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Shoe care guide for beginners

Time to shine:

10-15 minutes

Difficulty:

Beginners

Introduction:

Do you have one or multiple pairs of leather shoes, but do not really know how to take good care of them? Then this guide will help you on the way. In three simple steps we will explain to you how to clean, colour, shine and protect your favourite leathers shoes. The first time you will probably take a bit longer to shine your shoes, but with a little practice you will become a shoe shining expert in no time! If you are in need of a more in-depth guide be sure to check our advanced shoe shine guide.

Learn how to:

  • Clean and nourish leather shoes with Saphir Médaille d'Or Renovateur as the first step.
  • Restore colour and achieve a soft shine with Pommadier shoe cream.
  • Add extra shine and protection using Pâte de Luxe shoe wax.
  • Choose the best products for complete, effective care.
  • Refresh your shoes in just 10 to 15 minutes with these three steps.

Before/after

Leather is a forgiving material to maintain.

After a little practice, these three steps will have your shoes looking sharp again.

Before

After

Use the left and right arrow keys to navigate between before and after photos.
Step 1.

Cleaning and conditioning

Start by removing dirt and sand with a brush or a moist cloth. Apply Saphir Médaille d'Or Renovateur with a soft cloth, spreading the conditioner evenly over the shoe (avoid the soles). Let the Renovateur soak into the leather for about five minutes, then lightly brush off the excess with a horsehair brush. This brushing is only to remove leftover product, so there’s no need to polish just yet.

Since Renovateur offers little protection on its own, it should always be followed by a layer of Saphir Médaille d'Or Pommadier cream, and ideally also Pâte de Luxe shoe wax (see steps 2 and 3).

At this stage, your shoes have been gently cleaned and nourished. In step 2 we’ll go into more detail on shining, recolouring, and giving your shoes a basic level of protection.

Tip!

Most Saphir Médaille d'Or conditioners, like Renovateur or Lotion, both clean and nourish the leather in one step. If you want to strip away old layers of polish completely, reach for Saphir Renomat.

Step 2.

Shining and recolouring

Apply some Saphir Médaille d'Or Pommadier shoe cream by using an applicator cloth or brush to evenly distribute the cream over the shoes. Allow the cream to be absorbed by the leather for about five minutes. Saphir Médaille d'Or Pommadier cream will nourish, recolour, protect and give a soft shine to your leather shoes. Brush your shoes with a horsehair brush to create a nice shine.

Tip: Depending on the damages or fading of the colour of your shoes you can apply+shine Pommadier cream up to three times to get better coverage. Check our Saphir colour guide to pick the best matching colour cream/wax for your shoes.

After finishing with this step your shoes will be recoloured and have a nice matte shine. At the third and final step we will discuss how you can waterproof your shoes and give them a high shine finish.

Tip!

Pommadier shoe cream is available in both neutral (colourless) and coloured options. The best choice depends on your shoes and their condition. Check out our Saphir colour guide to find the shade that matches your shoes best and for more detailed colour advice.

Step 3.

Waterproofing and high gloss finish

Use Saphir Médaille d'Or Pate de Luxe to create a waterproofing high gloss finish on your shoes. Begin by applying a very thin layer of Saphir Medaille d'Or Pate de Luxe shoe wax. Be sure to spread the wax over the shoes as thin as possible. Afterwards, shine your shoes with preferably a cotton cloth (or a brush) to shine up the wax polish on the shoes. For new shoes or shoes that haven't been shined recently it can be beneficial to repeat this step once more after you are done.

If your shoes have leather soles, treat the edges with Pâte de Luxe wax in the sole colour to cover scuffs and add shine. For extra waterproofing, apply Saphir Médaille d'Or Sole Guard directly to the bottom of the soles. It protects the leather against moisture, keeps it flexible, and helps prevent the soles from wearing out too quickly.

Tip!

For the best shine, use a cotton cloth and buff the wax in quick, circular motions. This method brings out the deepest gloss, but it does take a little more time. If you prefer speed over perfection, a polishing brush is a great alternative. It removes excess wax quickly and still leaves your shoes looking sharp and well-finished.