**The Official Shoe Care Thread: Tutorials, Photos, etc.**

[patrickBOOTH]

I can't understand why anybody would use saddle soap. Mixing water and leathering up a shoe sounds like bad news bears for leather, imo.

 

[fritzl]



So then, do you use saddle soap and then a "conditioner," or just saddle soap and then the polish?

this

 

[fritzl]



I mention reno because the poster had a question which related to it's use. 

It's milder than saddle soap & easier to apply.

i got that. i'm interested in your expertise, which you shared with us.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Fritzl, don't you use dubbin, or a similar product as well?

 

[fritzl]



Fritzl, don't you use dubbin, or a similar product as well?

final layer as i do not brush them right after.

 

[Stirling]

i got that. i'm interested in your expertise, which you shared with us.

Well to elaborate, If I wish to condition shoes I use Nivea face cream - the standard, original formula and to lightly clean shoes I use a baby wipe.

Anyone who thinks they use fancy products during manufacture is misguided.

 

[fritzl]



Well to elaborate, If I wish to condition shoes I use Nivea face cream - the standard, original formula and to lightly clean shoes I use a baby wipe.

Anyone who thinks they use fancy products during manufacture is misguided.

tbh, you're a man after my heart.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Half of the people's heads in this forum just exploded.

 

[NakedYoga]



Half of the people's heads in this forum just exploded.

But I want to spend $500 on shoe care supplies so I can tell people about it!

 

[cbfn]

I need your help guys. After using renomat to strip the old wax of my shoes I use liberal amounts of Lexol Conditioner, and by liberal I mean soaking them. The leather sucks up the conditioner really fast, which leads me to believe that it's needed. After this I go for the regular shoe shining regime with saphir Reno, cream and wax. Is the Lexol in any way harmful? The leather gets incredibly soft and have a nice luster afterwards, but I've not seen anyone else using it.

And the thought of using regular Nivea face cream has crossed my mind before - why isn't conditioner we're using on our faces good enough to be used on shoes? The cleaning-effect of the Reno wouldn't be present, but it should condition well?

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Lexol is good stuff. It is a synthetic sperm whale oil. Absolutely nothing wrong with it.

 

[cbfn]

Thanks for the reply, that's what I've concluded with as well. It works wonders on the soles as well, making them nearly indestructible. But why is no one else using it? Is it because if the hassle with applying, waiting it to penetrate deep into the leather and needing a bit more elbow grease to get a nice shine?

 

[fredrikkm]

Yeah, i use lexol on some of my beater shoes and I have no problems with it.

Edit: I find it easier to get a good shine with reno.

 

[patrickBOOTH]



Thanks for the reply, that's what I've concluded with as well. It works wonders on the soles as well, making them nearly indestructible. But why is no one else using it? Is it because if the hassle with applying, waiting it to penetrate deep into the leather and needing a bit more elbow grease to get a nice shine?

I use it on the soles of my shoes after I wear them in the rain and let them dry out.

I don't use lexol because it takes off too much finish and as you said takes too much time to work a good shine again. Reno is just much easier. I use Lexol on my leather sofa though.

 

[cbfn]

But what do you use on your non-beaters? Only Reno? IMO it's not enough to only use Reno, and this is the opinion I would like to have evaluated; is Reno enough to condition the shoes when it's only used sparingly?

PB: Yeah, there is a whole other thing to use Lexol with regards to work needed after application. I only use lexol about once every year, while I use Reno the rest of the time.