How To Care For New Shoes

Preserve Your Investment – How to Care for New Shoes

When you receive your new shoes, you want to make sure they are looking their best before wearing them for the first time. The great news is that you do not need to do much to protect the leather and take care of your new shoes when you first receive them.  In fact, you don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to – your shoes, especially if from Jay Butler, will be ready to wear right out of the box.   But if you want to strive for the highest level of care for your new loafers, here are a few tips that we recommend that will help you do just that.

Why Do You Need to Prepare New Shoes?

When produced, many shoes are given a finish using cream or polish. But the shoes will sometimes sit on the shelves for weeks, months, or even years causing the finish to fade. As a result, the shoes need to be refreshed when you take them out of the box. You want to nourish the leather to restore moisture and finish, aiding in improving appearance and longevity. 

Suede shoes are simpler than smooth leather shoes.  There is no need to condition the suede.  All that is needed is to brush it with a suede brush to restore the nap.  For those of you looking to go the extra mile you can spray suede shoes with a suede spray to add a layer of protection.  To keep it simple with suede, you can stop after the ‘Clean and Dust’ stage below.

Recommended Shoe Care Products

Whether taking care of old or new shoes, Saphir offers the most complete and highest quality assortment of shoe care products - many of which are available on our site. Some of the key products you may use when caring for a new pair of shoes include:

• Leather balm
• Cream polish
• Wax polish
• Dauber brush or polishing cloth (cut up white t-shirt)
• Buffing brush

Inspect the Shoes on Arrival

When your shoes arrive, make sure there are no blemishes, defects, abrasions, or loose threads. Try them on and inspect the fit but make sure to do so on a carpet or some soft surface. Do not try them on on hard surfaces like concrete, tile, or hardwood so you do not scuff or scratch the sole. 

Shoes cannot be returned if the sole is scratched. A softer surface will allow you to try the shoes on without causing any damage to the sole.

Clean and Dust

After you have inspected the shoes and made sure that you are satisfied with the fit and appearance dust off your shoes. Make sure they look clean and fresh. There shouldn’t be any residual dust, especially on the sides, heels, and the edges.

Apply Leather Balm

Start with leather balm to restore moisture to the leather, a small amount is often all that is needed. Rub the balm into the leather using the dauber brush or shoe polishing cloth.  Be sure to cover all of the areas of the shoe, including the stitching then let the shoe rest for 10-15 minutes to allow the leather to absorb the balm.  

Once absorbed, use a buffing brush or clean towel to remove any excess balm.  

Apply Cream Polish

Take a dab of the polishing cream (colored or neutral) and start applying it with gentle pressure. Again, make sure that the entirety of the shoe surface is covered including the sides, seams, and edges.  Let the shoes rest for 15 minutes so the cream can be absorbed.

Once absorbed, use a buffing brush to remove excess polish. This will bring out a light shine. If you want a higher level of shine, you can use a wax polish, which you would use the same application process as with cream polish.

Once done applying cream (and if desired wax) polish to your shoes they will be both well-conditioned and looking superb.  If you're tight on time or don't feel like buying leather balm, just skip the balm and go straight to the cream polish.

In Closing

Prepping your shoes for their first wear will only take a few minutes, that is if you even want to do it - it is optional.  

If you have any questions about our loafers or how to take care of your shoes, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment or send us a note.