Caring for smooth leather is a four-step process.
First, clean the shoes with a leather cleaner to remove the
surface dirt.
Next, condition the leather. Conditioners soften and lubri-
cate the leather.
Next, it is time for the polish. A paste polish provides a
high-gloss, long-lasting shine, but takes some time to apply.
Liquid polish is quick and easy to apply, but must be applied
more frequently. Cream polishes privide a happy medium.
After the shoes are shined, weatherproof them. If you live
or work in a messy environment, the protection of a weather-
proofer is a must.

* Suede and Nubuck
The key to keeping these materials in top shape is pre-
ventive maintenance. Before you wear the shoes, protect them
with a water and stain repellant designed specifically for
suede and nubuck. As soon as the water isn't beading up on
the shoes, spray them again. Use a plastic or rubber-tipped
brush regularly to restore the nap and remove surface dirt
before it sets in. Be gentle brushing nubuck.It is softer
than suede and easily damaged. With oiled nubuck, use a
nubuck conditionaer regularly to replace the oils that wear
takes out. If you get a stain, remove it immediately with
a solventbased cleaner made specifically for suede or nubuck.
Oil absorbing blocks are available for this purpose.

* Exotic Leathers
Use mild cleaner and conditioner for exotic leathers such
as reptile or snakeskin. Using products for smooth leather
may leave a residue that will build up around the base of
the scales and cause them to crack or fall off.

* Athletic Shoes
If you have shoes with fabric or suede on the uppers, follow
the steps outlined for suede care. Leather uppers can be
cleaned with sneaker shampoos htat remove wtains and dirt.
If the shoes become scuffed, whitening products restore the
original color. Shoe repair professionals can also use a
white spray dye for a like-new finish.


And what about rain-soaked shoes???

* Fabric should be sprayed with a stain guard.

* If your insoles are removable, take them part-way out of
the shoes to facilitate thorough drying of the shoes and in-
soles. The worst thing for shoe glue is moisture.

* Use a slightly damp cloth to clean shoes that become dirty
or caked with mud. Let the shoe dry thoroughly, and if you
have leather shoes, use a high quality conditioner to keep
the leather soft and to prevent cracking.
If your shoes become wet due to rain or early morning dew,
stuff the inside of shoe as tightly as possible with news-
paper. Place them away from any heat source to allow them
to dry naturally. The stuffing will prevent the material
from shrinking.


In addition, shoes-- particularly those made of soft nappa
leather-- benefit greatly from shoe trees, or shoe keepers.
These are wooden instruments which are inserted in the shoe,
and help to retain the shape and mold of the shoe. Shoe
trees can help to prolong the life of a shoe by 4 or 5
years.