How to Care for Your Shoes

Choosing high-quality shoes like those we offer at Bonnegueule already ensures they’ll last a long time, thanks to their carefully selected natural materials (leather, cotton) and sturdy stitched construction.

But to make them last even longer, you also need to take good care of them. In contact with the ground, shoes absorb a lot of impact, are exposed to dirt and stains, bend slightly with every step, and their soles support your weight all day long. So it's important to take care of them.

When looking for advice, you’ll quickly come across a multitude of products and methods: it’s not always easy to know where to start. Here’s our simple, practical guide to effectively caring for your shoes, with the right techniques and products, no matter what type they are.

Leather shoes (derbies, loafers, boots)

Using shoe trees

After each wear, put solid wood shoe trees inside your shoes. They absorb moisture, maintain the shoe’s shape, and minimize creases caused by walking.

Caring for smooth and grained leather

These are the easiest to care for.

Dust off with a brush.

Apply a cleaning cream (such as Saphir Universal Cream) to a cotton cloth and apply the product to the shoe using small circular motions, making sure to include the area behind the laces. This product cleans and nourishes the leather.

Remember to also nourish the leather sole (which is actually made of leather, not wood as is sometimes thought) with the same cleaning milk.

You’re done!


Suede leather (suede, velour calfskin)

More delicate in appearance, but very easy to care for with the right products.

Dust off with a brush.

Use a dedicated product like Saphir’s Omnidaim. It’s a liquid soap that you mix in a small bowl with water and apply to the shoe with a small brush. After cleaning with the product, brush over the shoe again with a brush dipped in clean water, and let it dry (away from any heat source).

That’s it!

Leather soles: protect them from the start

Some Bonnegueule shoes feature leather soles (particularly our loafers). To protect them, improve traction, and extend their lifespan, we strongly recommend visiting a cobbler to have a heel tab and a toe cap.

Sneakers

Sneakers require a different kind of care, it’s fairly simple, but shouldn’t be overlooked.

Canvas sneakers

Hand washing is recommended using lukewarm water mixed with mild soap, applied with an old toothbrush. You can also use a sneaker cleaner like the one from Jason Markk.

Then simply let them air dry, away from any heat sources.

Avoid machine washing, which can distort or damage the construction and structure of the shoe.

Smooth leather or grained leather sneakers

Clean with a damp cloth.

Use a suitable cleaner, such as products from the Jason Markk brand.

Caution: We do not recommend using a cleaning cream, such as Saphir Universal Cream, on white or light-colored leather sneakers. This type of product can cause your sneakers to yellow over time because it contains beeswax… which is yellow.

Suede sneakers

Follow the same steps as for dress shoes:

Brush them dry.

Use a product like Omnidaim by Saphir.


Cleaning the soles of sneakers


To restore the whiteness of the rubber soles—which are often white—on your sneakers:

Use soapy water.

Scrub with an old toothbrush.

Wipe with a clean cloth.

Answers to frequently asked questions about shoe care

It depends on how often you wear them, but here are some general guidelines:

  • Quick dusting: every 2 or 3 wears
  • More thorough cleaning: every 5 to 10 wears

Although the term “polishing shoes” is common, shoe polish (polishing cream) is an optional product.

In fact, shoe polish does not condition the leather; it protects it by coating it with a layer. Shoe polish is, in a way, like makeup. This product helps improve the appearance of a pair of shoes, make them shine more, and protect the leather from rain and dust, but it does not condition the leather.

A mistake to avoid is therefore using only shoe polish: by doing so, you clog the pores of the leather and prevent it from breathing. It’s like applying several layers of makeup one after another to your skin without ever removing it. Shoe cream is the essential product to use on a regular basis.

Also: don’t use shoe polish on leather sneakers—they don’t need it.

Contrary to popular belief, leather—especially high-quality leather—isn’t particularly sensitive to water. At most, lighter-colored leather is a bit more sensitive, and even then, it’s not the water itself that’s the problem, but rather the dirt it carries.

If you get caught in a rain shower while wearing your shoes, let them dry using shoe trees, away from any heat source, give them a quick polish, and you’re all set.

That said, we understand the appeal of waterproofing spray, which offers extra protection and peace of mind: if you’d like to use one, opt for a silicone-free product like Saphir’s Invulner spray, for example.
  • On smooth leather: use a slightly damp cloth to clean the area. If necessary, use a specialized product such as Saphir’s Réno’Mat.
  • On suede and nubuck leather: start by brushing the surface to see if the stain comes off. If necessary, use a suitable product such as Saphir’s Omnidaim.
  • On sneakers (canvas or leather): soapy water and a soft brush are sufficient in most cases. If your sneakers are colored, be careful not to brush too hard to avoid risking loss of color in the affected area.

You can, even though it’s not absolutely necessary, since sneakers leave fewer creases than dress shoes.

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