously all over the upper until it is shiny. Leave the shoes to rest for a few minutes. Finally, use a soft cloth to shine your moccasins, using short, even strokes over the leather surface.
Allow to dry, then apply a spray to your shoes
Once you’ve polished your leather moccasins properly, leave them to rest in a place out of direct sunlight. Once your shoes are shiny and clean, you can spray them from a distance of 20-30 cm. This will make your shoes supple and waterproof.
Useful tips and tricks for caring for your leather loafers
In addition to waxing, there are other natural products and tips you can use to care for your leather moccasins.
Rely on talcum powder
Talcum powder is one of the most highly recommended natural products for cleaning leather shoes. Sprinkle talcum powder lightly on the inside and outside of your leather moccasins. Then use a soft cloth to rub the surface of your shoes, and leave overnight. Finally, dust your shoes the next morning to restore their original shine.
Use cleansing milk
Another effective tip for cleaning leather moccasins is to use cleansing milk. It’s an excellent cleanser that will remove dirt and restore the shine of your shoes. Moisten a cotton pad with cleansing milk and rub lightly over your shoes. Leave your moccasins to dry in a shady spot for a few minutes. Then use a soft microfiber cloth to polish the outer surface of your shoes.
Opt for white vinegar
Are your moccasins becoming dull and losing their shine over time? Don’t panic, white vinegar is just the thing. Add a few drops of white vinegar to soapy water. Soak a soft cloth or sponge in the mixture and lightly rub your shoes. Then wipe your shoes with a dry cloth and leave to dry in an area not exposed to direct sunlight.
Use shoe polish balm
To clean your leather moccasins, shoe polish can be an excellent ally. Usually packaged in 75 ml jars, this product contains organic ingredients and is safe for the leather of your shoes. It nourishes, protects and shines all your leathers , restoring them to their original lustre. Shoe polish balm is usually available in 2 colors, brown and black. It’s up to you to select the one that best suits your needs. Simply rub the product over your leather shoes to restore their shine.
Try beeswax
For those looking for a natural product to regularly care for their leather moccasins, beeswax is a great option. Protective and highly nourishing, beeswax cleans leather thoroughly and protects it from moisture. Melt 100 g beeswax in a pan and add 60 cl turpentine. In a second container, add Marseille soap nuggets to boiling water and stir until the soap is completely dissolved.
Leave to cool, then add the mixture to the melted wax. Stir quickly and add an essential oil to the mixture. Pour the resulting solution into an airtight bottle and leave to stand for a few hours. You can now use the mixture to polish the leather of your moccasins. Be sure to use a woollen cloth to clean your shoes.
Apart from these solutions, there are other natural products you can use to care for your leather moccasins. These include lemon, cleaning paste and linseed oil.
Good habits for daily care of your leather moccasins
To keep your leather moccasins looking their best, you need to adopt a few good daily habits.
Store your shoes properly
To care for your leather shoes, you need to create the right storage space. Avoid storing your leather moccasins in cardboard shoe boxes, and opt instead for a shoe storage unit. This is important, because if they’re often exposed to the elements, your shoes risk deterioration due to humidity.
If you don’t have a large budget, you can buy shoe storage bags. Made from natural materials, these bags keep your leather shoes protected from the air.
Don’t overlook shoe trees
The main advantage of shoe trees is that they enable your leather shoes to retain their shape over the long term. They are also effective at absorbing moisture and perspiration from your feet more quickly after use.
Shoe trees are particularly useful if your shoes get caught in the rain. They help to dry shoes quickly andprevent all kinds of deformation. Choose models made from wood.
Change pairs of shoes regularly
One of the reasons for the deterioration of pairs of leather loafers is their frequency of use. As with most objects, repeated use of a pair of shoes will inevitably lead to deformation and wear. To counter this, consider varying your pairs of moccasins.
To get the most out of your shoes over the long term, buy 2-3 pairs of moccasins in more or less similar styles. This way, you can alternate them from one day to the next and extend their lifespan. If you’re not using a pair of moccasins, put them in a shoe tree in your cupboard or storage bag.
Refresh the inside of your shoes
To keep your moccasins in good condition, you need to freshen up the inside. This will prevent unpleasant odors from building up over time. Remember to air your shoes after each use. Display them in a well-ventilated, but not very sunny place. There are also deodorant sprays specially designed for shoes. Don’t hesitate to buy one to refresh the inside of your shoes after use.
Use the right care product
For the daily care of your leather moccasins, you need to choose your shoe polish with the utmost care. Depending on the type of leather, the choice of polish and the cleaning method will differ. For moccasins made from smooth leather, you’ll need to select a shoe polish that is slightly darker than the shade of the leather. This is important, as a light shade would bring out any wear marks on your shoe. To clean smooth leather shoes, it’s best to use a cloth slightly dampened with water. You can then use any of the methods described above to clean moccasins.
Leather moccasins that incorporate greased leather as their main material are low-maintenance. To clean them, you can use special greases or wool grease. Finally, for models featuring patent leather, you’ll need to rely on sprays. Silicone-based sprays are very effective in this context, as they preserve the shine of patent leather loafers. To optimize their effectiveness, remember to wipe your shoes with a soft cloth soaked in water and a small amount of white vinegar.
How often should you clean your leather loafers?
Leather is a natural material which, without regular care, can be irreversibly damaged. However, you should avoid polishing your shoes on a daily basis, as leather can develop a patina over time. Whether it’s to restore shine or extend the life of your shoes, cleaning should be done with the utmost care. If you wear your leather loafers regularly, polish them once or twice a week. On the other hand, if you use your leather moccasins only occasionally, a simple polish before each use will suffice to restore the shine to your shoes.
Bear in mind that leather moccasins require more or less regular care to maintain their aesthetic appearance. So be sure to apply the methods and tips presented in this guide to care for your shoes on a daily basis. Do you know of any other effective tips for cleaning leather moccasins? Tell us about them in the comments.
