The Complete Guide to Weatherproofing Your Shoes
Introduction:
Fall and winter bring wet leaves, heavy rain, slush and road salt. All of these are harsh on your shoes. In this guide you will learn how to prepare them for the season, so you can keep wearing them with confidence even when the weather is at its worst. With the right care your shoes stay beautiful for longer and they last much longer too.
- How to protect your shoes from rain and snow with a water-repellent spray.
- Why it is important to clean salt and snow stains quickly.
- Which nourishing products help keep leather supple in cold and wet conditions.
- Why cedar shoe trees are essential for maintaining shape and helping your shoes dry properly.
- How this simple routine keeps your shoes looking good for longer and ready for the worst winter weather.
Introduction:
Fall and winter bring wet leaves, heavy rain, slush and road salt. All of these are harsh on your shoes. In this guide you will learn how to prepare them for the season, so you can keep wearing them with confidence even when the weather is at its worst. With the right care your shoes stay beautiful for longer and they last much longer too.
- How to protect your shoes from rain and snow with a water-repellent spray.
- Why it is important to clean salt and snow stains quickly.
- Which nourishing products help keep leather supple in cold and wet conditions.
- Why cedar shoe trees are essential for maintaining shape and helping your shoes dry properly.
- How this simple routine keeps your shoes looking good for longer and ready for the worst winter weather.
Regular maintenance
It might sound obvious, but the best thing you can do for your shoes is to maintain them more regularly when colder and wetter weather is on the horizon. A little extra care during fall and winter goes a long way in keeping them protected, comfortable, and looking their best.
Polish your shoes regularly to give them the best care and protection. The products from Saphir Médaille d'Or contain beeswax along with other mineral and plant-based waxes that naturally protect your smooth leather shoes. During winter or periods of heavy rain, we recommend polishing your shoes once a week with shoe cream and shoe wax. See our shoe care guide for beginners for more information.
Would you like to protect your suede and nubuck shoes? Then take a look at our suede guide, where you will find exactly which products to use and how to care for them properly.howcase a list of related products.
Good to know:
Traditional shoe wax does not make your shoes completely waterproof, and that is a good thing. Instead of soaking directly into the leather where stains and moisture are almost impossible to remove, dirt and rain are caught in the protective wax layer on the surface. You can easily refresh or replace that layer, which keeps your leather shoes clean and safe from damage.
Treating leather soles
Keep your leather soles in top condition with Sole Guard from Saphir Médaille d'Or. This natural oil creates an invisible barrier that keeps out moisture, so your soles stay supple, last longer, and keep your feet dry even in wet conditions. Finish the look by protecting and restoring the edges of your soles with a matching shoe wax, giving your shoes a polished and well-cared-for appearance.
Shoe trees
Coming home after a rainy day? Make sure to slip a pair of cedar shoe trees into your shoes. Made from untreated cedar wood, they absorb moisture exceptionally well, drawing it into the shoe tree instead of the leather. This prevents the leather from drying out and also helps protect against damage caused by salt and dirt in rainwater.
The bottom line
It is always better not to wear your best leather shoes in the rain. As shoe care experts, we have seen first-hand what rainwater, sometimes mixed with road salt, can do to a good pair of shoes. Discolouration can often be disguised with shoe cream, but in some cases the leather soaks up the salty water and develops raised areas. This affects the structure and fibres of the leather itself. Unfortunately, there is little you can do in that situation other than blending the spot with colour.
You might also be interested in these guides
Suede and nubuck guide
Freshen up your suede and nubuck shoes with this quick and easy maintenance guide.
Advanced shoe shine guide
Want to lift your shoe shine to the next level? Be sure to give our advanced shoe shine guide a read.
Sneaker cleaning
Make your sneakers as good as new with this sneaker cleaning guide.
Shoe Trees
Keep your shoes in shape with a pair of well made wooden shoe trees.