TAKE CARE OF YOUR SHOES
Shoes from Apair are designed in Denmark and handmade by the finest craftsmen in Italy. Irregular color nuances are one of the characteristics of natural leather and are a “stamp” of quality.
Love them and use them as a treat for your feet, but protect them from rain as leather is not waterproof. Give them a rest every now and then and let them dry slowly if exposed to water.
Remember that leather needs protection and moisture. You will be able to wear your beloved shoes for longer if you take good care of them. Replace soles and heels in good time and be kind to details and zippers. They will love you for it.
On this page we will both give you inspiration on how to treat your shoes, and recommend which treatment products we love.
We want to give our customers the best opportunity to care for their shoes so that they stay beautiful for a long time.
What's so great about leather shoes is that they can last indefinitely and only become more beautiful over time if they are treated well.
BASIC TREATMENT
Loving care for our shoes starts before they are polished. Here you can read about some simple tips for caring for both sneakers and leather shoes.
You should always treat your shoes with a waterproofing spray before you wear them for the first time. This will protect them from dirt and moisture (this does not apply to sneakers and other shoes that are not made of leather).
Change to a new pair of shoes every day, as they may get wet during the day and shoes need about 24 hours to dry.
Do not use shoe polish as a cleaning agent. First remove the worst dirt with a cloth or brush.
Always use the most suitable treatment product for your shoes. If in doubt, contact your shoemaker.
If your shoes get soaked, never dry them on a radiator or similar. You risk the leather drying out and cracking.
LEATHER TREATMENT
Leather shoes are some of the most comfortable types of shoes you can wear, as the leather adapts to your foot over time. Leather shoes also need a lot of care, but if you do it right, they will last forever without looking worn out.
Clean . If the shoes are dirty, wipe them with a slightly damp cloth. Do not use cleaning agents and avoid getting them too wet.
Take care of them. Use a shoe polish to care for them. Rub the cream into the leather with a cloth. Choose a cream that nourishes and softens the leather – preferably in a similar color to the shoe, so its color stands out even more. Otherwise, a neutral-colored cream is ideal.
Polish. After the cream, polish the shoe. For best results, use a soft shoe brush with natural horsehair.
TREATMENT OF OTHER TYPES OF LEATHER
Suede and nubuck. These types of leather can in principle be impregnated with a spray to make them water and soil repellent. If the accident happens, you can use a suede brush to brush up the leather and therefore remove dirt and stains. There are also a wide range of special products that are suitable for removing stains from delicate types of leather. After such a treatment, the shoe must be sprayed with impregnation again. Always use water on this type of leather shoe, and avoid wearing them when it rains as much as possible.
Patent leather shoes. These are leather shoes covered with gloss or foil. Therefore, the shoe can either be treated with impregnation spray or shoe polish. This type of leather can also be treated with oil. Apply the oil with a soft cloth and polish the shoe afterwards.
Snake skin, metal, etc. This type of shoe is rare and delicate. It is recommended that you seek help from your shoemaker for the treatment of this type. There are a wide range of special products that should be used. For example, you cannot use ordinary shoe polish on snake and crocodile skin – you must use special care for reptiles.
TREATMENT OF LEATHER SOLE
Leather shoes have either a leather or rubber sole. What both have in common is that they wear out. As a general rule, a sole should be replaced when the rubber sole has worn down to 1mm. It is a good idea to have a rubber sole put on the outside of a leather sole, as this makes the shoe more waterproof.