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

[linardi168]

Hi guys, i might need some help with my nubuck nike sneakers. I think i brushed them too hard after washing them, i used a brass brush like the one here

Here are the results :

What should i do? Is my sneakers completely destroyed or fixable? If fixable what are the correct tools to fix this? I’m considering on getting a suede eraser, sponge, & lotion to try and fix it. Should i get a new brush that’s finer than the one i have?

Thanks in advance

 

[Lumaca]

Hi guys, i might need some help with my nubuck nike sneakers. I think i brushed them too hard after washing them, i used a brass brush like the one here View attachment 1279520
Here are the results :
View attachment 1279531



What should i do? Is my sneakers completely destroyed or fixable? If fixable what are the correct tools to fix this? I’m considering on getting a suede eraser, sponge, & lotion to try and fix it. Should i get a new brush that’s finer than the one i have?

Thanks in advance

It's not that clear from the pics, but is your complaint that your NUBUCK part is "hairy"?

Because the whole purpose of the brass suede brush (or any suede product in general) is to raise the hair, so I'd say your nubuck is probably "suedified". Using more suede products is not gonna help.

 

[linardi168]

It's not that clear from the pics, but is your complaint that your NUBUCK part is "hairy"?

Because the whole purpose of the brass suede brush (or any suede product in general) is to raise the hair, so I'd say your nubuck is probably "suedified". Using more suede products is not gonna help.

I know, but i brushed too hard that i scratched the suede (first picture). It’s not supposed to look like that. Maybe sanding or using a razor blade can help?

 

[SartorialTaste]

maybe too much of polish.. u can try removing all the polish and applying a new coat

Will do. Thanks for the reply

 

[SartorialTaste]

From my POV there is way too much product being applied across the board. I only use colored polish if the existing polish appears to have lost some color or I have a ding to cover. For the most part, I keep my shoes conditioned with Bick 4, hit it with a brush when the conditioner is dry, and then buff it out with a flannel. Keeps them glowing. Occasionally -- and especially for shell cordovan -- I will use Venetian Shoe Creme (VSC) to add luster and to remove some surface grime as it has some very mild solvent qualities.

Thanks for the reply. They were my first GW shoes so I guess I didn't know how to polish them properly at first and might have applied way too much product.

 

[Munky]

I used to say, probably too many times, on here that it is best to use really small amounts of cream and polish. And renovators, too. I have fairly recently finished a jar of Saphir Renovateur that I have had for five years. I have quite a few pairs of shoes but do not find it necessary to use Renovateur very often. Brushing very regularly and the occasional application of a small amount of cream (and wax, if you like to) is mostly all you need. Keep it simple and your shoes will nearly always look good.

Also, note that cream doesn't have to be left on for very long. Have a look at the instructions on the jar and you will find that the manufacturer often suggests five to ten mins. I don't think that leaving cream (or wax) on, all day or all night, is going to make much difference. I have seen a clip on the net showing a high end shoe maker brushing off crean as almost as soon as he had put it on. He commented that, in the production line of shoe making, there is no time to leave polish on shoes before brushing them. And we are talking about a very high end company here.

With suede/nubuck shoes it is best to use a hog hair brush for brushing. Hog hair is tougher than horse hair but much less abrasive than the brass wire brushes. I wouldn't recommend the use of the latter. If you have brushed your suede or nubuck too much, don't compound the issue by brushing more and certainly don't consider sandpaper. Put it down to experience - or call it patination!
Very best wishes
Munky

 

[Lumaca]

I know, but i brushed too hard that i scratched the suede (first picture). It’s not supposed to look like that. Maybe sanding or using a razor blade can help?

Can't unscramble scrambled eggs I'm afraid... best you cand do is probably brush everything so it looks more uniform.

 

[SchachMundialECapital]

Can't unscramble scrambled eggs I'm afraid... best you cand do is probably brush everything so it looks more uniform.

Yeah you can, if you use time reversal! *taps right temple

 

[Reiver]

The edge on my Veldtschoen boots has gone light in colour and a bit rough in texture after a bit of wear in wet conditions.

is this just a case of needing an application of edge dressing or is there a better product?

up until now I have frequently put a coat of polish on the edge but this time it seems to be having little effect.

 

[greywhite&navy]

Some suede care. My cousin bought the same pair of slippers as me but he is not a shoe care aficionado, so he has never gave them some care. Nothing. Not even brushing or using shoe trees. So when I posted last week how my shoes ended up after cleaning he asked me if I can clean his, so as a good shoe care aficionado I accepted. He thought they were ready to meet a new owner or the trash can. I told him he was crazy, I mean the lock stitch of the sole isn't even visible yet, they still have like 80% of their life. This is how they looked before:

So, the first thing I did was to put in shoe trees and I left them one full day so they return a bit bacj to shape. Then after brushing with a boarwith brass bristle brush I proceeded to remove the stains of the toe with the gommadin. Most of them went out easily (which I think that a regular brush after wearing will prevent that) but I still thought they needed a deeper cleaning. So I used Omnidaim and left them to dry another day with the shoe trees in. After that, I used the crepe brush to bring up the nap again and saw some dark spots so tried with Gommadin to take them out and worked perfectly. Then brushed aain with the boar/brass bristle brush and applied suede renovateur.

After that, I let it dry 15 minutes and brushed again with the boar/brass bristle. Then applied Nano Protector so if he spills something on his shoe, it doesn't get stucked. Brushed again and this is the final result, what do you think?

Looks amazing. Wish I could do that!

 

[aj2603]

I used to say, probably too many times, on here that it is best to use really small amounts of cream and polish. And renovators, too. I have fairly recently finished a jar of Saphir Renovateur that I have had for five years. I have quite a few pairs of shoes but do not find it necessary to use Renovateur very often. Brushing very regularly and the occasional application of a small amount of cream (and wax, if you like to) is mostly all you need. Keep it simple and your shoes will nearly always look good.

Also, note that cream doesn't have to be left on for very long. Have a look at the instructions on the jar and you will find that the manufacturer often suggests five to ten mins. I don't think that leaving cream (or wax) on, all day or all night, is going to make much difference. I have seen a clip on the net showing a high end shoe maker brushing off crean as almost as soon as he had put it on. He commented that, in the production line of shoe making, there is no time to leave polish on shoes before brushing them. And we are talking about a very high end company here.

With suede/nubuck shoes it is best to use a hog hair brush for brushing. Hog hair is tougher than horse hair but much less abrasive than the brass wire brushes. I wouldn't recommend the use of the latter. If you have brushed your suede or nubuck too much, don't compound the issue by brushing more and certainly don't consider sandpaper. Put it down to experience - or call it patination!
Very best wishes
Munky

I have a question about suede maintenance. After using Saphir Medaille D'Or Super Invulner Stain Protector or any other Water protector spray, do you brush your shoes?

Lot of people say that regular brushing of suede shoes is important. But if you apply these sprays, won't regular brushing take the water proofing chemicals off the surface faster ?

 

[Munky]

It is probably best not to brush too frequently nor too hard. Similarly, I would only use protector spray occasionally, rather than very regularly and let it dry completely. With mine, I check for marks on the leather, before I wear them and brush those out, so that the surface looks even. I don't brush them before every outing and I use a hog hair brush. Best wishes, Munky.

 

[thomas199023]

A nightmare, only had these Sandro boots for a week. Bumped into something at grocery store, result a huge gash. ? never had this happen before with any shoes. Just my luck.

assuming this is even fixable, probably best to find a good cobbler?
Or try sanding it down myself, slightly and recolouring with Saphir?



Ruined my day ?.

Edit, just watched this Kirby Allison video , I have everything except the renovating cream, which I could order online. Should I try to fix it myself?

 

[DWFII]

I'd say that first, it's not a very good quality of leather in that counter. Just the way the leather has lacerated and 'peeled' a bit suggests it was cut from the margins of the hide.

Second, the leather itself was not 'dyed' in the sense that a liquid, penetrating dye is used before the topcoat is applied. In this case the leather appears to have just been given a 'paint job' and called good.

The upshot of all this is that whatever you do care is needed. If you sand the leather in an attempt to make it smooth, chances are good that it will only get deeper and rougher. And any kind of solvent based dye (the kind that should have been used at the tannery) has the possibility of lifting / affecting the paint around the scuff.

Best option is to find a reputable shoe repair and either purchase a can of spray 'dye' (paint) that matched the rest of the shoe or, perhaps, better, have the repairman refinish that area for you.

A small interjection of reality: Chances approach certainty that no matter what you do, it will never come all that close to looking like it did originally

 

[thomas199023]

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated! Alright, I'll find a decent cobbler locally!

Sad to hear the quality of the leather is that bad, luckily I bought these for a good price, but the original SRP is 515 USD

SANDRO Official Website

us.sandro-paris.com

Luckily I only spent 10% of that, 'second hand, worn once', they def were almost new. Don't mind if it'll show a bit still, but would like to continue wearing these.