You might have spent a bomb on your leather shoes but you need to give them some TLC to make them last. Here's how: Cleaning
Remove the dirt from your shoes using a saddle sop or smooth leather shoe cleaner. Pay special attention to the cracks in your shoes. Let your shoes dry for a few minutes and then shine them with a soft cotton cloth
Conditioning
This helps soften and moisturise the leather, and protects it from drying and cracking. In summer, you need to condition your shoes more often. Select natural conditioners as they absorb easily into the shoe. Rub a
small amount of conditioner into the shoe until the entire shoe has been covered with conditioner. Wipe off the excess conditioner from the surface of your shoes after a couple of minutes
Polishing
Shoe polishes come in liquid, cream or paste form. Apply the polish to a small patch of your shoe to test whether the colour of the polish matches. Rub the polish into the shoe with a soft cloth, and allow it to dry completely. Then, shine your shoes with a soft brush made specifically for this purpose
Alternative to shoe polish
Try rubbing a small part of your shoe with the inside of a banana peel and buff it with a cotton cloth. You can also use olive or walnut oil to maintain smooth leather. Work a small amount into the shoe and polish it with a soft cotton cloth
Weatherproofing
Apply a layer of beeswax to form a protective layer on the surface of the shoe. This protects from water. However, it can make your shoes look unattractive. So if appearance matters to you, use a spray protectant instead
Tips
* Never use shoe polish to change the colour of your shoes
* Always remove the laces before tending to your shoes
* Condition your brand new shoes before you sport them for the first time. It will protect them from the start
