TAKE CARE OF YOUR LOVED ONES
How do I clean shoes properly?
You should clean your shoes every 2 weeks – more often in autumn and winter. Very important here – you have to differentiate the type of care very much depending on the upper material. Smooth leather requires completely different cleaning and care than suede.
The shoes are clean now. But also sufficiently maintained?
Now you’ve cleaned your shoes properly. Fine. A very good start. But to keep them looking good for a long time, there are a few more things to do. Don’t you believe?
Have you ever cleaned the inside of your shoes? Do you also take care of what you can’t see – the leather sole? And how do you put them on? And off again? And then? Are you using a shoe tree to keep your shoes in shape after use?
Everything you always wanted to know about leather
Leather is a gift from nature. And just as there are different gifts, there are also many types of leather. They are made in different ways, the coloration is different, they feel different and especially when it comes to cleaning and care the biggest differences are evident.
The leather lexicon offers you a lot of information, you can familiarize yourself with the different types of leather and their properties. What is the difference, for example, between smooth leather and suede? And what is patent leather? Is PU leather really leather? How is artificial leather made?
You can find out everything in the leather lexicon. Little by little, of course. I’m just getting started.
Smooth leather – what is that actually?
Glattleider refers to leather, the outside of which has been processed. The outside is also called the grain side or the hair side. The structure of the leather depends mainly on the grain structure of the animal – but also on the further processing. Calf leather, for example, has a very flat grain, sheep leather a more pronounced one.
Here you can find out more about smooth leather and of course tips on how to properly care for and clean your shoes, bags, accessories and of course furniture made of smooth leather.
In the old days, when industrialization was still in its infancy, shoes, bags and other items made of leather were made exclusively by hand. The leather was made accordingly. Without all the techniques and possibilities that exist today.
Today, smooth leather is initially divided into two categories: uncovered and covered leather.
Uncovered leather
As the name suggests, uncovered leather is an uncoated and therefore more sensitive type of leather. The structure of the leather is of course more visible and beautiful – more natural. One also speaks of full-grain leather.
Uncovered leather is available in natural colors but also dyed. What is special about the dyeing is that, unlike covered leather, the leather is completely permeated by the dye.
Covered leather
Covered leathers are covered with one or, as a rule, several layers of color. This makes them appear smoother and more even. For shoes, bags but also for large pieces of furniture such as sofas, armchairs or especially car seats, covered leather is mostly used to create a uniform image.
Some of the covered leathers are also waxed, greased or even coated with foil. Perhaps the most popular form is the lacquer-coated leather, the well-known lacquer shoe – or patent leather shoe.
Other types of smooth leather
Nappa leather also belongs to the group of smooth leather. It is a soft, uncovered, full-grain leather that is chrome-tanned.
Vecchetal leather is also known from bags. It is tanned with vegetable tanning agents, the so-called tanning process.
proper Clean and care for smooth leather shoes
Step by step: care for and clean leather shoes
Suede – what is it actually?
The special thing about suede is the velvety surface structure. There are two basic types of suede: suede and nubuck leather. They both have one thing in common, they are particularly breathable.
Here you can find out how they differ from each other and what actually suede is. And of course you will also find tips for cleaning and caring for suede that is much more sensitive. Correct cleaning and care is therefore particularly important so that it stays beautiful for a particularly long time. The surface structure requires a completely different care than that of smooth leather.
Suede leather has gained particular popularity in the last few decades. It often looks less formal and its appearance makes it a wonderful addition to the look of the rest of the outfit.
What is suede?
Suede corresponds to the natural shape of suede. For the even, fibrous surface of the suede leather, only the meat side – also known as the meat gap – is used. The even structure is created by grinding the meat side.
What is nubuck leather?
Nubuck leather is created by grinding the side of the hair – also called the grain gap. This is how the grain of the hair side of the leather is created. In particular, it differs from suede in that it has shorter and finer fibers. In addition, nubuck leather requires more and more intensive care than suede.
And wild leather?
Wild leather is often referred to as suede and vice versa. However, this is not correct, even if they are very similar due to the surface. However, suede only refers to leather from animals that live in the wild. It comes from buffalo, antelope, deer or chamois.
Proper Clean and care for wild leather or suede
Step by step: clean and care for suede shoes
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The best care tips