Leather cleaning tips for your suede shoes
Men's and women's boat shoes often comes with nubuck or suede leather, which requires some effort on your part in order to retain the quality of the soft leather for years to come. Hopefully these leather cleaning tips will extend your boat shoes' lifespan, and preserve their comfort.
Leather cleaning tips for nubuck boat shoes
Even though admittedly having certain similarities, nubuck and suede are quite different types of leather, each with their own unique qualities. Both are sanded for that desirable soft, velvet-like feeling, but whereas the nubuck is sanded on the external surface, the outer skin if you will, suede leather is treated using the same technique, but on the inner layer of the skin. Having the much tougher, outer skin layer exposed to the sanding process, nubuck responds better to the treatment, but also reveals imperfections in the skin easier, and it is often going through processes to hide it, such as clear or color dying.
With its velvet-like soft nap surface, nubuck leather is just as stainable as suede leather and is more susceptible to scratches. On top of this, nubuck cost significantly more than suede, but is on the other hand more durable and has a longer life span compared to the more affordable suede leather. Nubuck leather is considered ideal for use on furniture and in other areas where daily use will otherwise cause the skin to lose its elasticity and shine over time.
Nubuck skin lacks a built-in protection against staining and scratches, nor is it water repellent. In order to retain the nubuck skin's native qualities and prepare it for an active life style, regular care is required, otherwise it will lose its qualities and comfort over time. Although lasting longer, nubuck is just as susceptible to scratches and stains as the less costly suede leather, and therefore thorough pre-treatment and follow-up protection will make sure it will last longer.
Leather cleaning and care tips for nubuck boat shoes:
- Use a Suede Bar/ Block to remove dirt, e.g. Woodlore 3" Suede Bar & 3" Brush
- Waterproof with Nikwax Footwear Care Kit for Nubuck and Suede before use
- Keep away from direct heat and let it dry for at least an hour
- Before completely dry, use a soft brush to pull up the nap
- Damp the suede bar and use it to remove marks
- Use cotton clothes to soak up liquid spills, before using cleaner
- The longer a stain stays, the more difficult it will be to remove it
- If the Suede Bar, a soft or even brass brush doesn't help, consider vinegar; apply a small amount on a damp, soft cloth and gently rub the stain.
Leather cleaning tips for suede boat shoes
Suede leather shoes require the same care as nubuck shoes, with the same pre-treatment before taking it outside; place it away from a direct heat source when drying, and use a soft brush to bring the nap back up again. A clean tooth brush will do just fine for this purpose. Use the aforementioned damp suede bare to remove scratches and/or marks on your suede shoes.
With proper care nubuck and suede leather shoes last several years with an active outdoors life style. Nubuck requires more regular care and maintenance than suede, which is more affordable but also less durable. On the other hand, you really can't go wrong with either, as long as you apply the proper care and follow advice on leather cleaning tips offered here.
For more information on cleaning nubuck and suede shoes:
- Shoe Care - How to clean suede shoes (YouTube)
- How to clean suede shoes Howtocleanthings.com)
- How to clean suede shoes (WikiHow)
