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

[NickCarraway]

Thank you to all who responded about the medial creases in my Strands. I went to my AE store where they measured me as an 11.5B (the original shoes were 12D, so their original fitting must have been based solely on length - "um yeah you're a 12"). They exchanged the shoes for me. Having been used to casual and "comfort dress" shoes these feel fairly snug and hard but I guess they will mold to my feet better and break in where they're supposed to.

 

[CTBrummie]

Does anyone here have any recommendations for getting the smell of cigarette smoke from shoe leather? The shoes smell like they've been stored in an ashtray for the past decade or so, quite incredible.

The leather is burnished (they're EGs) so am keen to keep the finish on the leather, hence not wanting to go in heavy-handed with renovateur...

 

[Stirling]



Does anyone here have any recommendations for getting the smell of cigarette smoke from shoe leather? The shoes smell like they've been stored in an ashtray for the past decade or so, quite incredible.

The leather is burnished (they're EGs) so am keen to keep the finish on the leather, hence not wanting to go in heavy-handed with renovateur...

Air them on the washing line, Sunday is apparently forecast to be sunny and dry!

Also you could try stuffing coffee granules or even cat litter into an old sock (ladies tights are better) and stuffing it into the shoes for three days and then repeat if necessary to absorb the smoke smell.

Finish of course with a light conditioning of renovateur and use pommadier or pate de luxe (or both) as the fresh smelling turpentine will no doubt help.

Ps you could try a dedicated product like febreze but I have no experience of using it.

 

[CTBrummie]

Air them on the washing line, Sunday is apparently forecast to be sunny and dry!

Also you could try stuffing coffee granules or even cat litter into an old sock (ladies tights are better) and stuffing it into the shoes for three days and then repeat if necessary to absorb the smoke smell.

Finish of course with a light conditioning of renovateur and use pommadier or pate de luxe (or both) as the fresh smelling turpentine will no doubt help.

Ps you could try a dedicated product like febreze but I have no experience of using it.

Sunny and dry? I'll believe that when I see it! Looks like the month's-worth-of-rainfall-in-three-days has just kicked off outside, definitely glad for waxy coats and boots at the moment!

I'll try one of your remedies and see where that takes me, cheers! They're a stunning pair of shoes (EG's Dundee model, so ideal for the current weather if they were in my size) and could use some TLC...

 

[jssdc]



Thank you to all who responded about the medial creases in my Strands.  I went to my AE store where they measured me as an 11.5B (the original shoes were 12D, so their original fitting must have been based solely on length - "um yeah you're a 12").  They exchanged the shoes for me.  Having been used to casual and "comfort dress" shoes these feel fairly snug and hard but I guess they will mold to my feet better and break in where they're supposed to.

That's pretty damned good service.

 

[scholseys]

These are John Lobb Lavendons with matte finish and unfortunately there were nicked. Guys it would help a great deal if you guys could suggest something to whiten them up. I tried brushing them off, but it seems the white paint of the shoe came off.

 

[CalzolaiFeF]

All the white smooth leathers I've seen had that colour thanks to a surface covering finish. It looks like the finish in the darker points on your JL has come off.

There are some products (covering creams) that can somewhat hide this, but a closer look will always reveal the damage.

 

[Stirling]



Sunny and dry? I'll believe that when I see it!

I know, been flooded for 3 weeks now....

 

[Stirling]



These are John Lobb Lavendons with matte finish and unfortunately there were nicked. Guys it would help a great deal if you guys could suggest something to whiten them up. I tried brushing them off, but it seems the white paint of the shoe came

If you'd like to do them yourself there's nowt better than Angelus white acrylic paint, otherwise any decent cobbler should be able to do the job for you.

 

[CTBrummie]



I know, been flooded for 3 weeks now....

Wounded for you, mate

 

[azumi]

What color of Saphir shoe cream and wax polish I should use for this color of shoes?

Now I have Dark and Medium brown, Neutral, Mahogany, Hermes Red, Burgundy and Black. The neutral color is safe but I don't know if I can use another color that match the original color of this shoes.

 

[Poshak Man]

^^^ if these EGs are the burnt pine color then use Saphir's medium brown color. For my shoes in burnt pine, I have found it to be the closest match.

 

[kirbya]



There wasn't much follow up on this at the time, nor can I find reference to people using Saphir Greasy Leather Cream elsewhere on SF. Does anyone have any experience with it and opinions on its use?

There seem to be many schools of thought with CXL, ranging from not conditioning (due to it being packed with oils) to VSC (Horween recommends) to this Saphir Greasy (Kirby recommends) to Obenauf's Heavy Duty LP (Crane's recommends, more for hard wear) to coconut oil, Blackrock Leather n Rich, Bicks 4, Lexol, and more.

I know you really can't go too wrong, it'll be fine any way you go, etc. etc. Consider this a point of curiosity

I believe that we are the only people that actually carry the Saphir Greasy Leather Cream. The Hanger Project's commitment to Saphir is to carry the deepest and widest inventory of their products. We carry a lot or archaic, low-volume products that many other rational retailers would never commit to.

Happy to give away up to 5 (full) samples of the Chromexcel Greasy Leather Cream to anyone on the forum that's interested in trying it and posting a review here.

There are two key characteristics that make this product for greasy leathers:
1. There are NO WAXES. Greasy leather is not meant to be waxed. It ruins the look of the leather. Saphir's product does not contain any waxes.
2. The product is based on Neat's Footoil. It nourishes the leather with OILS -- exactly how it is made -- and not with any of the products that normally condition calfskin.

I've used it on a pair of chromexcel shoes that I have from Ron, and I can say that it works fantastically. What is also great is that it comes in neutral, brown, and black. So you can repigment your brown shoes, which I find to be essential given that I am significantly less careful with my Chromexcel boots than I am with my dress shoes.

If you're interested in taking me up on the sample offer, PM me.

 

[Munky]

A Fine Pair of Shoes carries Saphir Greasy Leather Cream in the UK.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Just wanted to post an experience here. New York has seen some disgustingly snowy weather recently and a pair of high boots I have were looking awful. Covered in salt and such. I used Glenkaren's cleaner/conditioner and they got out all of the salt stains and seemed to really "plump up" the leather, especially in the creases. It was the first time I used it on my shoes actually. In the past I have only used it on my briefcase, and box calf travel bag.

It brushed to a low glow shine. Venturing out into yet another snowy day they seem to be repelling water really well. I guess that coconut oil does very well. One thing that I noticed though is in areas where it might be even slightly heavy dry whitish. I am guessing because it is neutral, so it is important not to over use. I only really saw this in hard to get to areas such as in the inseam area between the welt and upper.